Repent or Perish

Luke 13:1-5

Verse 1

Luke 13:1

KJV ¹ There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. NLT ¹ About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple.

There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

SDA Commentary

There were present.

Or, “there arrived.” The massacre had just occurred (COL 212, 213 [URL:https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/15.899#899]), and it may be that the persons who spoke to Christ were the first to bring news of the incident.

At that season.

A common Lucan idiom indicating close relationship to the preceding section (see on ch. Luke 12:1

KJV ¹ In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. NLT ¹ Meanwhile, the crowds grew until thousands were milling about and stepping on each other. Jesus turned first to his disciples and warned them, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees — their hypocrisy.
). The season was probably the winter of a.d. 30-31. Jesus had been speaking about the signs of the times.

Some that told him.

Who these persons were or what their motive was in making this report is not known. There seems no reason to think that their motive was ulterior.

The Galilœans.

This particular massacre is not mentioned by any writer other than Luke, though Josephus refers to many similar massacres perpetrated by Pilate and various other administrators of the province of Judea (Antiquities xvii. 9. 3; xviii. 3. 2; xx. 5. 3; War ii. 2. 5; 9. 4 [30; 175-177]). A massacre of Samaritan worshipers on Mt. Gerizim a few years later, in a.d. 36, led to the recall of Pilate by Caesar (Antiquities xviii, 4. 1, 2).

Mingled.

They were slaughtered while engaged in the very act of offering sacrifices.

Verse 2

Luke 13:2

KJV ² And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? NLT ² “Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?” Jesus asked. “Is that why they suffered?

And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

Notes

The word sinner is from the greek, g268 ἁμαρτωλοὶ ἁμαρτωλός hamartōlos.

SDA Commentary

Sinners above all.

This answer implies that the massacre was considered by the messengers and the audience gathered about Jesus, as a divine judgment, at least to some degree, on those who had lost their lives (cf. Job 4:7

KJV ⁷ Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off? NLT ⁷ “Stop and think! Do the innocent die? When have the upright been destroyed?
; Job 8:4

KJV ⁴ If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression; NLT ⁴ Your children must have sinned against him, so their punishment was well deserved.
, Job 8:20

KJV ²⁰ Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers: NLT ²⁰ “But look, God will not reject a person of integrity, nor will he lend a hand to the wicked.
; Job 22:5

KJV ⁵ Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite? NLT ⁵ No, it’s because of your wickedness! There’s no limit to your sins.
; John 9:1-2

KJV ¹ And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. ² And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? NLT ¹ As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. ² “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?”
). This conclusion Jesus emphatically denies. Whenever a convenient opportunity arose Jesus repudiatedrepudiated the popular notion that suffering is necessarily a punishment for sin. The temptation to think of accident or misfortune as an “act of God” comes from Satan, who seeks thereby to have men consider God a harsh and cruel Father.

Verse 3

Luke 13:3

KJV ³ I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. NLT ³ Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God.

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

Acts 2:38

KJV 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. NLT ³⁸ Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
– Repent ... for forgiveness of sin.

SDA Commentary

Repent.

According to the Greek, “repent, and keep on repenting.” Punishment for sin is metedmeted out on the last great day of judgment. Jesus condemns neither Pilate nor the Galileans. If any of the Jews had hoped to elicit from Him a denunciation of Pilate’s cruelty, they were disappointed. From every experience of life the Christian may learn, if he will, how to walk before God more perfectly with a humble heart. Disappointment, misfortune, and calamity, whether witnessed or experienced, can teach the humble, receptive child of God precious lessons that can be learned in no other way.

Verse 4

Luke 13:4

KJV 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? NLT ⁴ And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem?

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?

Acts 28:4

KJV ⁴ And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. NLT ⁴ The people of the island saw it hanging from his hand and said to each other, “A murderer, no doubt! Though he escaped the sea, justice will not permit him to live.”
– Pagans thought Paul was evil when he was bitten by a snake.

Notes

The word sinners is from the Greek, g3781 ὀφειλέται ὀφειλέτης opheiletēs, and it is different to the word sinner in verse 2 above. See commentary below.

SDA Commentary

Tower in Siloam.

Probably connected with the Pool of Siloam, and no doubt part of the fortifications system of Jerusalem. Concerning the Pool of Siloam see Vol. I, p. 120; Vol. II, p. 87; and on 2 Kings 20:20

KJV ²⁰ And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? NLT ²⁰ The rest of the events in Hezekiah’s reign, including the extent of his power and how he built a pool and dug a tunnel to bring water into the city, are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.
; Nehemiah 3:15

KJV ¹⁵ But the gate of the fountain repaired Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah; he built it, and covered it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and the wall of the pool of Siloah by the king's garden, and unto the stairs that go down from the city of David. NLT ¹⁵ The Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallum son of Col-hozeh, the leader of the Mizpah district. He rebuilt it, roofed it, set up its doors, and installed its bolts and bars. Then he repaired the wall of the pool of Siloam near the king’s garden, and he rebuilt the wall as far as the stairs that descend from the City of David.
; John 9:7

KJV ⁷ And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. NLT ⁷ He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So the man went and washed and came back seeing!
.

Sinners.

Gr. opheiletai, literally, “debtors”; hence used here in the sense of “offenders”; not hamartöloi, “sinners,” as in v. 2 (cf. Matthew 6:12

KJV ¹² And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. NLT ¹² and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
; Luke 7:41

KJV ⁴¹ There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. NLT ⁴¹ Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people — 500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other.
).

Verse 5

Luke 13:5

KJV ⁵ I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. NLT ⁵ No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too.”

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

Commentary

Repent.

See on v. 3.

How do these verses help you understamd the correlation between human evil and natural disasters?

Have you or anyone you have known ever think of being as being morally superior to victims like these?

These verses teach that evil, when it happens, serves as wakeup calls. God did not cause it, but what can you learn from it? a

The take away point when you see tragedies like this happening to others is not to think they must be worse sinners than yourself. It’s to realize that we are all sinners needing to be forgiven of our sins in Christ Jesus. We all need to turn to Jesus as our Lord and Savior and find forgiveness of sins and new life in Christ. b

Many accuse God of being cruel and a bad judge – even claiming natural disasters, as “acts of God”. c

Suffering is not a sign of special wickedness

People like to interpret what is happening in the lives of others, but not in their own lives!

God is totally free in the way in which He brings life to an end

Every sudden even is a call to repentance – and especially repentance for our unfaithfulness d

The Barren Fig Tree

Luke 13:6-9

Verse 6

Luke 13:6

KJV 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. NLT ⁶ Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed.

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.

Galatians 5:22

KJV ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, NLT ²² But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
– FRUIT of the Spirit

SDA Commentary

This parable.

Concerning the parable teaching of Jesus and principles for the interpretation of parables see pp. 203-207. In giving this parable Jesus designed to show the relationship between divine mercy and divine justice (COL 212 [URL:https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/15.899]). Also, the long-suffering of God is set forth in relationship to the need for timely repentance on man’s part.

A fig tree.

The fig tree aptlyaptly illustrates the truth that God loves even those who are unfruitful []. but that His mercy can, at last, be exhausted. The fig tree was to be cut down unless it brought forth acceptable fruit (cf. Isaiah 5:1-7

KJV ¹ Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: ² And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. ³ And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. ⁴ What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? ⁵ And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: ⁶ And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. ⁷ For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry. NLT ¹ Now I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a rich and fertile hill. ² He plowed the land, cleared its stones, and planted it with the best vines. In the middle he built a watchtower and carved a winepress in the nearby rocks. Then he waited for a harvest of sweet grapes, but the grapes that grew were bitter. ³ Now, you people of Jerusalem and Judah, you judge between me and my vineyard. ⁴ What more could I have done for my vineyard that I have not already done? When I expected sweet grapes, why did my vineyard give me bitter grapes? ⁵ Now let me tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will tear down its hedges and let it be destroyed. I will break down its walls and let the animals trample it. ⁶ I will make it a wild place where the vines are not pruned and the ground is not hoed, a place overgrown with briers and thorns. I will command the clouds to drop no rain on it. ⁷ The nation of Israel is the vineyard of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. The people of Judah are his pleasant garden. He expected a crop of justice, but instead he found oppression. He expected to find righteousness, but instead he heard cries of violence.
). In a general sense the fig tree represents every individual, and in a special sense, the Jewish nation.

In his vineyard.

It is a common sight today to see fig trees growing among the vines in the gardens of Palestine.

Found none.

See on Mark 11:13

KJV ¹³ And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. NLT ¹³ He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit.
.

Verse 7

Luke 13:7

KJV 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? NLT ⁷ Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’

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?

John 15:6

KJV ⁶ If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. NLT ⁶ Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.
– Branch cast of from Him

Notes

The owner of vineyard usually known as to represent God the Father.

The vine worker is Jesus.

SDA Commentary

Dresser of his vineyard.

Literally, “vine worker.”

These three years.

Three years had passed by since the owner of the vineyard considered that this particular tree had reached the age when fruit might be expected of it. He had given it ample opportunity to bear fruit if it was ever going to do so.

Cut it down.

Literally, “cut it out,” that is, “from among” the vines of the vineyard.

Cumbereth it.

The Greek has in addition the word “also.” In other words, in addition to bearing no fruit itself, the tree also took up space that might otherwise be made productive. The Jewish nation had come to the place where it was not merely useless, so far as fulfilling the role God had appointed it; it had become an obstruction to the carrying out of the plan of salvation for others (COL 215; see Vol. IV, pp. 31-33).

Verse 8

Luke 13:8

KJV ⁸ And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: NLT ⁸ “The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer.

And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

Romans 11:4

KJV ⁴ But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. NLT ⁴ And do you remember God’s reply? He said, “No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal!”
– By any means Paul wants to save people

SDA Commentary

Let it alone

It has been suggested that the “three years” (v. 7) refer figuratively to the first three years inclusive of Jesus’ ministry. The present would be the year of grace after the “three years,” for it had now been more than three years since Jesus’ baptism (see on Matthew 4:12

KJV ¹² Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; NLT ¹² When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee.
), and but a few months remained before the crucifixion (see on Luke 13:1

KJV ¹ There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. NLT ¹ About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple.
). The mercy of God still waited and appealed to the Jewish nation to repent and accept Jesus as the Messiah. But linked with the extension of mercy was the implied warning that this one more opportunity would be the last.

Dig about it, and dung it.

The “vine worker” (see on v. 7) had no doubt given the tree at least as much care as he had the other trees in the vineyard. But in this last attempt to help it bear fruit he seems to have done more than ever before (see Isaiah 5:1-4

KJV ¹ Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: ² And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. ³ And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. ⁴ What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? NLT ¹ Now I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a rich and fertile hill. ² He plowed the land, cleared its stones, and planted it with the best vines. In the middle he built a watchtower and carved a winepress in the nearby rocks. Then he waited for a harvest of sweet grapes, but the grapes that grew were bitter. ³ Now, you people of Jerusalem and Judah, you judge between me and my vineyard. ⁴ What more could I have done for my vineyard that I have not already done? When I expected sweet grapes, why did my vineyard give me bitter grapes?
; see on Matthew 21:37

KJV ³⁷ But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. NLT ³⁷ “Finally, the owner sent his son, thinking, ‘Surely they will respect my son.’
).

Notes

I understand the dung to be unpleasant things God allows into our lives, in order to help us grow – by seeking Him.

Verse 9

Luke 13:9

KJV ⁹ And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down. NLT ⁹ If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’”

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

Ezra 9:14

KJV ¹⁴ Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping? NLT ¹⁴ But even so, we are again breaking your commands and intermarrying with people who do these detestable things. Won’t your anger be enough to destroy us, so that even this little remnant no longer survives?
– Should we choose to be consumed?

Revelation 15:4

KJV ⁴ Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest. NLT ⁴ Who will not fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous deeds have been revealed.”
– Sing in Heaven

SDA Commentary

If it bear fruit, well.

Note that the word “well” is italicized, a supplied word in English. The Greek represents an unusual figure of speech—aposiopesis—in which there is a sudden break in the thought. Nothing is said about the outcome of the experiment.

The application we must take today is to look at the fruit of the church today. In our day, are God’s people bearing fruit as we should? We can ask that as a church as a whole. We can also each ask that individually who are in the church. Have you been bearing fruit for Christ? If not, realize all the advantages you have to do so. You have been the recipient of the ministry of the Word and Sacrament. You have been blessed to be a part of the worship of the saints as we lift our prayers and praises to God. We each have so much reason that we should be bearing fruit. If you have not been bearing fruit, this is a call by God to repent and look to him afresh.