REPENT OR PERISH

Passage: Luke 13:1-9

Key verse: 3

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.
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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. Two tragedies (1-5)

People in Jesus’ time (and ours too) believed that tragedy befell people because of sin. (ex. Jn 9:2) Two examples are noted here that Jesus uses to teach us to turn to God and repent. Pilate had killed some Galileans and mixed their blood with their sacrifices. A large tower in the town of Siloam fell, killing 18 men. These tragedies didn’t happen because these people were worse sinners than others. Tragedies happen on a regular basis, and not only to the worst of sinners. Jesus died a horrible death and he was sinless. Our response to tragedies shouldn’t be to ask what kind of sinner the victims were, but to turn to God and repent.

2. The parable of the fig tree (6-9)

Fig trees are supposed to bear fruit. When they do not bear any fruit, they might as well be cut down. In the parable, God is the planter, we are the fig tree and Jesus the caretaker. We are meant to bear fruit to God. If we don’t bear fruit, we will be judged. Thank God for Jesus who intercedes for us with the Father and helps us so we can bear fruit.

Prayer: Lord, Jesus teaches that we must repent or perish. We can only bear fruit when we repent. Help us repent and bear fruit to you through Jesus Christ.

One Word: Repent and bear fruit