Luke 13 – Repent or Perish and Enter the Narrow Gate
Luke 13 opens with a warning and closes with a lament. From national tragedies to fig trees, bent spines to shut doors—Jesus presses His listeners to respond now, before it’s too late.
Urgency and Opportunity
Christ’s words cut through complacency. Every parable, miracle, and warning in this chapter points to one truth: The time to turn to God is now.
✔ Tragedy does not always mean judgment—but repentance is always needed.
✔ The barren fig tree faces judgment unless it bears fruit.
✔ Jesus heals a crippled woman on the Sabbath.
✔ The kingdom starts small but grows vast.
✔ Many will seek the kingdom too late.
📖 Luke 13:3 – “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
🔎 The gospel is an urgent call to life—not just comfort. Repentance is the door to restoration.
Luke Chapter 13 - Overview
Luke 13:1–9 – The Need for Repentance
📖 Luke 13:1–3 – “…some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices… Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans…? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
🔎 Jesus doesn’t explain the tragedy—He redirects the focus. Everyone needs repentance. Suffering is not always punishment, but unrepentance always leads to death.
📖 Luke 13:6–7 – “A certain man had a fig tree… and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none… cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?”
🔎 Fruitlessness is not tolerated forever. God looks for evidence of life. Grace delays judgment—but not endlessly.
📖 Luke 13:8–9 – “Let it alone this year also… and if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.”
🔎 Jesus intercedes for time—but time is not unlimited. The space to repent is mercy. The absence of fruit is dangerous.
Luke 13:10–21 – Healing on the Sabbath and Kingdom Growth
📖 Luke 13:11–13 – “And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years… And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him… and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.”
🔎 Jesus restores what was long bent and broken. His compassion overrides manmade religious rules.
📖 Luke 13:14–16 – “And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation… And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham… be loosed from this bond…?”
🔎 The legalists valued rules over people. Jesus exposes the hypocrisy—and restores the dignity of the afflicted.
📖 Luke 13:18–19 – “Unto what is the kingdom of God like?… like a grain of mustard seed… and it grew, and waxed a great tree…”
🔎 God’s kingdom begins quietly—but its impact becomes vast. Never despise small beginnings.
📖 Luke 13:20–21 – “It is like leaven… till the whole was leavened.”
🔎 The gospel works invisibly but powerfully. The kingdom transforms everything it touches.
Luke 13:22–30 – The Narrow Gate
📖 Luke 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.”
🔎 Salvation is not earned by striving—but it is urgent and intentional. Casual belief won’t fit through a narrow gate.
📖 Luke 13:25 – “When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door… and ye begin to stand without…”
🔎 There will be a time when the door is shut. Delay is dangerous. The time to respond is now.
📖 Luke 13:27–28 – “I know you not… Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth…”
🔎 Proximity to religion is not the same as relationship with Christ. The warning is solemn—familiarity without obedience leads to rejection.
📖 Luke 13:29 – “And they shall come from the east, and from the west… and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.”
🔎 The kingdom is open to all—Jew and Gentile, near and far. But entrance requires entering while the door is open.
Luke 13:31–35 – Christ’s Lament for Jerusalem
📖 Luke 13:34 – “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets… how often would I have gathered thy children together… and ye would not!”
🔎 Jesus weeps for a city unwilling to repent. His heart is full of compassion, but their hearts are hardened.
📖 Luke 13:35 – “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate…”
🔎 Rejection of Christ leads to judgment. What could have been a refuge becomes ruins. But hope remains for those who say, “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.”
Luke Chapter 13 - Deeper Study
Overview: Turn Now—The Gate Will Close
🔹 Timeframe: During Christ’s final journey toward Jerusalem.
🔹 Setting: Along the road, through towns and villages.
🔹 Theme: Repentance, urgency, inclusion, and judgment.
🔹 Connection to Future Events: Foreshadows the final judgment and the openness of the gospel to all nations.
The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree – Grace, Patience, and Coming Judgment
📖 Luke 13:6–9 – “He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.”
🔎 The fig tree is symbolic of God’s people—particularly Israel. It had every advantage: planted in the vineyard (God’s care), visited repeatedly (God’s patience), yet remained barren (unrepentant).
🔎 The owner’s decision to cut it down represents the just judgment of God—but the vinedresser’s plea for one more year mirrors Christ’s intercession for mercy. He doesn’t excuse the barrenness; He offers one last window for change.
🔎 Digging and dunging reflect God’s persistent grace—He disturbs the soil of our lives and enriches it with truth to provoke growth.
🔎 Yet the time is not indefinite. The axe is laid at the root (Matthew 3:10). Repentance cannot be postponed forever.
➡️ This parable calls every heart to examine its fruit. What has God patiently waited for in you? If grace delays judgment, how will you respond today?
The Mustard Seed and the Leaven – How the Kingdom Grows
📖 Luke 13:18–19 – “Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.”
🔎 The mustard seed symbolizes beginnings that seem insignificant. The gospel may start small—one word, one witness, one act—but it expands far beyond its origin. God uses the weak and overlooked to manifest His power.
🔎 The “great tree” reflects global impact. Birds lodging in its branches hint at nations finding refuge in the gospel. This is the kingdom Christ came to build—one of growth, protection, and reach.
📖 Luke 13:20–21 – “And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.”
🔎 Leaven works invisibly, yet thoroughly. The kingdom doesn’t impose from the outside—it transforms from within. True change starts in the heart and spreads through every part of life.
🔎 This parable encourages patience. Spiritual growth often feels slow and unseen, but the process is sure. Just as leaven changes the dough, the Word reshapes the soul.
➡️ The message? Don’t despise small beginnings or invisible workings. God’s kingdom is advancing—quietly, deeply, and powerfully.
The Narrow Door – Urgency, Effort, and Eternal Consequences
📖 Luke 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.”
🔎 The word “strive” (Greek: agonizomai) implies intense effort—as in a race or battle. Jesus is not advocating works-based salvation, but urging seriousness, urgency, and focus. Many will try casually—too late, too lightly.
📖 Luke 13:25–27 – “When once the master of the house is risen up… and ye begin to stand without… I know you not… Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.”
🔎 The closed door is a solemn image of finality. Once God’s window of mercy closes, no plea or association will open it again. Knowing about Jesus is not the same as being known by Him.
📖 Luke 13:28–29 – “There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth… And they shall come from the east, and from the west… and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.”
🔎 Those who thought they belonged will be outside, while unexpected people from distant lands feast with God. The reversal is stunning—and humbling.
➡️ The narrow door is open now, but it will not stay open forever. Don’t delay. Jesus is the door (John 10:9)—enter while there’s still time.
Key Takeaways
🔑 Everyone must repent—no one is exempt.
🔑 Delayed fruitfulness invites judgment.
🔑 The kingdom grows from the smallest faith.
🔑 Salvation requires intentional response.
🔑 Jesus longs to gather the unwilling.
Prophetic Patterns & Dual Fulfillment
🔮 The fig tree echoes Israel’s spiritual barrenness (Hosea 9:10).
🔮 The mustard seed fulfills Daniel 2:35—the growing kingdom that fills the earth.
🔮 The shut door foreshadows Matthew 25:10—the parable of the wise and foolish virgins.
🔮 Jesus’ lament echoes Jeremiah 6:8 and anticipates Matthew 23:37.
Historical & Cultural Context
📜 Sabbath healing often stirred controversy among the religious elite.
📜 Fig trees were symbols of peace and prosperity—yet fruitlessness invited removal.
📜 Pharisees prized physical descent from Abraham—Jesus emphasized spiritual rebirth.
📜 Eastern hospitality meant open doors—but eventually, even they were shut.
💡 Final Reflection: Will You Enter While the Door Is Open?
Luke 13 invites serious reflection. The warnings are not threats—but pleas. Christ is both Judge and Redeemer.
📌 Are you bearing fruit—or just taking up space?
📌 Are you trusting rules—or entering the gate through Christ?
📌 Will you heed His call now—or knock too late?
📖 Luke 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.”
🔥 The gate is narrow—but it’s still open.
Repent or Perish
Luk 13:1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
Luk 13:2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
Luk 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luk 13:4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
Luk 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree
Luk 13:6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
Luk 13:7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
Luk 13:8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
Luk 13:9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
A Woman with a Disabling Spirit
Luk 13:10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.
Luk 13:11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
Luk 13:12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
Luk 13:13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
Luk 13:14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.
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?
Luk 13:16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?
Luk 13:17 And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.
The Mustard Seed and the Leaven
Luk 13:18 Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?
Luk 13:19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.
Luk 13:20 And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?
Luk 13:21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
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.
Lament over Jerusalem
Luk 13:31 The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.
Luk 13:32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.
Luk 13:33 Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.
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 say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
Date Written
Around 60-62 AD
Written By
Luke the physician
Language
Greek
Verses
35