08/15/2022 – Day 169 – Luke 13 – 14: tough stuff – Pointing to Romans 8:28 once again: “For those who love God all things work together for good.”
What a short parable on the non producing fig tree in 13: 6 through 13:8. The vineyard worker talks the owner into allowing one more year before cutting it down, as he offers to even fertilize it and make every effort that the tree bears fruit. Take a look here at Jonathan Gill’s commentary to 13:8. It is interesting how he compares this story to Moses pleading with God not to take the lives of the stiff-necked and disobediant Jewish people in the wilderness. I think Moses was testing God and he passed with flying colors, as I’m sure he wanted to be rid of them himself on multiple occassions.
https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/luke-13-9.html
The “narrow door” section in Luke 13: 22-30 is a warning to all of us from Jesus. William Barclay notes in his commentary:
“There will be surprises in the kingdom of God. Those who are very prominent in this world may have be very humble in the next; those whom no one notices here may be the princes in the world to come.”
In the section: “The Cost of Being a Disciple” , I think back to a Dietrich Bonhoeffer quote I saw earlier this week: “Salvation is free but discipleship will cost you your life.” In, Verse 14: 29:33, Jesus proclaims: “In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.” Salvation is a gift from God, but I would take issue with Dietrich on this quote. Salvation is not free, it cost Jesus His life.
Jesus is not telling the crowd to literally hate their father and mother, or family members. I think he is saying that the world would look at it as hate when comparing it to their love and singular devotion to Jesus. (verse 14;26)
Soli Deo Gloria!