Luke 13:1-9

Butler's Comments

SECTION 1

Repentance Defined (Luke 13:1-9)

13 There were some present at that very time who told him of the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2And he answered them, Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered thus? 3I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5I tell you, No; 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. 7And he said to the vinedresser, -Lo, these three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down; why should it use up the ground?-' 8And he answered him, -Let it alone, sir, this year also, till I dig about it and put on manure. 9And if it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.-'

Luke 13:1-5 Importuned: The Lord's discourse on preparation for being called to judgment reminded some of those present of the great calamity that probably had recently occurred. Pontius Pilate, procurator of Judea, had ordered some Galileans slain as they worshiped in the Temple and their blood was mingled with that of the animals they had just sacrificed. This event is extant in no other historical record than Luke'S. Pilate was the son of Marcus Pontius (according to tradition), a Roman general. Pilate was a friend of the famous Germanicus, and his wife was a granddaughter of Caesar Augustus. The Pilate we know from the Gospels and from secular history was a typical pragmatic Roman politician. He was not excessively wicked or cruel, but he was weak and vacillating and would sacrifice principle and honor for his own ends. He was assigned the most unrewarding and difficult post that existed in the Roman provincesJudea. He went there in 26 A.D. and remained about ten years. He was not particularly adept at administering his post because of the intransigent nature of the Jews and his own fear of displeasing the emperor Tiberius. Once he put shields of war which were used in worship of the emperor and a portrait of the emperor into the Temple by night. This nearly precipitated a revolution. On another occasion when he needed money to build an aqueduct into Jerusalem, he took it from the Temple's treasury. This started a demonstration by the Jews that had to be put down by Roman force. About six years after the death of Christ he got involved in a confrontation that ended his career. A self-made prophet appeared in Samaria and claimed that the ancient Tabernacle of the Jews and its vessels were buried on the top of Mt. Gerizim. He gathered a crowd and they ascended the mountain, singing psalms and shouting patriotic slogans. Pilate sent his troops to stop the crowd but the confrontation turned into a not and a massacre. Pilate was reported to his superiors, called back to Rome, banished by Caligula to Gaul where, it is reported, he killed himself.

The Jews had the idea that any great physical calamity upon a nation or an individual must be considered a direct result of extraordinary sinfulness by the persons or person upon whom the disaster had fallen. Job's friends attributed his calamities to Job's sinfulness (cf. Job 22:5 ff.). Jesus-' disciples just knew that the man born blind was a terrible sinneror his parents were (cf. John 9:1-2). This view was also held by many Gentiles (cf. Acts 28:4). Generally speaking, the understanding that physical calamity in the form of war, pestilence, flood, famine, drought, disease and death are God's portents that this material order has been judged is correct! The Bible teaches very plainly that whirlwinds, earthquakes and other natural disasters are God's constant warnings to this world that it is doomed and that mankind must repent in order to be saved (cf. Joel 1:1-20; Joel 2:30 to Joel 3:3; Amos 3:6; Amos 4:1-13; Romans 1:18-20; Revelation 8:1-13; Revelation 16:8-11, etc.). Even the diseases and maladies men bring on themselves as a consequence of sinful living are God's signals for repentance (cf. Romans 1:26-27), The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against man's sin in the dissolution and disorder of nature. Of course, the goodness and patience of God is also generally revealed in the natural order (cf. Acts 14:16-18; Acts 17:24-31; Matthew 6:25-30; Romans 4:2). But these are all general announcements from God to the world that it must repent. When people are killed by riots or accidents or natural disasters it does not mean they are all greater sinners than those who might not be killed in such calamities. Nor does it mean that the locale of any calamity signifies its recipients are worse sinners than those in a neighboring locale which might have been spared the disaster. In the book of Revelation, John predicts a great holocaust of judgment upon the Roman empire in the form of natural disasters, wars, and internal disintegration. While millions will die during those years of tribulation to come upon Rome, including many Christians, the Christians will go through the great tribulation to heaven to be with the Lamb. The impenitent will die and go to eternal torments. When God's judgments fall upon the earth to call the world to repentance, both righteous and wicked diebut their eternal destiny is what is important.

Notice how Jesus corrected the view of His questioners without denying the fundamental truth that was already there in their minds. Yes, the two events, one deliberately brought about by Pilate's orders and the other an accident, do mean God is calling the whole world to repentance. No, neither of the events give any justifiable reason to judge that certain people (those suffering extraordinary disasters) are more wicked than others. The Siloam Tower accident is recorded in no other historical document than Luke'Showever, accidents like this occur every day. No, violent death does not mean the victim was unquestionably some specially wicked person. But all death and all dissolution of nature means God has cursed this created universe and its destruction is inevitable! Unless every man repents, he will likewise perish in eternal death. God has promised to create a new heaven and earth which shall be eternal. He has also promised that any person who repents and enters into covenant relationship with His Son will be regenerated at that moment and will continue to be recreated, so long as repentance is continued, into the image of His Son and saved forever. All the frailties of man and nature in this present world order are focused on leading man to glorify God, if man will only repent and believe (cf. John 9:1-38; 2 Corinthians 1:8-10; 2 Corinthians 12:1-10; Hebrews 12:1-17).

Repentancewhat is it? Perhaps to see what it is not would be the place to begin. Repentance is not:

a.

Just being blue or sorry or regretful. Criminals regret getting caught but they do not repent. Judas was sorry he betrayed Christ but he committed suicidehe didn-'t repent. King Saul was sorry the kingdom was being taken from him but he didn-'t repent (cf. Matthew 27:3-10; I Samuel; 2 Corinthians 7:10, etc.).

b.

Just being hyperactive in church-work. The legalistic Pharisees were hyper-active but impenitent. Paul was more zealous than all his brethren, but needed to repent (cf. Acts 22:3-5; Philippians 3:4-11, etc.).

c.

Just reformation of outward actions; not just changing of bad habits to good habits; not just enrolling in self-improvement or image-building programs. Impenitence is deeper than the outward appearance (cf. Hebrews 4:11-13).

d.

Just penance or doing assigned acts of contrition, trying to payoff God or make atonement for one's own sins by severity to the body (cf. Colossians 2:20 to Colossians 3:4). Going into a monastery or becoming an ascetic will not suffice for repentance.

The Greek word metanoia is translated repentance and means literally, to have another or different mind. Repentance is a change of mind. The word was used by the Greeks as a military command, about face, or reverse your march. Repentance is to go in a different direction. Biblical repentance is redirecting the mind and heart constantly toward the revealed will of God and away from worldly-mindedness. One cannot become a Christian without repentance and he cannot remain a Christian unless he continues it. Repentance is the mental, emotional and volitional metamorphosis (transformation) that changes a person from a son of darkness to a son of light. William Chamberlain in his book, The Meaning of Repentance, wrote, Repentance is a pilgrimage from the mind of the flesh to the mind of Christ. Repentance is a journey, a life long journey. A person never reaches in this life the point where he needs no more changing in his mind to that of Christ's will.

Repentance involves a change of mentality. New direction, new knowledge is sought and gainedthe knowledge of God's revealed will (the Bible). Scripture places great importance upon the place of the mind in a person's relationship to God (cf. Romans 12:1-2; Colossians 3:1-4; Matthew 22:37; 1 Peter 1:13; Ephesians 4:23; Romans 8:5; Philippians 2:5 ff., etc.). The impenitent are those who are hostile in mind (Colossians 1:21; Philippians 3:16-19; James 1:8; Ephesians 4:17). If we are to truly repent, we must mind the things of God and not the things of men (cf. Matthew 16:23; Mark 8:33). Repentance means to think the thoughts of God. The thoughts of God are communicated to man only in the divinely inspired scriptures (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:9-13). The mind of man can be directed, changed, renewedit is up to man. Jesus taught that men must change their minds (repent) about what the nature of God's kingdom iswho the Messiah isand what the right covenant relationship of men and women to God is (faith).

Repentance involves a change of values. God wants men to love what He loves and hate what He hates. What we treasure determines the formation of our character (Hosea 9:10; Matthew 6:19-21; Proverbs 23:7). Whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, graciousvalue these things (Philippians 4:8 ff.). Joy, appreciation, and satisfaction are found in fellowship with God's revelation of what is availableand that revelation is in the Bible. Man must repent and change his values to those of God. Jesus taught men that they must treasure right relationship with Him more than all other relationships. He said men must treasure God's word above all human opinions and traditionstreasure true and pure character above worldlinesstreasure the welfare of people above rituals and ceremonies. He insisted that men must treasure discipline above indulgence and right motives above religious play-acting.

Above all, men must value the approval of God more than the applause of men. The repentance that demands a change of values is not easy!
Repentance involves a change of choice or will. The power to choose and decide is deliberately redirected in true repentance toward the expressed choices and purposes revealed as God's will. Surrendering the autonomy of our will to the rule of God is the epitome of repentance! We are free to choose or refuse His will. Truth and the evidences for it are not, of themselves, irresistible. Man may choose either truth or falsehood. With the choice comes the responsibility to accept the divinely-decreed consequences. God is going to give us what we choose! Jesus taught that men should surrender their wills to the will of God and put self-rule to death. The peace (will) of Christ should rule (Gr. brabeueto, arbitrate or umpire) in our hearts (Colossians 3:15). Man must change his own self-determined righteousness and accept imputed righteousness from God. A kingdom with its citizens in revolt could not have peace. Men must surrender to God's rule in order for the kingdom of God to be a reality. Unless they do, they are subversives, enemies of God.

Repentance involves a change of conduct. The logical result of a truly changed spiritual nature is godly conduct. Repentance must be effected in deeds and actions because man is body and behavior as well as thoughts and feelings. Repentance is wholistic (Romans 6:1-23). Man should conform his life to the image of God's dear Son (cf. Romans 8:29). There are deeds worthy of repentance which the believer must do (cf. Matthew 3:8; Luke 3:8; Acts 26:20, etc.). Not everyone who says, Lord, Lord. but the one who does the will of the Father in heaven is the one who repents, (cf. Matthew 7:21).

The Bible is the story of clashing viewpoints. Therein is recorded the clash between the will of God for man, and man's volitional rebellion against God's will. This clash occurs along the entire front of human life. The classic example of the clashing viewpoints is shown in Mark 8:31-33 and Philippians 3:4-11, When man's thinking centers in himself he is always antagonistic toward God. When God's will is made the center of a man's purpose then man finds peace. Satan assumes that even in religion man's primary objective is to feather his own nest. Satan thinks when religion ceases to yield physical dividends man will cease to worship God (cf. Job 1:9-11). This is the mind of the flesh personified in the devil. The change represented by the transition of mind from this Satanic philosophy to that of Christ, who, in the flesh, lived as a Perfect Man, is repentance.

Luke 13:6-9 Illustrated: Jesus brushed aside the demand for theological argument about the relationship of disasters to human wickedness and focused on the need of all men to repentespecially the Jewish nation. While the whole world needs to repent, the primary target of the Lord's teaching here is the Jewish people of His day, They must repent of their rejection of His messiahship lest the destruction predicted by their prophets come upon them (Deuteronomy 28:58 ff.; Daniel 9:24-27, etc.). Jesus illustrates His warning to them with this short but succinct parable.

A man planted a fig tree in his vineyard. He came seeking fruit but found none. He said to his vinedresser, I have come three years seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none. Cut it down. The vinedresser begged for more time to cultivate it, then if it bears no fruit, he will cut it down. Whom do the characters in this story symbolize? God is the owner, Israel is the fig tree, and Jesus is the vinedresser. God has given Israel centuries to produce the fruits of repentance, but all that time (for the most part) she produced nothing in true repentance. She had been planted in a very fertile land. She had promised to produce (cf. Exodus 19:1-25) a kingdom of priests (servants of God). But through the centuries she had defaulted on her purpose. Now God is ready to cut it down but by His grace He gives Israel additional time to repent while the Messiah preaches to her. He even gives Israel forty years of grace beyond the preaching of the Messiah before He cuts her down in 70 A.D. Because she would not repent and serve her purpose, she became of no more use to God in His redemptive work, so He destroyed her.

What Jesus is saying to His audience is that repentance is something to donot just talk about. Repentance is to produce in one's nature and life that for which he was created. Repentance is to fulfill one's God-ordained purpose. What is applicable to the nation of Israel is applicable to the whole world and to every individual in the world.
How shall such a transformation be wrought in men? First, it will be done gradually. Repentance, because it is a lifetime journey, cannot be accomplished all at one time. There is no instant repentance. Repentance is not produced by:

a.

Intimidation. Mankind cannot be frightened or forced into repentance (cf. Revelation 9:20-21).

b.

Indulgence. God makes His rain to fall on the just and unjust alike and yet all men do not repent. We cannot expect to produce repentance in people's lives by indulging them in their self-centeredness.

c.

Intuition. Man cannot find motivation within himself to repent. The heart of man is deceitful above all things, and desperately corrupt. (Jeremiah 17:9).

d.

Intoxications, Emotional, experiental excitation does not produce lasting repentanceit does not produce stability and steadfastness. Saul did not repent though he became emotional (1 Samuel 24:16-22 and 1 Samuel 26:1 ff.).

e.

Inventions. Organized programming of people, entertaining people, or inventing new human philosophies or ideologies does not produce godly repentance.

f.

Impressiveness, Our testimony or our example is not sufficient alone to produce repentance in others. God is the only absolutely faithful Person existing (Romans 3:4) and His Life, manifested in His Son, is the only sufficient example to produce repentance.

Repentance is produced by the transforming of the human mind through the word of God (cf. Romans 12:1-2). Repentance is produced by the infusion of the will (nature) of God into the mind and nature (will) of man. This is done when the word of God is preached and men believe it (cf. Romans 10:14-17; Luke 24:47; 2 Peter 1:3-11; John 6:63). Although some of the character or will of God is revealed in nature (cf. Romans 1:18 ff; Romans 2:4; Acts 14:16-17; Acts 17:24-29), God's will for man's salvation is found in only one placethe Bible.

The mission of every follower of Christ is to proclaim repentance and remission of sins in Christ's name (Luke 24:47; Acts 17:30-31, etc.). Repentance is begun when through the gospel we capture the minds of men for obedience to Christ (cf. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6). Bringing men to repentance is evangelism. The classic example of the opposite of the mind of Christ is a quotation from H. L. Mencken (1880-1956): I have done, in the main, exactly what I wanted to do. Its possible effects on other people have interested me very little. I have not written and published to please other people, but to satisfy myself, just as a cow gives milk, not to profit the dairyman, but to satisfy herself. I like to think that most of my ideas have been sound ones, but I really don-'t care.

The mission of the Christian is not to eliminate the will of man, but to conform it to the will of Christ. Alexander Campbell in The Christian System defined it as impressing the moral image of God upon the moral nature of man. It is significant that even the church of Christ itself must carry on a constant program of repentance (cf. Revelation, Chapter s 2 and 3). In any program of repentance for the world or the church, preaching the word of God is primary. There is no true repentance unless men hear and obey the word of God.

Applebury's Comments

Repent or Perish
Scripture

Luke 13:1-9 Now there were some present at that very season who told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered and said unto them, Think ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they have suffered these things? 3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all in like manner perish. 4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them, think ye that they were offenders above all the men that dwell in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

6 And he spake this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit thereon, and found none. 7 And he said unto the vinedresser, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why doth it also cumber the ground? 8 And he answering saith unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: 9 and if it bear fruit thenceforth, well; but if not, thou shalt cut it down.

Comments

Now there were some present.This section continues the lesson which Jesus had been giving the people while meeting the complaints of the Pharisees (Luke 11:53; Luke 12:54). Care must be exercised to keep the chapter divisions from letting us assume that a new subject begins with the new chapter. Sometimes this is true, but there are timesas in this casewhen the thought runs over into the new chapter.

Jesus had been speaking of judgment from which there is no escape. Apparently, in answer to His remarks, the people told about those Galileans whose blood Pilate mingled with their sacrifices as an example of the kind of punishment He had described. But they had missed the point. Jesus said, Do you think that these Galileans were worse than other sinners? He had just told them about the necessity of settling cases out of court before it was too late to escape punishment. He had also spoken of the sin of failing to acknowledge Him before men (Luke 12:8-9). Those who wait until He comes again will find that it is too late. The case of the Galileans seems to suggest that it was not that they were worse sinners, but that they had reached a point where repentance was impossible, since repentance must be observed before death, not after.

whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.No details are given about how this happened. It is well known that the Roman soldiers were used to put down riots. They were none too careful about how they did it. It is possible that some disturbance had occurred while the people were offering their sacrifices. The soldiers may have killed the trouble makers on the spot. Their blood could have mingled easily with the blood of the animals which they were sacrificing.

sinners above all Galileans.It seems to be admitted that those Galileans were sinners; what they had done that was wrong is not stated. The point is: they were not worse than other Galileans who were sinners. While others might not share the fate of those whom Pilate destroyed, they, nevertheless, were facing certain destruction that called for immediate action if they were to avoid it.

except ye repent.Repentance is the change of the will that leads to changed conduct. In this case, the thing that should have led to that change of mind was the threat of punishment which would be worse than that which Pilate had inflicted.

The Scriptures point out at least three motivating forces that are designed to lead men to repentance, that is, change their minds and decide to do something about their situation. They are (1) the goodness of God (Romans 2:4), (2) godly sorrow for sin (2 Corinthians 7:10), and (3) the judgment to come (Acts 17:30-31).

To those who had failed to acknowledge Him, Jesus said, Repent or perish. It was an urgent matter; there was no time for delay.

the tower of Siloam fell.This is a case of accidental death; there was no apparent connection between it and any particular thing they had done. Were they worse sinners than others? No. But they did face the future that involved eternal punishment if they failed to acknowledge Christ before men.

And he spake this parable.This parable illustrates the fact that God does give men time to repent. We are reminded of the long-suffering of God in the days of Noah (1 Peter 3:20). He is long-suffering, for He does not wish that any should perish but that they should repent (2 Peter 3:9). The church at Ephesus was warned to repent or have their candlestick removed (Revelation 2:5). The history of Israel suggests that God will not tolerate the sinful conduct of men forever (Hebrews 3:7 to Hebrews 4:13; 1 Corinthians 10:5-10).

these three years I come seeking fruit.There is no lesson to be drawn from this time reference. It was probably the normal time to wait for the tree to produce, or it could suggest that the tree should have been producing all that time but hadn-'t done so, The tree represents the nation of Israel that was not producing the fruits of righteousness. They had been given ample time, for prophet after prophet had tried to bring them to repentance. The time of judgment was at hand; all that was left for the tree was expressed by the owner of the tree, Cut it down.

Lord, let it alone this year also.This is a plea for longsuffering toward a sinful people. One more year, and then if there is no fruit let it be cut down. Special care was given the tree. The year of unusual care may be the unusual privilege of the Israel to have the Lord in their midst to teach them what they should do to be pleasing to God and encourage them in every way to do it. He taught them; He healed their sick; He warned them of judgment to come; He revealed the loving Father to them; He even told them that He was to offer Himself for the sins of the people. What more could be done? And if they failed to respond, their fate would be worse than that of the Galileans or the eighteen on whom the tower fell.