Focus On The Kingdom (Luke 13:10-35)
Rev. William L. Barron, March 11, 2018Part of the Morning Worship at North Greenville Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
There are three teachings in this passage. The first is that Jesus cares about the outcasts of society. There is a contrast between the woman and the rabbis. The woman had a back ailment. Jesus "made her straight," healing her in body and spirit. The ruler of the synagogue criticized Jesus' "work" on the Sabbath directly in the presence of the people. Jesus then criticized the rabbis, who had many fine regulations that resulted in corruption and hypocrisy. Jesus affirmed this woman as being of the covenant. The Sabbath is truly the best day of the week to heal. The rabbis' rules were keeping people away from God's presence.
The second is that the Kingdom of God grows through Jesus. It is little and becomes big. Its little leaven affects the entire dough, the church affecting the entire world. Will many or few follow Jesus? Both--many, but few; those few who go through the narrow door. Were the Pharisees who were warning Jesus from Herod, or were they doing Herod's bidding? Whatever, Jesus tells us what He will do; what Herod wants doesn't matter. Jesus is the prophet who must die in Jerusalem (we should be likewise single-minded).
The third is that God's plan of redemption will not be voided. There are three stages: death, resurrection and return. Some day, those who rejected Jesus will bow down. Those who believe are blessed.
| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
|---|---|---|
| « How Many Righteous? | None | Live As Long As You Are Alive » |
Luke 13:10–35 (Listen)
10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” 13 And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. 14 But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” 15 Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? 16 And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” 17 As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.
18 He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”
20 And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”
22 He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ 28 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. 29 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32 And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. 33 Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’ 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35 Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
(ESV)