LUKE 13:1-5 ARE YOU READY? THEN SHARE!

ARE YOU READY? THEN SHARE!

LUKE 13:1-5

Susie: Luke’s gospel is the only one that records this episode in Jesus’s ministry. In the modern world, people tend to attribute tragedy to God having a lack of interest in the world below, being a harsh God, or there being no God at all. However, in the ancient world, people often thought tragedy was a direct judgment of their god or gods against evil or disobedient people. By bringing up the following incident, the people were indirectly asking Jesus if these Galileans were killed because of the judgment of God against them.

Luke 13:1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

Susie: There are no historical references to this exact violent, politically charged act outside of the Bible. However, there are numerous historical accounts of similar atrocities of Rome against its conquered peoples. It has been suggested that these people may have been Jewish zealots, seen as seditious by Rome, presenting sacrifices in the temple when Roman soldiers annihilated them.

Luke 13:2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

Susie: A more recent question might be, “Were the people who perished in the Twin Towers due to the work of terrorists worse than all the other New Yorkers?” I believe Jesus would answer, “Of course not!”

Susan: Neither did God target the Coptic Christians killed when their churches blew up due to suicide bomber attacks on Palm Sunday, 2017. Praise the Lord, the believers who were killed during worship were immediately ushered into God’s presence to remain joyfully with Him for eternity.

Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Susan: Jesus was making the point that for those that never repent and turn to Him, when life comes to an end on earth, it will be terrible and permanent. Each person is accountable to God and responsible for his or her own choice in responding to the gift of salvation offered by Jesus.

Susie: Jesus takes their thoughts away from whether or not these Galileans were being punished and re-focuses their attention on their own mortality. Death is certain (unless the Lord returns), and the question is whether or not we will be transported to the Lord’s side or condemned forever to be separated from Him in Hell.

The IVP New Testament Commentary Series at www.biblegateway.com

Mortality is evidence of the presence of sin in our world (Gen 3). More important than the timing or cause of death is this: only repentance can change death from a tragic end into a bridge to a new kind of life (Lk 3:8; 6:24-26; 10:13; 12:58-59; 15:7).

Luke 13:4 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?

Susie: Jesus raises another example in which the people were victims of some type of natural disaster rather than being attacked by others. A tower fell on them, but it was not deliberately taken down by an enemy.

Susan: The final death toll from Hurricane Katrina was 1,836, over half of which were senior citizens, grandmas and grandpas. (https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-hurricane-katrina) Was this tragedy a direct result of their sins? Of course not!

Luke 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Susie: Again, Jesus turns the crowd’s attention back to the more important question of whether or not they are each prepared to face the day of their earthly death, whether it be sooner or later, tragedy or “natural causes.”

Susan: For those who never accept that they are sinners in need of God’s saving grace, those who never accept His free gift of salvation, whatever the manner of their death, it will be tragic. The tragedy is that they die without God. They will continue to exist eternally but totally devoid of vitality, joy, and peace, devoid of all that is good. Therefore, the moral of this passage is to choose Jesus and accept the extravagant gift of love and life that He freely offers to all who turn to Him in repentance, rejecting their old way of self-centeredness and being made new by the power of His Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Susie: The time to turn to Jesus is not “later”—after you get it together or have had all your “fun.” The time is NOW. Do not delay.

2 Corinthians 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Ponder this and Apply it: When people are tempted to judge the victims of an attack or a natural disaster, we need to turn their attention to their own preparedness to “meet their Maker.” We cannot answer the question of why people die in horrible tragedies, but we MUST answer the question of whether or not each of us is prepared if such a thing happened in our own life. Are you prepared? If so, are your friends and loved ones certain they will enter eternity with the Father rather than suffering forever? Evaluate your own relationship with the Lord. Then, if you are securely prepared, be sure to share the good news of how to repent and be saved with everyone else!