13 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
6 And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ 8 And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”
Section Overview
The previous paragraph emphasized the need to discern God’s work in Jesus and to turn to him and believe in him before it is too late. The next section continues the same theme. The text is split into two sections: verses 1–5 and verses 6–9. In the former we read of a report about Galileans whose blood Pilate mixed with sacrifices, and Jesus also comments on the eighteen who died when the tower of Siloam crashed on them. Jesus responds in both instances to the notion that these things happened to these people because they were worse sinners than others. He rejects this notion completely, arguing that these disasters point to a greater disaster that will strike all who fail to repent. In 13:6–9 we read a parable of man with a fig tree in his vineyard that bore no fruit for three years. The point is that plenty of time has elapsed—Israel should have borne fruit by now. Thus the owner says the tree should be cut down, but the gardener asks for a delay, thinking some manure and extra care might do the trick. Still, the decisive time has come for Israel. If they do not bear fruit and believe in Jesus soon, they will be judged.
Section Outline
IV. Galilee to Jerusalem: Discipleship (9:51–19:27)
A. The Journey Begins (9:51–13:21) . . .
5. Crisis Hour (12:35–13:21) . . .
d. Necessity of Repentance before the End (13:1–9)
Response
Jesus recounts the incident in which a tower in Siloam fell and eighteen people were killed. We cannot read this story today without thinking of the twin towers of the World Trade Center, which collapsed on September 11, 2001, when terrorists ran planes into them. Jesus responds to these incidents in a surprising way. He sternly warns his hearers that those who experience these things are not worse sinners than those who escape harm. Instead he says that all will perish in the same way if they do not repent. Jesus is not saying that those who experience tragedies are being punished by God and are going to hell, nor that they are necessarily innocent. His point is that every disaster in history points forward to the judgment of hell on the last day. Hence, every time there is a disaster, we should be reminded that we will experience something even worse—judgment in hell—unless we repent.
Nor is Jesus teaching that we should not grieve over tragedies. We groan over the evil in our world. As Paul says, we “weep with those who weep” (Rom. 12:15). But we must also be perceptive about the purpose of tragedies in a fallen world. Every car wreck ending in death reminds us that hell awaits those who do not repent. I am not saying Christians do not die in car wrecks! They do. The disasters in history teach us that we must repent. Repentance means giving our lives completely to God.
Every wrinkle on our bodies is a parable reminding us of the consequences of sin. It reminds us that we are dying. Every disease is a wake-up call, telling us that there is something wrong with the world. Every ache and pain is a signal we have sinned. All must cling to the cross of Christ as our only hope in the day of judgment and do deeds worthy of repentance.