#1394 Luke 13 Part 1 Who's A Worse Offender Than Me

 

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.”

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

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.’” Luke 13: 1-9 ESV

Luke 13: 1-9

9What then? Are we any better? Not at all. For we have already made the charge that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin. 10As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one. 11There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.… Romans 3: 9-11

At that very time - The time when He had told them about settling out of court with their accuser. Everyone is on their way toward death, but no one knows when their hour will be. Our culture is obsessed with "safety", to the point that everything is viewed in hindsight as though that were the plausible view before all incidents occur. In this approach there are no "accidents", everything is the fault of the injured. I drive I4 to work every day, and one must certainly be attentive, but I am not in control of the cars around me. Someone could swerve into my lane, and certainly in retrospect, I could have avoided it if I knew it was coming, but even more so if I didn't take the chances associated with going to work in the first place. If I would have stayed home then I wouldn't have been in an accident. Like I have said before though, life is caloric, it demands that we use energy, and let us ad to that that death is also certain.

11Not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. 12Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned. 13For sin was in the world before the law was given; but sin is not taken into account when there is no law.… Romans 5: 11-13

…26Otherwise, Christ would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28so also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him.… Hebrews 9: 26-28

…8For the redemption of his soul is costly, and never can payment suffice, 9that he should live on forever and not see decay. 10For it is clear that wise men die, and the foolish and the senseless both perish and leave their wealth to others.… Psalm 49: 8-10

Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices - Passover is the only feast where the people participate in the sacrifice, bringing their lambs up to the priest. This would mean that Pilate's men attacked them while they were in the act of sacrificing.

(Excerpt adapted from Josephus 2.9.2-4) After this he (Pilate) raised another disturbance, by expending that sacred treasure which is called Corban upon aqueducts, whereby he brought water from the distance of four hundred furlongs. At this the (Jewish) multitude had indignation; and when Pilate came to Jerusalem, they came to his tribunal, and made a clamor. Now when he was apprized aforehand of this disturbance, he mixed his own soldiers in their armor with the multitude, and ordered them to conceal themselves under the habits of private men, and not indeed to use their swords, but with their staves to beat those that made the clamor. He then gave the signal from his tribunal [to do as he had bidden them]. Now the Jews were so sadly beaten, that many of them perished by the stripes they received, and many of them perished as trodden to death by themselves; by which means the multitude was astonished at the calamity of those that were slain, and held their peace.

(AS AN ASIDE HERE IS ANOTHER FASCINATING EXCERPT FROM JOSEPHUS THAT MENTIONS JESUS - Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man; for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day. - Josephus Antiquities of the Jews 18.3.3) - Precept Austin

Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way - The age old questions, what did they do to deserve this? If God is sovereign and good, then how could He let this happen? Why do bad things happen to good people? Apparently they hadn't read the book of Job or paid attention while it was being read. His friends thought he suffered because he had committed some great sin, and they thought themselves to be more righteous because their wealth and health had remained intact. The answer to all this is quite simple, there are none righteous, and the wages of sin is death, and all have sinned, so what we call good is still sub standard. What God calls good is Christ, and He suffered unfairly on behalf of those repentant sinners who believe. Job's friends, these people talking to Jesus, Jesus' own disciples, the prosperity teachers and much of the world today think themselves the Karma Police. Great song, but look at Jesus, does He go to Calvary as some great sinner? They all need a good lesson from Job.

1Now as Jesus was passing by, He saw a man blind from birth, 2and His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God would be displayed in him.… John 9: 1-3

…3Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, and as he laid them on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself to his hand. 4 When the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer. Although he was saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.… Acts 28: 3-5

Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish - Turn from your self righteousness, the thoughts that tell you you have nothing to fear because you are good. You have not survived thus far because you are more moral than others, only because God has allowed you to live. He made you, put you where you are, around people who taught you what you now know, and some of it is damnable heresy. Repent from your outward religion, from your standard, and come to God's, this will give you a better estimation of yourself. 

…38Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise belongs to you and your children and to all who are far off— to all whom the Lord our God will call to Himself.” 40With many other words he testified, and he urged them, “Be saved from this corrupt generation.”… Acts 2: 38-40

…20But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads My servants to be sexually immoral and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21Even though I have given her time to repent of her immorality, she is unwilling. 22Behold, I will cast her onto a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer great tribulation unless they repent of her deeds.… Revelation 2: 20-22

Or those 18 on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them - He is not letting go of the point of their first question, and He is providing them with yet another example. Yes God punishes the ungodly, but everyone is ungodly, everyone is born a sinner. He doesn't want them to walk away from this still ignorant. You are going to die because the wages of sin is death, and death entered the world through sin. There is something far worse to fear than the physical death that awaits every man, and that is the spiritual death you are born into. If that state doesn't change then you will spend eternity as an enemy of God. That solace that atheism promises will not exist, you will not cease being, only your address will change, and you will be forever the subject of God's Holy wrath against an eternal sinner. 

…21For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23But each in his own turn: Christ the firstfruits; then at His coming, those who belong to Him.… 1 Corinthians 15: 21-23

…22“For just as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, will endure before Me,” declares the LORD, “so your descendants and your name will endure. 23 From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come to worship before Me,” says the LORD. 24“As they go forth, they will see the corpses of the men who have rebelled against Me; for their worm will never die, their fire will never be quenched, and they will be a horror to all mankind.”… Isaiah 66: 22-24

1“At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up. There will be a time of distress, the likes of which will not have occurred from the beginning of nations until that time. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. 2And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3Then the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.… Daniel 12: 1-3

For three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree - It is interesting that Jesus' ministry was also three years long. 

1“I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek Me. To a nation that did not call My name, I said, ‘Here I am! Here I am!’ 2All day long I have held out My hands to an obstinate people who walk in the wrong path, who follow their own imaginations, 3to a people who continually provoke Me to My face, sacrificing in the gardens and burning incense on altars of brick,… Isaiah 65: 1-3

Cut it down - A tree is known by it's fruit, and the value of the fruit tree is in it's production. It has not produced the figs for which it was planted. The Creator has a right over His creation, and if we are made in the image of God then the expectation is that we reflect His glory by doing His will. 

…18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20So then, by their fruit you will recognize them.… Matthew 7: 18-20

Until I dig around it and put on manure - Digging is turning up, loosening the soil, plowing the hard ground. Manure is fertilizer, nutrients the plant needs, and it also conditions the soil. This is what must take place in the heart of anyone who is to be born again, the Holy Spirit must do this work in order for life to continue and for fruit to come forth. 

…4“How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time to be born?” 5Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit.… John 3: 4-6

…7But I tell you the truth, it is for your benefit that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9in regard to sin, because they do not believe in Me;… John 16: 7-9