“The Just Shall Live By Faith”

New King James Version                          Written by: David Hicks

 

Romans 1:17 “ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

Galatians 3:11 “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."

Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."

“Articles of Faith"

An Orderly Account Of The Greatest Story Ever Told

(A Study in Luke)

Chapter 13:1-9:

At the end of chapter twelve, the Lord began to address the multitudes that surrounded Him as He was teaching His disciples. He rebuked them for not discerning the time of the coming kingdom and unless they came to terms with His teaching, they would be judged by it.

Here in Chapter thirteen as He is journeying towards Jerusalem (9:51 He began the journey and we know that based on verses 32-33 of this chapter, He has not arrived yet), He would continue to instruct the masses of the need to repent or perish!

Text #1:

Luke 13:1-5 “There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

At That Season: It is unclear if the season being mentioned here was the season of discernment mentioned by the Lord in 12:56; or if it was the season for travel for the coming feast?

Pilate and the Jews: The Lord is told about a barbaric act of sacrilegious cruelty committed by Pilate (The Roman proconsul or governor of their province). Pilate's rule in Judea was marked by cruelty towards the Jews and contempt for their religious views and ceremonies. Something has transpired that angered Pilate, and he enforced his penalties upon these while they were engaged in their sacrificial devotions.

Tower of Siloam: A tower that is believed to be part of the ancient system of fortifications on the S.W. corner of Jerusalem near the pool of Siloam. The incident is well known among the people; however, there is no record of this event elsewhere.

Lesson:

•  The Jews believed that the quantity of suffering was directly proportionate to the sinfulness of the individual.

•  It was true that the Galileans had suffered in sin.

•  However, it was not for their individual sin or the severity of it.

•  It was suffering due to the general sinfulness of humanity; the mistreatment of a fellow man out of sinful prejudice and hatred.

•  Jesus informed them that the Galileans or the eighteen that died in the tower event were not any worse than other sinners in God's sight, even though this misfortune had come to them.

•  Jesus is saying that suffering is going to happen to every man regardless of his sinfulness or righteousness. The righteous at least have hope.

•  The saying of the Lord “likewise perish” was not given to say they would suffer the exact same fate if they did not repent, it was given to say that they would ultimately perish if they did not repent of their sins.

•  The only real promise of God for blessing in this life is the joy of hope for those who can humbly trust in the Lord and obey His words of life.

God's judgment of unrighteousness is sure. Only the righteous can find strength in hope, note the words of Ezekiel to a people in captivity:

Ezekiel 14:12-20 “The word of the LORD came again to me, saying: 13 “Son of man, when a land sins against Me by persistent unfaithfulness, I will stretch out My hand against it; I will cut off its supply of bread, send famine on it, and cut off man and beast from it. 14 Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness,” says the Lord GOD.
15 “If I cause wild beasts to pass through the land, and they empty it, and make it so desolate that no man may pass through because of the beasts, 16 even though these three men were in it, as I live,” says the Lord GOD, “they would deliver neither sons nor daughters; only they would be delivered, and the land would be desolate.
17 “Or if I bring a sword on that land, and say, ‘Sword, go through the land,' and I cut off man and beast from it, 18 even though these three men were in it, as I live,” says the Lord GOD, “they would deliver neither sons nor daughters, but only they themselves would be delivered.
19 “Or if I send a pestilence into that land and pour out My fury on it in blood, and cut off from it man and beast, 20 even though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live,” says the Lord GOD, “they would deliver neither son nor daughter; they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness.”

Apostolic instruction to Christians had the same instruction for hope, note;

1 Peter 4:12-16 “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.”

Now as we continue, the Lord will use a parable to illustrate that unless they repent and come back to God, they will “all likewise perish!”

Text #2:

Luke 13:6-9 “He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?' 8 But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9 And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.'”

Fig Tree: These trees were common in this area and wonderful both as shade trees and for the fruit they bore. Fig cakes and strings of dried figs were great food for traveling, as they kept well. The fruit of the fig tree often came before the leaves as an interesting note! Production before splendor!

Parable: A parable was teaching “cast beside” a literal experience that all were familiar with. For those who wanted to see, it contained a spiritual message; however, for those blinded by hardened hearts, it was just a story that they were familiar with (see: Luke 8:9-10).

There can be little doubt based on the first five verses that have brought about this parable, that the fig tree is the children of Israel . The owner is God and the keeper of the vineyard is the Lord.

The keeper asks for a period of time before the owner destroys the vineyard. This portrays that there was to be a period allowed the children of Israel before God would judge them unworthy and allow them to perish. In Matthew 24, as the Lord would describe to His disciples the coming destruction of Jerusalem ; that they would witness, He would talk about that period allowed for Israel to repent, note:

Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

Paul, as an Apostle of Christ would state that the Gospel had gone out in all the world, as mentioned by the Lord about five or six years prior to the destruction of Jerusalem , note:

Colossians 1:5-6 “because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth”

Colossians 1:23 “if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.”

Both John and Jesus came preaching repentance for the kingdom was at hand (Matthew 3:2; Mark 1:15). This would continue until the Lord's death and resurrection. At the coming of the kingdom, the Apostles of the Lord would then preach repentance and the need to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38). From 33 AD until 70 AD this message continued 1st to the Jews and then to the Gentiles (Romans 1:16). Finally, the judgment of God would come after the Gospel of repentance and obedience had come to all (1 Peter 4:17).

God would finally avenge the faithful and punish the unrighteous of Israel .

Revelation 18:20 “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!”

The words of the Lord rang true to these whom He said:

“I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

Next: “Miracle and Teaching”