Luke 13:1-21

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 13:1

At that season - At what time this happened is not easy to determine; but it appears that it was now a piece of news which was told to Christ and his disciples for the first time. Whose blood Pilate had mingled - This piece of history is not recorded (as far as I can find) by Josephus: however, he states that the Galileans were the most seditious people in the land: they belonged properly to Herod's jurisdiction; but, as they kept the great feasts at Jerusalem, they probably, by their... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 13:4

The tower in Siloam - This tower was probably built over one of the porticoes near the pool, which is mentioned John 9:7 . See also Nehemiah 3:15 . Debtors, οφειλεται , a Jewish phrase for sinners. Persons professing to be under the law are bound by the law to be obedient to all its precepts; those who obey not are reckoned debtors to the law, or rather to that Divine justice from which the law came. A different word is used when speaking of the Galileans: they are termed ἁμαρτωλοι... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 13:5

Ye shall all likewise perish - Ὡσαυτως, ὁμοιως , In a like way, in the same manner. This prediction of our Lord was literally fulfilled. When the city was taken by the Romans, multitudes of the priests, etc., who were going on with their sacrifices, were slain, and their blood mingled with the blood of their victims; and multitudes were buried under the ruins of the walls, houses, and temple. See Josephus, War, b. vi. ch. iv., v., vi.; and see the notes on Matthew 24 (note). It is very... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 13:6

A certain man - Many meanings are given to this parable, and divines may abound in them; the sense which our Lord designed to convey by it appears to be the following: - A person, τις , God Almighty. Had a fig tree, the Jewish Church. Planted in his vineyard - established in the land of Judea. He came seeking fruit - he required that the Jewish people should walk in righteousness, in proportion to the spiritual culture he bestowed on them. The vine-dresser - the Lord Jesus, for... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 13:7

Behold these three years - From this circumstance in the parable, it may be reasonably concluded that Jesus had been, at the time of saying this, exercising his ministry for three years past; and, from what is said in Luke 13:8 , of letting it alone this year also, it may be concluded likewise that this parable was spoken about a year before Christ's crucifixion; and, if both these conclusions are reasonable, we may thence infer that this parable was not spoken at the time which appears to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 13:11

A woman which had a spirit of infirmity - Relative to this subject three things may be considered: - I. The woman's infirmity. II. Her cure. And III. The conduct of the ruler of the synagogue on the occasion. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 13:18-19

The kingdom - is like a grain of mustard seed - See on Matthew 13:31 ; (note). read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 13:21

Like leaven - See this explained, Matthew 13:33 ; (note). read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 13:2

Verse 2 2.Do you imagine? etc. This passage is highly useful, were it for no other reason than that this disease is almost natural to us, to be too rigorous and severe in judging of others, and too much disposed to flatter our own faults. The consequence is, that we not only censure with excessive severity the offenses of our brethren; but whenever they meet with any calamity, we condemn them as wicked and reprobate persons. On the other hand, every man that is not sorely pressed by the hand of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 13:6

Verse 6 6.He spoke also this parable. The substance of it is, that many are endured for a time who deserve to be cut off; but that they gain nothing by the delay, if they persist in their obstinacy. The wicked flattery, by which hypocrites are hardened, and become more obstinate, arises from this cause, that they do not think of their sins till they are compelled; and, therefore, so long as God winks at these, and delays his chastisements, they imagine that he is well satisfied with them. Thus... read more

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