Testimonia — Early Christian Bible Commentary

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Luke 13

1Now there were some present at the same time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.

2Jesus answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered such things?

3I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.

4Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the men who dwell in Jerusalem?

5I tell you, no, but, unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.”

6He spoke this parable. “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.

7He said to the vine dresser, ‘Behold, these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and found none. Cut it down! Why does it waste the soil?’

8He answered, ‘Lord, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.

9If it bears fruit, fine; but if not, after that, you can cut it down.’”

10He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath day.

11Behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years. She was bent over and could in no way straighten herself up.

12When Jesus saw her, he called her and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.”

13He laid his hands on her, and immediately she stood up straight and glorified God.

14The ruler of the synagogue, being indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the multitude, “There are six days in which men ought to work. Therefore come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day!”

15Therefore the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each one of you free his ox or his donkey from the stall on the Sabbath and lead him away to water?

16Ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham whom Satan had bound eighteen long years, be freed from this bondage on the Sabbath day?”

17As he said these things, all his adversaries were disappointed; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

18He said, “What is God’s Kingdom like? To what shall I compare it?

19It is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and put in his own garden. It grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the sky live in its branches.”

20Again he said, “To what shall I compare God’s Kingdom?

21It is like yeast, which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”

22He went on his way through cities and villages, teaching, and traveling on to Jerusalem.

23One said to him, “Lord, are they few who are saved?” He said to them,

24“Strive to enter in by the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will seek to enter in and will not be able.

25When once the master of the house has risen up and has shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ then he will answer and tell you, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’

26Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’

27He will say, ‘I tell you, I don’t know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity.’

28There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in God’s Kingdom, and yourselves being thrown outside.

29They will come from the east, west, north, and south, and will sit down in God’s Kingdom.

30Behold, there are some who are last who will be first, and there are some who are first who will be last.”

31On that same day, some Pharisees came, saying to him, “Get out of here and go away, for Herod wants to kill you.”

32He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I complete my mission.

33Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the next day, for it can’t be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.’

34“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, like a hen gathers her own brood under her wings, and you refused!

35Behold, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

Early Christian commentary

c. 153–157 AD (date debated) | Justin Martyr

And with regard to our not swearing at all, and always speaking the truth, He enjoined as follows: "Swear not at all; but let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." And that we ought to worship God alone, He thus persuaded us: "The greatest commandment is, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve, with all thy heart, and with all thy strength, the Lord God that made thee." And when a certain man came to Him and said, "Good Master," He answered and said, "There is none good but God only, who made all things." And let those who are not found living as He taught, be understood to be no Christians, even though they profess with the lip the precepts of Christ; for not those who make profession, but those who do the works, shall be saved, according to His word: "Not every one who saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. For whosoever heareth me, and doeth my sayings, heareth Him that sent me. And many will say unto me, Lord, Lord, have we not eaten and drunk in Thy name, and done wonders? And then will I say unto them, Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity. Then shall there be wailing and gnashing of teeth, when the righteous shall shine as the sun, and the wicked are sent into everlasting fire. For many shall come in my name, clothed outwardly in sheep's clothing, but inwardly being ravening wolves. By their works ye shall know them. And every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down and cast into the fire." And as to those who are not living pursuant to these His teachings, and are Christians only in name, we demand that all such be punished by you.

Commentary · The First Apology, Chapter 16 · Original source · Justin Martyr; translated by Marcus Dods; T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh, 1870. Historical transcription supplied by Wikisource contributors. · Licence · Source revision · Whitespace normalized; source pagination and footnote reference markers removed. English wording unchanged.