Luke 13:1-9

An exhortation to repentance -- Luke 13:1-9: Some people came to Jesus and told Him about Pilate killing people and mixing their blood with their sacrifices. It was a common held belief that disasters were punishment for sin. In the Book of Job Eliphaz insisted, "Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?" (Job 4:7) This is not the case for Jesus said these people were no worse as sinners than anyone else in Galilee just because of what happened to them. He said you can be sure that if you do not repent you will likewise perish. The same principle applied to the eighteen people who died when the tower of Siloam fell over and killed them. They were no worse than other people. Jesus challenged those Jews to repent of their evil ways or they too would be destroyed.

The principle of the need for repentance was illustrated with the parable of the fruitless fig tree. Fig trees normally produce fruit in about three years. This tree must then have been about 6 years old. This tree was at that time worse than useless. It was not bearing fruit and it was taking up space where a fruitful tree could grow. The vinedresser pleaded for the tree to have at least one more opportunity to produce fruit. John the Baptist had warned "And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire." (Matthew 3:10) We all must repent because God cannot tolerate fruitlessness.