Bible Commentaries
Luke 13

Verse 1

were present = arrived.

at = in. Greek. en. App-104 . Not the same word as in Luke 13:24 .

told Him = telling Him.

of = about. Greek. peri. App-104 .

Galilaeans . . . Pilate. Probably the cause of the enmity of Luke 23:12 .

with . Greek. meta. App-104 .

Verse 2

Jesus ( App-98 . X). Read "He" with [L] T Tr. A WI R.

were = happened to be.

sinners = defaulters. Connecting it with Luke 12:58 .

above . Greek para. App-104 .

suffered = have suffered.

Verse 3

tell = say to.

Nay . Greek. ouchi. App-105 .

except ye repent = if ( App-118 ) ye repent ( App-111 ) not ( App-105 ).

Verse 4

upon . Greek. epi. App-104 .

in . Greek en. App-104 . Not the same word as in Luke 13:21 .

Siloam. See App-68 . Compare Nehemiah 3:16 . Isaiah 8:6 . John 19:7 .

slew = killed.

men. Greek. anthropos. App-123 .

Verse 6

this parable . Combining the fig tree and the vineyard. See John 15:1 .

a fig tree. The symbol of Israel's national privilege. See notes on Judges 9:8-12 . Here it denotes that special privilege of that generation. Compare Jeremiah 24:3 .Hosea 9:10 . Matthew 21:19 .

vineyard . Psalms 80:8-11 . Compare Isaiah 5:2 , &c.

thereon = on (Greek. en. App-104 .) it.

none = not ( App-105 . a) any.

Verse 7

unto . Greek. pros. App-104 .

dresser of vineyard . One word in Greek. Occurs only here. Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

these three years . Can refer only to the period of the Lord's ministry. The texts add aph' hou = from which, or since (three years). on. Greek. en. App-104 .

cut it down = cut it out: i.e. from among the vines.

cumbereth it the ground = injureth it the soil also. The Authorized Version omits this "also", though it stands in the Greek text.

cumbereth. Greek. katargeo. Only here in the Gospels. Twenty-five times in the Epistles in the sense of vitiate. See Romans 3:3 .

Verse 8

Lord. App-98 .

this : i.e. this third year.

about . Greek. peri. App-104 .

dung it = put manure. Greek. kopria. Only here, and Luke 14:35 .

Verse 9

if , &c. App-118 .

not . Greek. mege, compound of me. App-105 .

after that in (Greek. eis. App-104 .) the future.

thou shalt . Note, not I will.

Verse 10

sabbath . Plural See on Luke 24:1 .

Verse 11

spirit. Greek. pneuma. An evil demon. App-101 .12.

of = causing. Genitive of Origin. App-17 .

eighteen years . A type of the condition of the nation. A long-standing case, as "Signs" "C" and "C". App-176 .

bowed together = bent double. Occurs only here in N.T.

could in no wise lift = wholly unable to lift, &c.

in no wise . Not. Greek. ou me, as in Luke 13:35 ; but me eis to panteles = not unto the furthest extent = unable to the uttermost. Occurs only here (complete human inability), and Hebrews 7:25 (complete Divine ability).

lift up. Occurs only here, Luke 21:28 and John 8:7 , John 8:10 in the N.T.

Verse 12

saw. App-133 .

loosed. Used of disease only here in N.T., because she had been bound with a demoniac band. See note on Mark 7:35 .

Verse 13

made straight = set upright again. Greek. anorthoo. Occurs only here, Acts 16:16 . Hebrews 12:12 . Compare am = again, in analuo Luke 12:36 ("return ").

Verse 14

not . Greek. me. App-105 .

Verse 15

hypocrite. See note on Luke 11:44

not. Greek. ou. App-105 .

loose. Compare note on Luke 13:12 , and see the Structure.

from. Greek. apo. App-104 .

Verse 16

ought. The same word as the ruler's, but as an Interrogative. The former was based on ceremonial law; the Lord's, on the necessity of Divine love.

daughter. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), App-6 . for descendant.

lo. Greek. idou. App-133 . Same as Behold, Luke 13:7 .

bond. See note on Mark 7:35 .

Verse 17

when He had said = while He was saying.

ashamed = put to shame

for = at. Greek. epi. App-104 .

done = coming to pass.

by . Greek. hupo. App-104 .

Verse 18

Then said He, &c. Repeated with variations from Matthew 13:31 , &c.

Unto what . . . ? Compare Isaiah 40:18 .

the kingdom of God . App-114 .

Verse 19

into . Greek. eis. App-104 .

waxed = became into (Greek. eis).

great. Omit [L] T [Tr. A] WH R.

fowls = birds.

the air = the heaven. Singular. See notes on Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .

lodged = nested. Greek. kataskenoo. Occurs four times: here; Matthew 13:32 .Mark 4:32 , Acts 2:26 .

Verse 21

leaven. See note on Matthew 13:33 .

in. Greek. eis. App-104 .

Verse 22

through . Greek. kata. App-104 .

journeying = progressing.

toward . Greek. eis . App-104 .

Verse 23

Lord . App-98 . A.

are there = if ( App-118 . a) there are.

be = are being.

Verse 24

Strive = Struggle, literally agonize. Occurs elsewhere only in John 18:36 . 1 Corinthians 9:25 .Colossians 1:29 ; Colossians 4:12 . 1 Timothy 6:12 . 2 Timothy 4:7 .

at = through. Greek. dia. App-104 .Luke 13:1 .

strait = narrow.

gate . All the texts read "door", as in Luke 13:25 . In Matthew 7:13 it is "gate".

Verse 25

When once = From (Greek. apo. App-104 . iv) whatsoever time. master of the house. App-98 .

is risen up = may have risen up (Greek. an).

shut to . Occurs only here.

Lord, Lord . Note the Figure of speech Epizeuxis ( App-6 ), for emphasis. See note on Genesis 22:11 .

I know. Greek. oida. App-132 .

whence : i, e. of what family or household.

Verse 26

in Thy presence = before Thee.

Thou hast taught , &c. This shows to whom these words are addressed, and thus limits the interpretation to "this generation".

Verse 27

iniquity = unrighteousness. Greek adikia. App-128 .

Verse 28

weeping = the weeping. See note on Matthew 8:12 .

when . Defining the special occasion.

see . App-133 .

thrust out = being cast outside. This is the occasion referred to.

Verse 29

they shall come . A reference to Isaiah 49:12 .

and . Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton. App-6 .

sit down = recline (at table). Compare Luke 7:36 ; Luke 12:37 .

Verse 31

The same day = In, or on, &c. (Greek. en. App-104 .) = just then.

day . LT Tr. WH R read" hour".

certain of the Pharisees = certain Pharisees.

will = wishes: i.e. means to. See App-102 .

Verse 32

fox . Figure of speech Hypocatastasis. App-6 .

devils = demons.

do cures = perform, or effect cures.

cures. Occurs only here

and Acts 4:22 , Acts 4:30 .

I shall be perfected = I come to an end [of My work]: viz. by the miracle of John 11:40-44 . Compare John 19:30 .

Verse 33

walk = journey: i.e. through Herod's country.

it cannot be = it is not ( App-105 .) fitting. Greek. endechomai. Occurs only here in N.T.

a prophet. See next verse.

out of: i.e. except in.

Verse 34

Jerusalem, Jerusalem . Figure of speech Epizeuxis ( App-6 ). See note on Genesis 22:11 . Repeated on the second day before the Passover (Matthew 23:37 ). See App-156 .

killest the prophets. See Luke 11:47 ; Luke 20:14 ; Luke 23:34 . Compare Isaiah 1:21 .

would I have gathered = I desired to gather. Compare Luk 13:36

children . App-108 .

hen . Specially contrasted with "fox", Luke 13:32 . Compare Matthew 23:37 .

under. Greek. hupo. App-104 .

ye would not = ye did not desire it.

Verse 35

your house = the Temple. It had been Jehovah's house. Compare John 2:16 . Now it was no longer owned as His. Compare Luke 19:46 .

desolate . Every place is "desolate" where Christ is not.

verily. See note on Matthew 5:18 .

not = by no means. Greek. ou me. App-105 . until. Greek. heos an all the texts omit "an", but it does not alter the conditional sense, which is in the verb).

Blessed. Figure of speech Benedictio, as in Luke 1:42 ; Luke 19:38 ; not Beatitude, as in Luke 12:37 , Luke 12:38 , Luke 12:43 , or Luke 14:14 , Luke 14:15 . Quoted from Psalms 118:26 . Referring to the final and national repentance of Israel, which might have been then (Acts 3:18-20 )near, but Acts 28:25-28 is yet future, while all blessedness has been postponed.

He That cometh = the coming One.

LORD = Jehovah. App-4 and App-98 .