Luke Chapter 13

LUKE 13:6-7

6And He began telling this parable: “A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. 7”And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’

“Why does it even use up the ground?”

Soil was at a premium in Israel. It was not unusual for a vineyard owner to give a little bit of his soil up for a fruit tree but the tree took up the best soil, the deepest soil, and required the most water. A fig tree doesn’t grow fruit until three years after planting, the owner in this story, had given the tree “due season” to bear fruit and yet the tree bore no fruit. It took up valuable space and resources. The owner questioned why the tree was allowed to “even use up ground.”

God had given the Israelites the choicest ground. Their land possessed everything necessary to make themselves a great nation, indeed, a light to all nations. They were strategically positioned to send the fruit of God north and south, east and west; but instead, in fighting continued to make them a worthless fruit tree.

Everyone of us and all of our churches will have to answer (from God’s perspective) this same question, “Why does it even use up the ground?”

Even when only two or three people gather in Christ’s name the potential for justice exists. Some churches have access to huge amounts of capital, some to vast resources of labor and others to square blocks of empty realty and building space.

God’s judgment will be harshest for those who had much but gave little. Can we answer this question from God’s point of view? “Why did I (we) even use up the ground?”

LUKE 13:8-9

8”And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; 9and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’”

“Let it alone, sir, for this year too”

Remember when Abraham pleaded for Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18), bartering for the lives of even fifty and finally ten good men? We tend to think of Abraham as the good man, bartering with a harsh God. But think of all the lives that were crippled by the evil men of those two cities. Their sin did not just impact themselves, it impacted the next generation and that would have continued endlessly had God turned away.

God was allowing Abraham to view his mercy. He wouldn’t wipe out the city if there were even a chance of fifty men with compassion—even ten would have sufficed. Yet, there were not fifty or even ten. These evil-doers longed to rape the angels that God sent among them to save Lot and his family. Their decadence knew no boundaries.

Jesus was God’s last chance. He was God’s, “For this year too…”

“Give me one more chance to help this people bear fruit, I will pour my energy into them, I will give them all of my attention. Then, if they do not bear fruit next year, fine, then cut them down and give the precious soil to another tree.”

God has given us all that is required to be fruitful. He will give us our allotted time and “this year too.” Yet, it is obvious that God expects fruit. We shouldn’t be hazy about this demand for the fruit that God expects is clearly stated in scripture [Proverbs 11:30]

Fruit is none other than planting a tree of life in the lives of others. We are to become compassionate gardeners to others just as our Lord was to us. But, the greatest fruit we could ever plant is the “shoot” that will spring from the stem of Jesse [Isaiah 11:1-10].

The greatest fruit is a nation of peace aligned with the Author of peace and passed on to our children. Will we author peace in our lifetime? Or, will we be among the crowd in the temple square demanding our rights and our sovereignty?

The question is not just, “Are we becoming a nation committed to sustainable peace for all our world’s inhabitants?” The question goes deeper; “Who have I given peace to today?”

There could be no more frightening eulogy to life than: “Why does he even use up the ground?”

There are no wimpy Christians in heaven

LUKE 13:10-30

10And He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11And there was a woman who for eighteen years had had a sickness caused by a spirit; and she was bent double, and could not straighten up at all. 12When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your sickness.” 13And He laid His hands on her; and immediately she was made erect again and began glorifying God. 14But the synagogue official, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, began saying to the crowd in response, “There are six days in which work should be done; so come during them and get healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” 15But the Lord answered him and said, “You hypocrites, does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the stall and lead him away to water him? 16”And this woman, a daughter of Abraham as she is, whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years, should she not have been released from this bond on the Sabbath day?” 17As He said this, all His opponents were being humiliated; and the entire crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things being done by Him.

18So He was saying, “What is the kingdom of God like, and to what shall I compare it? 19”It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and threw into his own garden; and it grew and became a tree, and THE BIRDS OF THE AIR NESTED IN ITS BRANCHES.”

20And again He said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21”It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened.”

22And He was passing through from one city and village to another, teaching, and proceeding on His way to Jerusalem. 23And someone said to Him, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” And He said to them, 24”Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25”Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up to us!’ then He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ 26”Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets’; 27and He will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from; DEPART FROM ME, ALL YOU EVILDOERS.’ 28”In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being thrown out. 29”And they will come from east and west and from north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God. 30”And behold, some are last who will be first and some are first who will be last.”

LUKE 13:10-17

There was a woman who for eighteen years had had a sickness caused by a spirit.

Luke continues to set a stage that contrasts the viewpoint of the religious leaders with that of Jesus. Luke does this differently than the Gospel writers Matthew and John who focused primarily on what Jesus said and then accented Christ’s statements with his actions (or what John calls signs). Conversely, Luke shows us a man of action whose words back up his works. Matthew primarily accents the words and actions of Jesus that would prove he was the Messiah to a largely Jewish audience.

Does my ministry tell people what they should do and do I invite people to help me “labor in the harvest?” Jesus prayed for more laborers who would do the latter rather than the former [Matthew 9:37-38]. There are far too many leaders that try to lead their flocks from the rear, shouting; “Go this way, go that way.”

That is the type of leadership displayed by the rabbi in this story. He looks foolish telling Jesus he shouldn’t have healed the bent woman on the Sabbath saying, “There are six days in which work should be done; so come during them and get healed, and not on the Sabbath day.”

Here is the cancerous view of religion that Jesus condemns; “And this woman, a daughter of Abraham as she is, whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years, should she not have been released from this bond on the Sabbath day?”

The Gospels give us the opportunity to examine Christ’s leadership style: Model, invite and then teach. In John, we learn the first two statements of Jesus’ ministry were:

1. “What do you seek?” [John 1:38]

2. “Come and see.” [John 1:39]

Here in Luke, we see Jesus act and then explain. Theory follows practice. Am I like Christ — leading by example or am I like this rabbi, waiting for someone else to take the lead and then condemning that individual for whatever infraction I perceive was incorrect?

It is obvious that Christ commands us to lead with our actions and for the centerpiece of our faith to be compassion. Am I that type of leader?

“On the Sabbath day!”

Is there any day more appropriate for a healing? Jesus announces; “Woman, you are freed from your sickness.”

“You are freed!” proclaims our Lord. Freed [G630 apoluo], within that word lies the reason for God’s laws in Christ’s eyes. The term, freed, also meant divorced, to break eternal bonds, and to shatter the chains of a slave. That is the crux of religion to Jesus; the laws, the scripture, the traditions, all supported one thing — freedom of the soul from bondage. “You are freed!”

How many businesses have gone bankrupt because they forget their existence depended upon serving their customer. Initially, there is a hunger in eyes of the entrepreneur to “serve the customer.” An overarching attitude of; “I can do that!”

The business booms and slowly they can’t keep up with sales. Managers manage and consultants consult, but they don’t know the customer. They know the government, laws, taxes and they create forms and policy. Sales and service people spend more time looking down at paper than up at people. The customers become the government bureaucrats, accountants and the attorneys who track the “bottom line” but don’t add to it… Soon, every dollar that changes hands costs $0.75 in paperwork.

This was what had become of the church in Christ’s day; and it is what has become of too many churches today. The woman in this story was released from 18 years of binding pain. A true community would fall to its knees in worship of Jesus; forget the tithing plea and the worship order — they would just sit in awe of God’s mercy. Yet, this religious leader sees the woman as a distraction to his liturgical sensibilities. One Saturday morning, the Bearer of Salvation walked into this man’s synagogue and he sent him packing without so much as a membership card.

In Luke’s Gospel, this was Christ’s last visit to a synagogue. Our Lord extended his hand to the religious one last time and they would not shake it. In the process, they look like fools; they go from being indignant to being humiliated.

Where am I in this picture? Am I the fool who can’t move aside for Jesus? Am I the hypocrite who is left hardened in ritual while the need for healing cries out all around me? Do I miss the point of the text because an ‘i’ was left undotted dot or a ‘t’ was left uncrossed?

Lord, remind me that my salvation is based upon the “woman who is set free” and not following the proper protocol for worship and ritual. Let me celebrate restoration — not just analyze its liturgical soundness.

LUKE 13:18-19

[18] So He was saying, “What is the kingdom of God like, and to what shall I compare it? [19] “It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and threw into his own garden; and it grew and became a tree, and THE BIRDS OF THE AIR NESTED IN ITS BRANCHES.”

“THE BIRDS OF THE AIR NESTED IN ITS BRANCHES.”

From a seed hardly larger than a flake of ground pepper comes the largest bush in Palestine. How is that like the Kingdom of God?

1) The seed is so small that one can hardly see it. Who could expect such a tiny speck could become so massive and resilient? Mustard bushes could grow up to 15 or 20 feet in height and width. In like manner, who could have expected that the miniscule seed planted in the likes of Peter, John or James would outlast the empire of Ptolemy, Caligula and Nero? Who would expect that the fragile band hiding behind locked doors in the Upper Room (John 20:19) would spread its branches to enclose the entire world in its embrace?

That is what I try to remember when I am in a detention center or jail sitting across from one lost young person or incarcerated adult. With just a pinch of attention and care, that little seed could become the centerpiece of God’s garden. Will I be available to provide the water and weeding that seed requires?

2) The mustard plant was hardy and thrived in a region where trees were scarce and demanded substantial scarce resources such as water and time. Being a Christian should be similar. We are not made for the niceties of this world and the comforts of a cushioned life. A Christian is most effective when s/he is a stream in the desert or a lamp in the darkness. We thrive where the climate for growth is toughest and where prima donnas wouldn’t last a day.

3) The mustard plant served many purposes. Not only did the mustard plant offer a flavorful spice; but it was also a source of shade and a thick fence for sanctuary to even the humblest home. Because it was so adaptable, even the poorest family could appreciate its blessings.

Does that sound like a description of my church? Are we comfort, spice and sanctuary to the most humble family in our parched world?

However, the availability of the mustard seed is what Christ lifts above its other qualities. The immense plant makes itself available as sanctuary to all of God’s creatures. The mustard bush even became safety to the birds that would nest there. In its branches sprouts a diversity of beauty adding color, song and even protection from desert pests and scavengers. In like manner Jesus called this woman over and added depth, variety and a new strength to her life. They keep us from the sin of comfort and a stagnating death by mediocrity.

“The birds of the air nested in its branches,” that is how our Lord puts it. The verb nested [G2681 Kataskenoo] also means encamped, dwelled or “pitched their tent.” Do the timid and vulnerable “pitch their tent” among us? Are they a living, thriving, joyous part of the people I call community?

Yet, lest I think that I am doing God a favor by acting with righteousness and integrity, look at the promise our Creator gives to the Mustard Seed people [Pslam 15].

Will I dwell in the tent of my Lord? Scripture rephrases the question in another manner; “Do the poor dwell in mine?”

LUKE 13:20-21

20And again He said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 “It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened.”

“A woman took and hid…”

How often do we keep religion silent or hidden? Because I work with County Jails and Detention Centers, I am often told I need to keep the Gospel hidden. At first I chaffed at this; but then I began to see the self-righteousness and belligerence in my attitude. I was becoming one of those prideful, religious, fools that denounced Christ at the beginning of this story. “Fine,” I harrumphed, “If I couldn’t talk about Jesus, I will shake your dust from my feet.”

If I couldn’t talk about Jesus, then I wasn’t going to visit the incarcerated, the vulnerable and the lost. “That would sure teach them!”

Lord, please forgive me for being such a prideful idiot!

It never even occurred to me that God could speak for Himself if I just loved others like Jesus loved me. I began to learn the language of listening, the language of consistency. “Just show up,” I learned, “Ask the one question that would lead the person who came to me (guard or inmate) to open up their heart for the next hour. I learned that my testimony was not worth repeating until someone asked me the golden question; “Why do you even care about someone like me?”

Suddenly, words seemed superfluous — even undermining the moment. “I care because God came looking for me when I was least loved or desiring to be found. This is the least I can do and I wish there was more.”

The leaven of God is not ostentatious. It doesn’t jump around on TV with six pounds of gold covering a $3,000 suit. It doesn’t strut about pompously demanding respect for religious authority (if I have to demand respect, I probably don’t deserve it). Or, as we teach in our Influence classes, “If you have to tell someone you’re the leader — you’re not!”

The kingdom is like three inauspicious pecks of leaven kneaded deep into the bread dough. It is baked in the heat, invisibly acting “below the radar.”

You are more apt to find a true Christian at the epicenter of change. A silent force touching the very nature of the lives into which he or she bonds. You don’t see the Leaven-Leaders; you see the change around them.

LUKE 13:22-24

“Strive to enter...”

“Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?”

There is no secret to salvation and it could not be presented any clearer than in Luke’s depiction of the last march of Jesus, the teachings on judgment from Matthew 25 or the simple “new commandment” of Christ in John 13:34. Walking with Jesus through the stories of Luke we learn salvation is not something we say or do; it is the way we live. Thus, the early Christians called themselves “Followers of the Way.”

Even sin was defined as “missing the point (target).” Like the Rabbi in this chapter or the Pharisees that Jesus would frequently confront, we can say or do all the right things and still miss the point. The point is to stop talking and immediately heal the suffering of the vulnerable.

In the determined march of Jesus to his “baptism” we see that “the Way” is abandonment of pride, self-righteousness, prejudice as well as physical and material encumbrances. Yet, it is not just what we abandon that is important (that alone can lead to the sin of asceticism). Following the Way involves a form of self-denial that places us closer to the vulnerable, the sick, the imprisoned and the abandoned.

The Way can simply be defined as, “Love like Jesus loved.”

Still, though the Way is simple, it is also narrow and arduous. Luke uses a term that translates into “the way is agonizing [G75 Agonizomai].” The word is derived from the Greek Olympics; “to compete in the games,” “to contend for the prize.” Look at how Paul describes “the Way” in 1 Corinthians [1 Corinthians 9:24-25].

The term is important to note. Jesus goes on to say; “For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”

That phrase, “And will not be able,” is actually one word [G2480 Ischuo]. It literally means; they won’t be strong enough, they won’t have the power or force to prevail.

Can we grasp this in the entire context of this last earthly march of Jesus — the “Agonizing Way” — to the cross? If we have not trained for the prize, competed in the games, endured the narrow path than we won’t have what it takes to finish the race.

There are no wimpy Christians in heaven. The closer we get to God; the harder the Way becomes. Jesus was consistently clear about this. We battle for the souls of a lost people. We battle against principalities and through it all the enemy’s greatest temptation is always comfort, “Choose the easy way, you deserve to rest, what about your needs?”

Don’t buy his poison; never stop, as long as there is one untouched soul, one forgotten widow or one neglected child. Never stop, NEVER!

Let us find our comfort in comforting, our hope in caring, our rest in meaning, but let us never stop.

LUKE 13:25-30

25”Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up to us!’ then He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ 26”Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets’; 27and He will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from; DEPART FROM ME, ALL YOU EVILDOERS.’ 28”In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being thrown out. 29”And they will come from east and west and from north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God. 30”And behold, some are last who will be first and some are first who will be last.”

“I do not know where you are from...”

It is harder to imagine a sadder story than this one in the entire bible. These people called Jesus, “Lord,” but they were still excluded from the gates of heaven. They ate and drank from the Lord’s Table, but they were still excluded from the gates of heaven. They had read the scriptures and recognized Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all the prophets; but they were still excluded from the gates of heaven. What did they miss? They missed Jesus in his true form. Not as Messiah, for they did call him, “Lord,” rather they missed Jesus in his most vulnerable form.

Remember how this story started; way back in verse ten when a bent woman is reprimanded by the retentive leader of the synagogue? Remember what he missed? He missed the chance to embrace the woman bent over by 18 years of demonic manipulation. He missed welcoming her, embracing her; he missed the opportunity to love her. He missed Jesus in his most vulnerable form. He knew all about religion but he was an ignorant hypocrite to Jesus.

Unless he awakens to Christ’s viewpoint, this man will be among those eternally left to “weep and gnash their teeth (Jesus’ description of hell).” Most of my days I spend attempting to bring Christ’s love to places where there is, “Weeping and gnashing of teeth.” In our jails, I hear men weep over lost opportunities to love and gnash their teeth in useless blame and excuses. Yet — praise the Lord — our God is the God of second chances, the God who longs to forgive. Still, we all must seize the chance to make up for broken relationships and cast out demons of blame and excuses. If we do, God has a role for us; he has purpose and mission for even the most forlorn life.

This study is sent to jails all across the country; the men reading this and sharing it with their cellmates know they can become God’s greatest light in humankind’s darkest places [Matthew 25:44-46].

But look at the response of the righteous ones; they didn’t even know it was Jesus they were serving [Matthew 25:37-40].

They didn’t love because they “had to”; they didn’t love to “get to” heaven. They loved because God first loved them. Blessed are those who love radically, instinctually — who see pain and run towards it — not away. Blessed are those who give up their place in line to make room for the smallest or the weakest. Blessed are those who could be way out front but choose instead to go back and carry the helpless and encourage the weary. Blessed are they for although they lose their place in line they gain their place in God’s kingdom.

Go and tell that fox…”

LUKE 13:30-35

31Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him, “Go away, leave here, for Herod wants to kill You.” 32And He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.’ 33”Nevertheless I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next day; for it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem. 34”O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it! 35”Behold, your house is left to you desolate; and I say to you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

LUKE 13:30-32

Some Pharisees approached

It is interesting to note, that even with Jesus’ harshness with the Pharisees, some stood up to protect him. Where would I fall? When others are completely honest with me? Do I become their enemy or their friend? Is honesty welcome in my life?

“Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.’”

While the Pharisee’s dance around Herod. Jesus cuts to the core. He will kowtow to no one neither because of their position or their power. Jesus could have saved his own life here by submitting to Herod, he could have gone straight to Herod and asked for lenience. Just as he could have easily answered Pontius at his trial and walked away without any punishment. A simple word would have freed Jesus. He has opportunities right up to the last moment to dodge this bullet. But he stood his ground with dignity and honesty. In Gethsemane, he held his ground — on his knees in prayer — when he could have retreated back to Galilee out of Herod’s reach and the Pharisees’ politics. There were unlimited opportunities for Jesus to “bale out.” But he didn’t, he knew what lay ahead and stood the course for us…

Where do I hold my ground, “on my knees?’

What does that mean for me? What is the sacrifice I need to make for others so I can live with greater integrity?

LUKE 13:33-35

33”Nevertheless I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next day; for it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem. 34”O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it!”

It cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.

How could the most religious city in the world become the most notorious for disobeying God? Religion becomes most warped when it focuses on ideology and ritual instead of on justice and effectiveness. A focus on justice leapfrogs a thousand years of ritualism and rule-adherence. Sin is not breaking the rules; it is focusing on the wrong target. The right target is Jesus and loving his most vulnerable people.

We will recognize him in the poor not in rule-keeping.

Religion had become about the religious leaders instead of about serving the “least of these.” It was bound to “miss the point.” The only way to make sure we don’t miss the point is to surround ourselves with the vulnerable and be loved by the “least of these.”

Just as a hen gathers her brood

My emphasis as a commentator is not to purport one opinion over another but to present enough scriptural background for the reader to make a choice in developing his or her own theology. For some people, this particular verse is very difficult to work through with an open mind. There are those who adamantly believe God is male and only male. Yet, scripture often depicts God in a multi-gender framework (as I show below).

I believe in God as mystery, greater than my ability to contain or explain. He is meta-opinion — greater than my mind and so my mind remains open to however God wants to reveal his being to me and my spirit remains open to how others may experience the Creator.

In the Gospel, Jesus twice-referred to God in a feminine gender, such as here and again in Luke 15 when he compares God to a widow who lost her coin [Luke 15:8-10].

We shouldn’t be too worried about gender-specifics when it comes to God. Luke might have been less hung up about this than other scripture writers having been Gentile and not from the Middle East. Jesus would want us to be flexible in our explanation of God, just as he was.

The key is not my personal preference or opinion. God is also above what coddles my emotional needs or cultural bias. For example, if I am with someone who has been raised with an abusive parent or in an abusively chauvinistic culture, the term “Father-God” might shut him or her down to the idea of a loving God. I need to keep my opinion in check if it prevents another from seeing the vast love and mystery of our Creator.

Just as God is metaphysical (above and beyond physical), so is God also meta-gender (above and beyond being a single gender). God, who created nature, is not nature. The Creator created trees but is not a tree. God created rocks is not a rock. He created genders but he is not a gender.

In order to follow God, we need to repent from resorting to opinions when all we truly have is mystery. Repent is a word that comes from metanoia [G3340]. Some refer to this as a radical change of thought. In actuality, meta-noia is to be above our thoughts, above our rational knowing — embracing mystery through faith. To the Greek, knowledge was in the head, to the Hebrew it was in the heart. To truly know someone meant being intimate with him or her — as when Adam knew Eve [Genesis 4:4 KJV]. Christ sums this up in his repartee with Nicodemus [John 3:1-13].

In essence, Nicodemus says he “knows” God, when in truth, Jesus says “you know about God, but you don’t know God.”

How many of us confused knowing about God for knowing God?

God is truly neither and both male and female — he is above and beyond (meta) definition by a single gender and the full actualization of both. God equally created male and female to complete each other. But in him all is already complete. As humans, we may lack some of the sensitivities of the other sex, but God does not. God is above my opinion, above my knowledge and above my gender.

What insecurities keep us from allowing God to be mystery and demanding others believe exactly as we? What fears keep me from allowing God to be God?

Scriptural Verses on God from a Multi-gender Framework

Isaiah 66:13 King James Version (KJV)

13 As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

Isaiah 49:15 King James Version (KJV)

15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

Isaiah 42:14 King James Version (KJV)

14 I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.

Deuteronomy 32:11-12 King James Version (KJV)

11 As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:

12 So the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.

Matthew 23:37 King James Version (KJV)

37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

Luke 13:34 King James Version (KJV)

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!

“You would not have it!”

What a condemnation of a culture. They were offered hope and refused it, notice Jesus said, “You WOULD not have it,” not, “You COULD not have it.” What is at the heart of someone who WOULD have hope but refuses it? When am I like that? When do I enjoy reveling in my self-pity instead of choosing the available joy?

How do I move myself and invite others beyond the negative? What exercises do I take to make sure I am not acting as a, “Would Not” person? Do I surround myself with determined optimists or cynics?