UNLESS YOU REPENT, YOU WILL PERISH

Passage: Luke 13:1-9

Key verse: 3,5

NIV

Repent or Perish

13 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate(A) had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?(B) 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam(C) fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent,(D) you too will all perish.”

6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any.(E) 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down!(F) Why should it use up the soil?’

8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Repent or Perish

13 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood (A)Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, (B)“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 (C)repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in (D)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 (E)repent, you will all likewise perish.”

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

6 And he told this parable: “A man had (F)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. (G)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.’”

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Repent or perish (1-5) Sometimes we think tragedies befall sinners, but not righteous people. The death of martyrs disproves this. Two tragedies are noted: the Roman governor Pilate killed Galileans, mixing their blood with their sacrifices; and, a tower accident killed 18 people. People thought they died since they were worse sinners. Jesus said, "I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish." Rather than being shaken by horrible events, or feeling complacent that things are going well, repenting of our own sins and turning to God is a better response in tragedy. 2. It's important to bear fruit (6-9) A fig tree has one purpose: to bear figs. If it doesn't, it fails its purpose of existence. Our lives should bear good fruit to God. Good fruit is repentance (3:8). God was patient with his people for the 3 years of Jesus' ministry. They had one more year to repent. If our lives don't bear good fruit to God, we have failed in our life purpose.

Prayer: Lord, let me not live in fear or complacency but repent of my sins and bear fruit pleasing to God.

One Word: Bear the good fruit of repentance