(8) And dung it.—Literally, and put dung. Homely as the imagery is, it suggests fertilising and gracious influences not less vividly than the dew or rain from heaven, and points, perhaps, specifically to such as are working on us in our earthly surroundings, as contrasted with the directly supernatural action of God’s grace. read more
(9) And if it bear fruit.—Some of the better MSS. have, if it bear fruit in the time to come . . . With either reading the sentence is elliptical, and the insertion of “well,” as in the English, is needed to convey its meaning. read more
Luke 13:2-3 Think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. In one day the nay will command a ready assent: but the warning added, and the character with which it stamps such events as foreshadowings of judgment, will not readily be entered into. M'Leod Campbell. The Call to Repentance (For Lent) Luke 13:3 I. The Voice of the Love of God. Let us make quite sure that the call which comes to us now is... read more
CHAPTER 13 1. The Necessity of Repentance. (Luke 13:1-5 .) 2. The Barren Fig Tree. (Luke 13:6-9 ) 3. The Healing of a Daughter of Abraham. (Luke 13:10-17 ) 4. Parable of the Mustard Seed. (Luke 13:18-19 ) 5. Parable of the Leaven. (Luke 13:20-21 ) 6. Solemn Teachings. (Luke 13:22-30 ) 7. The Answer to Herod. (Luke 13:31-33 ) 8. Lament over Jerusalem. (Luke 13:34-35 .) Luke 13:1-9 Luke alone gives the parable of the fig tree as well as the historical incidents preceding the parable.... read more
REPENT OR PERISH (vs.1-9) This chapter shows that righteousness by itself provides no hope for man, but presses upon us the solemn lesson of repentance. Thus it prepares the way for chapters 14 and 15, for chapter 14 shows man's character in contrast to that of God, yet God remaining a God of grace; while in chapter 15 the heart of God is revealed to man in his lost state, God rejoicing in bringing him back by sovereign grace. The Jews told the Lord of the Galileans who had evidently been... read more
JUDGMENT AND PENALTY There is such a close connection between the opening of this chapter and the close of the preceding, that it were better not to have separated them. Jesus had been speaking of judgment and penalty, and now came those to him who put a case or two which seem to illustrate what he said (Luke 13:1-15 ). But they are mistaken, as He teaches them. “Those events had a voice for the living, and concerned not only the dead.” The parable of the barren fig tree is intended to... read more
Notes of Christ's Sermons Luke 13:0 Luke undertook to be very minute and exhaustive in his statement of Gospel facts. He was going to do better than many other writers had done. He said so with cool frankness: "Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eye-witnesses, and ministers of the word; it seemed good to me also" that is a curious... read more
He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down. They... read more
And if happily it bear fruit. It is a way of speaking, when a sentence is left imperfect; yet what is not expressed, may be easily understood; as here we may understand, well and good, or the like. (Witham) read more
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John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 13:1-35
The Galileans killed by Pilate. The Unfruitful Fig Tree. Lament Over Jerusalem1-9. Three exhortations to repentance, of which the former two are based on recent events, and the third is a parable. All are peculiar to Lk.1. Whose blood Pilate] These men had evidently been killed in the courts of the Temple for some real or suspected sedition while they were slaying their victims, an act which was performed not by the priests, but by the offerers, or their servants. Nothing is known of this... read more