Third Sunday after Pentecost – June 29, 2025

 

Introduction

  • We have been examining the ministry of Jesus recorded in Luke’s Gospel. Last week, we ended by considering Lk 13:10-17: Jesus’ healing of a woman with a spiritually induced medical condition that left her disfigured. The healing raises questions about the kingdom of God, since it was a demonstration of Jesus’ authority over Satan, who had kept her in bondage for eighteen years.
  • In today’s text, Jesus provides some teaching about the kingdom of God. He starts with two brief analogies, answers a question about how many might enter it and concludes with a lament over “Jerusalem” (i.e., all Israel) for its refusal to accept his salvation.

Exegesis of Luke 13:18-35

18 Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? 19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.” 20 Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? 21 It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

  • Two word pictures: tiny mustard seed, used proverbially in Judaism for something very small. Some types of mustard plants become twenty-five foot tall trees that become a place of shelter and shade. Jesus is the mustard seed (Jn 12:24).
  • Yeast, once added to dough, permeates a whole batch.
  • Both start inconspicuously but slowly become pervasive. Jews expected a sudden, dramatic and comprehensive in-breaking of God’s kingdom on earth.

22 Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”

He said to them, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ 26 “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’ 28 “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 30 Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”

  • “Few saved?” – a common point of speculation among the Jews. Some said few (2 Esdras 8:1-3); others said all Jews would be saved (cf. Isa 60:2).
  • “Make every effort” – Jesus personalizes the issue. He tells them to agonizomahee.
  • “Don’t know you or where you come from” – one’s place of origin was a significant part of one’s identity. In OT, “knowing” often means God’s sovereign “choosing” into a saving relationship (Amos 3:2; cf. Isa 63:16; Jer 1:5).
  • “Away from me you evil doers” – compare Ps 6:8 and Matt 7:21-23.
  • “feast in the kingdom” – the eschatological Messianic banquet (Isa 25:6-9; Rev 19:5-11). This pictures God’s eternal, bountiful provision (Ps 22:26; 23:5).
  • “Abraham, Isaac, Jacob” – patriarchs, the faithful remnant of Israel.
  • People from “east, west, north, south” – surrounding nations: Gentiles (Isa 2:2; 55:5).
  • “Weeping and gnashing of teeth” – the most excruciating, tormenting regret!

31 At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.” 32 He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’ 33 In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem! 34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. 35 Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

  • “Herod” – Herod Antipas, who ruled Galilee and Perea.
  • “fox” – insignificant, crafty creature preying on chicks Jesus seeks to protect (v.34).
  • “I will keep on…” – defeating Satan through delivering and healing; then reach goal.
  • “today, tomorrow, third day “– not literal three days but a set, short period of time.
  • “as a hen gathers her chicks” – common OT imagery for protection (Dt 32:11).
  • “house is left desolate” – the temple and the “household” of Jerusalem in AD 70.
  • “Blessed is he…” – Ps 118:26: was seen as a Messianic greeting. So, In Lk 19:38, it was used in Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem by his followers.

Takeaway

The fullness of the kingdom of God in the New Order of creation will be infinitely more beautiful and delightful than any pleasure we experience in this life! People from every race, language and nationality will experience it. But not everyone. The path of truly trusting and obeying Jesus is difficult. The door is narrow. Don’t leave anything to chance. Agonize to enter it.