Luke 13:1-5
Luke 13:1 (KJB)
There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose
blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
The theme of preparation continues as some people who must have come from Judea
had told Jesus that Pilate had mingled the blood of some Galileans with their
sacrifices. Now nothing is written in the history books about this particular
event. Pilate was a cruel man and it would probably take many volumes of writing
to detail his cruelties. The focus of the story is not on the cruel works of
Pilate but the reality of being prepared for death. It is believed that maybe it
was Judas of Galilee but there is no specific evidence for it. (Acts 5:37
KJV) After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew
away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed
him, were dispersed. Prior to the time of the trial of Jesus, Pilate and
Herod were enemies and maybe Pilate killed these Galileans as a hatred for Herod
but I think we will never know.
Luke 13:2 (KJB)
And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were
sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
In Hebrew teaching, it was believed that those who suffered some type of
disaster or some type of disease was because they were under the disfavor of
God. (John 9:2 KJV) And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did
sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? The disciples had
also been brought up under that teaching but Jesus is about to give them a
lesson that disaster can happen to anyone since we live in a fallen world. Then
Jesus poses a question to the crowd asking them if they thought that these
Galileans were much worse sinners than the rest of the Galileans because they
suffered this fate?
Luke 13:3 (KJB)
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Then Jesus tells them plainly that they were not sinners above and beyond anyone
else in Galilee. (Rom 5:12 KJV) Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into
the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have
sinned: Since all have sinned, those who do not become saved, then
all the rest will perish in hell. Jesus is disabusing them of the idea that just
because tragedy happens to someone does not mean they are under the judgment of
God. Now there are times when God’s Judgment has come down such as Noah’s flood
or Korah’s rebellion but even in those situations, they were not worse sinners
than others because it only takes one sin to send a person to hell. Jesus is
telling them that it behooves them to seek the Gospel of Grace through Him or
else they will perish.
Luke 13:4 (KJB)
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?
Now Jesus brings in an incident which may have just recently happened but it is
a different aspect of the same teaching. In the previous verse Jesus was
bringing in the aspect of death by intention. These people were murdered by
Pilate. In this verse Jesus is bringing in death by accident. Now it must be
understood there is no such thing as an “accident.” Nothing happens by chance
but all is planned by God. For the purposes of the people to understand, Jesus
basically approaches this as an accident where eighteen men had died. Then Jesus
asks this crowd if they thought the eighteen men were worse sinners than the
rest in Jerusalem? (John 9:7 KJV) 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. This tower many have been part of the Pool of
Siloam.
Luke 13:5 (KJB)
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Jesus then gives them the same answer as He gave in the question about the
Galileans and Pilate. These eighteen men had gone to work in the morning and
expected to go home in the evening and see their families, but today their souls
were required of them and they had no idea when they left for work that morning,
that they would be in the ground by evening. It is the same with the World Trade
Center in New York City in September 2001. Those three thousand people went to
work and expected to go home that night but some went to Heaven and the majority
await the Judgment of God. The warning is that whether death comes by intention
or by a seeming accident, it is incumbent upon people to be prepared and to seek
the Lord before it is too late. (Isa 55:6 KJV) Seek ye the LORD while he may be
found, call ye upon him while he is near: