Luke 13-14: More than a few verses....

Ok, these are picked out of context so it's best to read these chapters in their entirety.

That said, I observed after a great Bible Study group last night in these chapters, I was trying to reflect on the complexity of Jesus messages, and particularly how they relate to who is truely one of his disciples. Looking back over the two chapters and a bit further along in the book, we read....

Btw...to me there does seem to be some common, but very pointed theme in all these, or perhaps I'm reading too much into it. I think when we get to 18:13-14 we get an answer confirming what he starts by saying......

Luk 13:3  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Repeated again...

Luk 13:5  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Btw, one might say that when a person hears God's effectual call, which goes out to all of his chosen people ( don't take that as an exclusive term, but in it's inclusive sense, all that are given ears to hear will hear and respond, try reading John 6 for more on this), they will respond in these ways, turning repenting, believing. Old John Gill writes....but except ye repent; of sin, and particularly of the disbelief of the Messiah:

Peter preached: 

Act 2:37  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Act 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

So we read in Luke..

Luk 13:9  And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

Luk 13:15  The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?

The Narrow Door

Luk 13:22  And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.

Luk 13:23  Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,

Luk 13:24  Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Luk 13:25    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:

Luk 13:26  Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

Luk 13:27  But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

Luk 13:28  There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

Luk 13:29  And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.

Luk 13:30  And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

Luk 13:34    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 doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!

Luk 13:35  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

Luk 14:3  And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?

Luk 14:4  And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;

Luk 14:5  And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?

Luk 14:11  For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Luk 14:24  For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

Luk 14:33  So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Salt Without Taste Is Worthless

Luk 14:34  Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?

Luk 14:35  It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Luk 15:1  Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

Luk 18:9  And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

Luk 18:10  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

Luk 18:11  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

Luk 18:12  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

Luk 18:13  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

Luk 18:14  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.