UK 13{Verses 1-5. Those present telling the Lord of what Pilate did wickedly to the Galileans, brings out with fresh force, that there is no escape from the judgment of God for Israel, or for any sinner, but by repentance. The tower of Siloam did not fall without God allowing it. Now was Israel's time to give diligence to be delivered from the Judge, (Luke 12:58,) or they would all likewise perish. Many thousands of them perished at the destruction of Jerusalem, and the rest were scattered because they did not repent. (Matt. 22:7; Luke 19:42-44; 21:28.) There they remain till their deliverance as a nation comes. (Isa. 40:2; Ezek. 37:21.) These scriptures also suggest, that not only in this world do men reap what they sow, (Gal. 6:7, 8) in the government of God, but that wrath from heaven will fall on every sinner out of Christ. (Rom. 1:18; 2:8, 9; Heb. 9:27.)
Verses 6-9. Israel was this fig tree. Everything had been done for it that could be done in the past, and yet it had borne no fruit. At last its judgment is pronounced, but the dresser begs for it another year. So we find Israel spared as a nation till Stephen's murder. The last national offer of pardon is in Acts 3, which they did not accept, but cast the messengers into prison and then stoned Stephen, sending him after his Master. (Luke 19:14.) They rejected their Messiah, smote the Judge of Israel upon the cheek, therefore He gave them up. (Mic. 5:1, 3.) They will not be restored till the church is completed and taken to glory. Individuals out of all nations and out of Israel compose the Church-the body and bride of Christ. And all, both Jew and Gentile, who have died out of Christ are lost forever.
Verses 10-17. The Lord is teaching, going on with His gracious work, despite the sad condition of the Jews. It was the sabbath and here is a woman bowed together for eighteen years with a spirit of infirmity, and could in no wise lift up herself. When Jesus saw her, He called to her, and laid His hands on her, and said, "Woman, thou are loosed from thine infirmity," and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. But the synagogue was ruled by a hypocrite, who pretended to care for the sabbath-the seal of a conversant (Ex. 31:13-17) that was long since broken, and the Lord Jesus did not once tell them to keep it. He thought of the poor woman, one of Israel's flock, a daughter of Abraham, and set her free, but this hypocrite thought more of his ox, or his ass on the sabbath day. What a scathing rebuke the Lord gives him, and all His adversaries were ashamed, and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him. Why did they not recognize and own their King?
Verses 18-21. Since the King has been rejected and is going away, the kingdom of God on earth must necessarily take a different form from the kingdom set up in power and glory. It is compared to a grain of mustard seed, sown in a man's garden and grows to a great tree, and the fowls of the air lodge in its branches. It thus pictures a great powerful system, but evil is sheltered under its branches. It is also like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. Here we get its teaching laying hold of the people as a great influence: in neither are we to think they are all converted. It is the nominal profession of the name of Christ, which is often called Christendom. It describes its appearance as seen in this world. What is for God, as in Matt. 13.-the wheat, the treasure, the pearl, and the good fish-are' not mentioned here.
Verse 22. He is still journeying towards Jerusalem, teaching as He goes. Moses and Elias talked with Him on the mount, of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem; (Chapter 9:30, 31, 51,) and in the same chapter, He steadfastly set His face to go there.
Verses 23-30. One asked Him, "Lord, are there few that be saved?" It may have “been curiosity that led to it, but the Lord speaks an earnest word of exhortation and warning, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the Master of the house is risen, up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and He shall answer and say unto you, 'I know you not whence ye are; depart from Me, all ye workers of iniquity.'" This has its direct application to the unsaved of Israel, but it has a strong voice to those now who have not yet trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as their own Savior. As in Matt. 25. "When the Bridegroom come, they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut." Just think if it should shut today! Which side of the door would you be on? And as here, many from the distant parts of the earth shall be seen associated with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in glory, and the professing Israel cast out with weeping and gnashing of teeth. Likewise, many professing Christians, without a personal Savior, will see the converted heathen with Christ in heavenly glory, and they themselves cast out to eternal darkness, eternal disappointment. "Behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.”
Verses 31-35. "The same day." We can think how these Pharisees hated to hear such teaching, and professing to be interested in His safety, try to get rid of Him, saying, "Get Thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill Thee." His answer reveals Israel's state more fully, and also His personal glory. He cares nothing for their hypocritical warning, nor for Herod. "Go ye and tell that fox," a usurper on the throne of Israel as king, a hypocrite ruling the synagogue. Yet He falls back on the counsels of God. The Father's will shall be done, "Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected." Israel's guilt, Jerusalem's guilt for ages past is manifested. "Nevertheless I must walk today, and tomorrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem." And now, as the great Jehovah, He pours out His heart over the beloved though guilty Jerusalem, on which His heart was set. (Psa. 132:13.) And even now it is not judged forever, but it is set aside till its chastening is fulfilled. And what prophet, but He who is a Prophet and Jehovah Himself, could say, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen Both gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not." Their rejection of the truth was persistent, and now nothing remains but to pronounce the sentence, "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see Me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.”
The nearer the people are to God, if they reject Him, the worse is the sin, and the more dreadful the judgment. Israel was a nation who had God nigh unto them, (Deut. 4:7), and they came near unto Him, (Psa. 148:14,) but now they are cast off till the Lord shall claim His kingdom.
What grace is seen in all this, and how it reminds us of grace now to the Church of God on earth, outwardly ruined as His witness here; ruined by man's interference, and arrangements, and inventions. Yet God, in His sovereign grace, is carrying out His purpose, to have companions in heavenly glory for His Son, as His body and His bride, and nothing can hinder its accomplishment.