READING

Verses 1-5 – Christ preaching repentance upon the punishment of the Galilœans, and others.

Luke 13:1-5

KJV ¹ There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. ² And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? ³ I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. ⁴ Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? ⁵ I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. WEB ¹ Now there were some present at the same time who told him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. ² Jesus answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered such things? ³ I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way. ⁴ Or those eighteen, on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them; do you think that they were worse offenders than all the men who dwell in Jerusalem? ⁵ I tell you, no, but, unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.”

Verse 6-9 – The fruitless fig tree may not stand.

Luke 13:6-9

KJV ⁶ 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. ⁷ 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? ⁸ And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: ⁹ And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down. WEB ⁶ He spoke this parable. “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it, and found none. ⁷ He said to the vine dresser, ‘Behold, these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and found none. Cut it down. Why does it waste the soil? ’ ⁸ He answered, ‘Lord, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. ⁹ If it bears fruit, fine; but if not, after that, you can cut it down.’”

COMMENTARY

Verse 1

Luke 13:1

KJV ¹ There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. WEB ¹ Now there were some present at the same time who told him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.

There were present.

Or, “there arrived.” The massacre had just occurred (COL 212, 213), and it may be that the persons who spoke to Christ were the first to bring news of the incident.

At that season.

A common Lucan idiom indicating close relationship to the preceding section (see on ch. Luke 12:1

KJV ¹ In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. WEB ¹ Meanwhile, when a multitude of many thousands had gathered together, so much so that they trampled on each other, he began to tell his disciples first of all, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
). The season was probably the winter of a.d. 30-31. Jesus had been speaking about the signs of the times.

Some that told him.

Who these persons were or what their motive was in making this report is not known. There seems no reason to think that their motive was ulterior.

The Galilœans.

This particular massacre is not mentioned by any writer other than Luke, though Josephus refers to many similar massacres perpetrated by Pilate and various other administrators of the province of Judea (Antiquities xvii. 9. 3; xviii. 3. 2; xx. 5. 3; War ii. 2. 5; 9. 4 [30; 175-177]). A massacre of Samaritan worshipers on Mt. Gerizim a few years later, in a.d. 36, led to the recall of Pilate by Caesar (Antiquities xviii, 4. 1, 2).

Mingled.

They were slaughtered while engaged in the very act of offering sacrifices.

Verse 2

Luke 13:2

KJV ² And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? WEB ² Jesus answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered such things?

Sinners above all.

This answer implies that the massacre was considered by the messengers and the audience gathered about Jesus, as a divine judgment, at least to some degree, on those who had lost their lives (cf. Job 4:7

KJV ⁷ Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off? WEB ⁷ “Remember, now, whoever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?
; Job 8:4

KJV ⁴ If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression; WEB ⁴ If your children have sinned against him, he has delivered them into the hand of their disobedience.
, Job 8:20

KJV ²⁰ Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers: WEB ²⁰ “Behold, God will not cast away a blameless man, neither will he uphold the evildoers.
; Job 22:5

KJV ⁵ Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite? WEB ⁵ Isn’t your wickedness great? Neither is there any end to your iniquities.
; John 9:1-2

KJV ¹ And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. ² And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? WEB ¹ As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. ² His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
). This conclusion Jesus emphatically denies. Whenever a convenient opportunity arose Jesus repudiated the popular notion that suffering is necessarily a punishment for sin. The temptation to think of accident or misfortune as an “act of God” comes from Satan, who seeks thereby to have men consider God a harsh and cruel Father.

Verse 3

Luke 13:3

KJV ³ I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. WEB ³ I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.

Repent.

According to the Greek, “repent, and keep on repenting.” Punishment for sin is meted out on the last great day of judgment. Jesus condemns neither Pilate nor the Galileans. If any of the Jews had hoped to elicit from Him a denunciation of Pilate’s cruelty, they were disappointed. From every experience of life the Christian may learn, if he will, how to walk before God more perfectly with a humble heart. Disappointment, misfortune, and calamity, whether witnessed or experienced, can teach the humble, receptive child of God precious lessons that can be learned in no other way.

Verse 4

Luke 13:4

KJV ⁴ Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? WEB ⁴ Or those eighteen, on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them; do you think that they were worse offenders than all the men who dwell in Jerusalem?

Tower in Siloam.

Probably connected with the Pool of Siloam, and no doubt part of the fortifications system of Jerusalem. Concerning the Pool of Siloam see Vol. I, p. 120; Vol. II, p. 87; and on 2 Kings 20:20

KJV ²⁰ And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? WEB ²⁰ Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made the pool, and the conduit, and brought water into the city, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
; Nehemiah 3:15

KJV ¹⁵ But the gate of the fountain repaired Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah; he built it, and covered it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and the wall of the pool of Siloah by the king's garden, and unto the stairs that go down from the city of David. WEB ¹⁵ Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of the district of Mizpah repaired the spring gate. He built it, and covered it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and the wall of the pool of Shelah by the king’s garden, even to the stairs that go down from David’s city.
; John 9:7

KJV ⁷ And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. WEB ⁷ and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”). So he went away, washed, and came back seeing.
.

Sinners.

Gr. opheiletai, literally, “debtors”; hence used here in the sense of “offenders”; not hamartöloi, “sinners,” as in v. 2 (cf. Matthew 6:12

KJV ¹² And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. WEB ¹² Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.
; Luke 7:41

KJV ⁴¹ There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. WEB ⁴¹ “A certain lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
).

Verse 5

Luke 13:5

KJV ⁵ I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. WEB ⁵ I tell you, no, but, unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.”

Repent.

See on v. 3.

Verse 6

Luke 13:6

KJV ⁶ 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. WEB ⁶ He spoke this parable. “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it, and found none.

This parable.

Concerning the parable teaching of Jesus and principles for the interpretation of parables see pp. 203-207. In giving this parable Jesus designed to show the relationship between divine mercy and divine justice (COL 212). Also, the long-suffering of God is set forth in relationship to the need for timely repentance on man’s part.

A fig tree.

The fig tree aptly illustrates the truth that God loves even those who are unfruitful. but that His mercy can, at last, be exhausted. The fig tree was to be cut down unless it brought forth acceptable fruit (cf. Isaiah 5:1-7

KJV ¹ Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: ² And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. ³ And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. ⁴ What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? ⁵ And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: ⁶ And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. ⁷ For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry. WEB ¹ Let me sing for my well beloved a song of my beloved about his vineyard. My beloved had a vineyard on a very fruitful hill. ² He dug it up, gathered out its stones, planted it with the choicest vine, built a tower in the middle of it, and also cut out a wine press in it. He looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes. ³ “Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, please judge between me and my vineyard. ⁴ What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? Why, when I looked for it to yield grapes, did it yield wild grapes? ⁵ Now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will take away its hedge, and it will be eaten up. I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled down. ⁶ I will lay it a wasteland. It won’t be pruned or hoed, but it will grow briers and thorns. I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain on it.” ⁷ For the vineyard of Yahweh of Armies is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for justice, but, behold, oppression; for righteousness, but, behold, a cry of distress.
). In a general sense the fig tree represents every individual, and in a special sense, the Jewish nation.

In his vineyard.

It is a common sight today to see fig trees growing among the vines in the gardens of Palestine.

Found none.

See on Mark 11:13

KJV ¹³ And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. WEB ¹³ Seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came to see if perhaps he might find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.
.

Verse 7

Luke 13:7

KJV ⁷ 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? WEB ⁷ He said to the vine dresser, ‘Behold, these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and found none. Cut it down. Why does it waste the soil? ’

Dresser of his vineyard.

Literally, “vine worker.”

These three years.

Three years had passed by since the owner of the vineyard considered that this particular tree had reached the age when fruit might be expected of it. He had given it ample opportunity to bear fruit if it was ever going to do so.

Cut it down.

Literally, “cut it out,” that is, “from among” the vines of the vineyard.

Cumbereth it.

The Greek has in addition the word “also.” In other words, in addition to bearing no fruit itself, the tree also took up space that might otherwise be made productive. The Jewish nation had come to the place where it was not merely useless, so far as fulfilling the role God had appointed it; it had become an obstruction to the carrying out of the plan of salvation for others (COL 215; see Vol. IV, pp. 31-33).

Verse 8

Luke 13:8

KJV ⁸ And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: WEB ⁸ He answered, ‘Lord, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.

Let it alone

It has been suggested that the “three years” (v. 7) refer figuratively to the first three years inclusive of Jesus’ ministry. The present would be the year of grace after the “three years,” for it had now been more than three years since Jesus’ baptism (see on Matthew 4:12

KJV ¹² Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; WEB ¹² Now when Jesus heard that John was delivered up, he withdrew into Galilee.
), and but a few months remained before the crucifixion (see on Luke 13:1

KJV ¹ There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. WEB ¹ Now there were some present at the same time who told him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.
). The mercy of God still waited and appealed to the Jewish nation to repent and accept Jesus as the Messiah. But linked with the extension of mercy was the implied warning that this one more opportunity would be the last.

Dig about it, and dung it.

The “vine worker” (see on v. 7) had no doubt given the tree at least as much care as he had the other trees in the vineyard. But in this last attempt to help it bear fruit he seems to have done more than ever before (see Isaiah 5:1-4

KJV ¹ Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: ² And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. ³ And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. ⁴ What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? WEB ¹ Let me sing for my well beloved a song of my beloved about his vineyard. My beloved had a vineyard on a very fruitful hill. ² He dug it up, gathered out its stones, planted it with the choicest vine, built a tower in the middle of it, and also cut out a wine press in it. He looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes. ³ “Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, please judge between me and my vineyard. ⁴ What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? Why, when I looked for it to yield grapes, did it yield wild grapes?
; see on Matthew 21:37

KJV ³⁷ But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. WEB ³⁷ But afterward he sent to them his son, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’
).

Verse 9

Luke 13:9

KJV ⁹ And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down. WEB ⁹ If it bears fruit, fine; but if not, after that, you can cut it down.’”

If it bear fruit, well.

Note that the word “well” is italicized, a supplied word in English. The Greek represents an unusual figure of speech—aposiopesis—in which there is a sudden break in the thought. Nothing is said about the outcome of the experiment.