1 There were present at that season, some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
2 And Iesus answering, said vnto them, Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners aboue all the Galileans, because they suffered such things?
3 I tell you, Nay: but except yee repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
4 Or those eighteene, vpon whom the towre in Siloe fell, and slew them, thinke ye that they were sinners aboue all men that dwelt in Hierusalem?
5 I tell you, Nay; but except yee repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
6 ¶ Hee spake also this parable, A certaine man had a figtree planted in his Uineyard, and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
7 Then said hee vnto the dresser of his Uineyard, Beholde, these three yeeres I come seeking fruit on this figtree, and finde none: cut it downe, why cumbreth it the ground?
8 And he answering, said vnto him, Lord, let it alone this yeere also, till I shall digge about it, and doung it:
9 And if it beare fruit, Well: and if not, then after that, thou shalt cut it downe.
10 And he was teaching in one of the Synagogues on the Sabbath.
11 ¶ And beholde, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmitie eighteene yeeres, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift vp her selfe.
12 And when Iesus saw her, he called her to him, and said vnto her, Woman, thou art loosed frō thy infirmitie.
13 And hee layd his handes on her, and immediatly she was made straight, and glorified God.
14 And the ruler of the Synagogue answered with indignation, because that Iesus had healed on the Sabbath day, and said vnto the people, There are sixe dayes in which men ought to worke: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.
15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doeth not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his oxe or his asse from the stall, and leade him away to watering?
16 And ought not this woman being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, loe these eighteene yeeres, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?
17 And when hee had said these things, all his aduersaries were ashamed: & all the people reioyced for all the glorious things that were done by him.
18 ¶ Then said he, Unto what is the kingdome of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?
19 It is like a graine of mustard seed, which a man tooke, and cast into his garden, and it grew, and waxed a great tree: and the foules of the aire lodged in the branches of it.
20 And againe hee said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdome of God?
21 It is like leauen, which a woman tooke and hidde in three measures of meale, till the whole was leauened.
22 And he went thorow the cities and villages, teaching and iourneying towards Hierusalem.
23 Then said one vnto him, Lord, are there few that be saued? And he said vnto them,
24 ¶ Striue to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say vnto you, will seeke to enter in, and shall not be able.
25 When once the master of the house is risen vp, & hath shut to the doore, and ye begin to stand without, & to knocke at the doore, saying, Lord, Lord, open vnto vs, and he shal answere, & say vnto you, I know you not whence you are:
26 Then shall ye begin to say, Wee haue eaten and drunke in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence you are; depart from me all ye workers of iniquitie.
28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when yee shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Iacob, and all the Prophets in the kingdome of God, and you your selues thrust out.
29 And they shall come from the East, and from the West, and from the North, and from the South, and shall sit downe in the kingdome of God.
30 And behold, there are last, which shall be first; and there are first, which shall be last.
31 ¶ The same day there came certaine of the Pharises, saying vnto him, Get thee out, and depart hence; for Herode will kill thee.
32 And he said vnto them, Go ye and tell that Foxe, behold, I cast out deuils, and I doe cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.
33 Neuerthelesse, I must walke to day and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a Prophet perish out of Hierusalem.
34 O Hierusalem, Hierusalem, which killest the Prophets, and stonest them that are sent vnto thee; how often would I haue gathered thy children together, as a henne doeth gather her brood vnder her wings, & ye would not?
35 Behold, your house is left vnto you desolate. And verely I say vnto you, ye shall not see me, vntill the time come when yee shall say, Blessed is hee that commeth in the Name of the Lord.
Christ exhorts to repentance from the case of the Galileans and others. (1-5) Parable of the barren fig-tree. (6-9) The infirm woman strengthened. (10-17) The parables of the mustard seed, and leaven. (18-22) Exhortation to enter at the strait gate. (23-30) Christ's reproof to Herod, and to the people of Jerusalem. (31-35)1-5 Mention was made to Christ of the death of some Galileans. This tragical story is briefly related here, and is not met with in any historians. In Christ's reply he spoke of another event, which, like it, gave an instance of people taken away by sudden death. Towers, that are built for safety, often prove to be men's destruction. He cautioned his hearers not to blame great sufferers, as if they were therefore to be accounted great sinners. As no place or employment can secure from the stroke of death, we should consider the sudden removals of others as warnings to ourselves. On these accounts Christ founded a call to repentance. The same Jesus that bids us repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, bids us repent, for otherwise we shall perish.
6-9 This parable of the barren fig-tree is intended to enforce the warning given just before: the barren tree, except it brings forth fruit, will be cut down. This parable in the first place refers to the nation and people of the Jews. Yet it is, without doubt, for awakening all that enjoy the means of grace, and the privileges of the visible church. When God has borne long, we may hope that he will bear with us yet a little longer, but we cannot expect that he will bear always.
10-17 Our Lord Jesus attended upon public worship on the sabbaths. Even bodily infirmities, unless very grievous, should not keep us from public worship on sabbath days. This woman came to Christ to be taught, and to get good to her soul, and then he relieved her bodily infirmity. This cure represents the work of Christ's grace upon the soul. And when crooked souls are made straight, they will show it by glorifying God. Christ knew that this ruler had a real enmity to him and to his gospel, and that he did but cloak it with a pretended zeal for the sabbath day; he really would not have them be healed any day; but if Jesus speaks the word, and puts forth his healing power, sinners are set free. This deliverance is often wrought on the Lord's day; and whatever labour tends to put men in the way of receiving the blessing, agrees with the design of that day.
18-22 Here is the progress of the gospel foretold in two parables, as in #Mt 13|. The kingdom of the Messiah is the kingdom of God. May grace grow in our hearts; may our faith and love grow exceedingly, so as to give undoubted evidence of their reality. May the example of God's saints be blessed to those among whom they live; and may his grace flow from heart to heart, until the little one becomes a thousand.
23-30 Our Saviour came to guide men's consciences, not to gratify their curiosity. Ask not, How many shall be saved? But, Shall I be one of them? Not, What shall become of such and such? But, What shall I do, and what will become of me? Strive to enter in at the strait gate. This is directed to each of us; it is, Strive ye. All that will be saved, must enter in at the strait gate, must undergo a change of the whole man. Those that would enter in, must strive to enter. Here are awakening considerations, to enforce this exhortation. Oh that we may be all awakened by them! They answer the question, Are there few that shall be saved? But let none despond either as to themselves or others, for there are last who shall be first, and first who shall be last. If we reach heaven, we shall meet many there whom we little thought to meet, and miss many whom we expected to find.
31-35 Christ, in calling Herod a fox, gave him his true character. The greatest of men were accountable to God, therefore it became him to call this proud king by his own name; but it is not an example for us. I know, said our Lord, that I must die very shortly; when I die, I shall be perfected, I shall have completed my undertaking. It is good for us to look upon the time we have before us as but little, that we may thereby be quickened to do the work of the day in its day. The wickedness of persons and places which more than others profess religion and relation to God, especially displeases and grieves the Lord Jesus. The judgment of the great day will convince unbelievers; but let us learn thankfully to welcome, and to profit by all who come in the name of the Lord, to call us to partake of his great salvation.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.