Who goes to hell? Everyone you ever hear of dying is in a "better" place. They are at rest now. Everyone you talk to believes that they are okay with God. There seems to be no concern over spiritual matters. There seems to be no such thing as a lost person anymore, especially in the buckle of the Bible belt. Virtually everyone you run into has responded to an invitation somewhere, repeated the coveted "sinner's prayer," and are now convinced that they are okay with God because of it.
It was no different in the New Testament. In verse 15 of the 14th chapter of Luke's Gospel someone yells out, "Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God." It's almost as if he picked up his cup of wine and said blessed is everyone who will be eating bread in the kingdom of God and they all said, "yes." In other words…"I am so glad I'm going to be there and I am glad that you all will be there too!"
Well, Jesus is going to shatter their false hope with a story, a parable. In Luke 14:16-24 Jesus said, "A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.' 19 And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.' 20 And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' 21 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.' 22 And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.' 23 And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.'"
In this parable, we see some different truths about our response to the Gospel invitation. First, we see that Our Words are Not Adequate. In verses 16-17 Jesus said, A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' A man is giving a great banquet. This is a huge event put on by an obviously very wealthy man. Every one of these kind of events had two invitations. The one that let you know you would be invited and then the second when everything was ready. The first was to make reservations and the second to announce that the banquet was beginning. He sends out the first invitation to many.
This invitation would come in a very personal, formal way. It seems that they all accepted the invitation. After all, nobody would have refused. Everybody would have said yes, absolutely. This was the pinnacle of Jewish social life. After all, there was nothing else to do. To have a great feast prepared for you and to be invited by a very prominent person could be the highlight of your life. They all verbally and clearly responded to the invitation. They all made their reservations. And as we will see, that type of response was insufficient, for none of those who were invited would be allowed to taste of the supper. There word was not adequate. They had to actually show up!
Likewise, our verbal response to the Gospel invitation is not adequate, yet this is the extent of what most people make. Most invitations in churches today go something like this…If you have any doubt about where you would go when you die, come forward and repeat this simple prayer and you are guaranteed to go to heaven when you die. First of all, the goal is not heaven. Of course, you would never know that if you listened to most Southern Gospel songs or Gospel invitations. You see, it's not about heaven, it's about God. God is not a means to an end. He is not someone that you use to get to heaven. He is the end. Eternal life is not about heaven, it is about finding and embracing and worshipping God. Our invitations promise people, if they will just come forward and repeat a simple prayer that they wiill have eternal life. This sounds good, so many people respond to it. Of course they are thinking, all I have to do is ask Jesus to come into my heart and then, I can get on with my life. I can pray this prayer, get baptized, have my name added to the church rolls and then continue to live my life like I want to live it, for the goals that I want to live for, and then go to heaven for all eternity. I have actually heard Gospel invitations offered in which the speaker said that coming to Christ doesn't cost you anything. What happened to the following scriptures?
Luke 14:26
If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
Luke 9:23
If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
Our invitation is for people to walk down an aisle and pray a prayer to accept Jesus. Has anyone ever thought about this? Accept Jesus? Jesus is very acceptable. It is you and I that are unacceptable. We don't have to accept Jesus. Jesus has to accept us.
We are quick to verbally accept the invitation, but our verbal response is insufficient. Our reservation is null and void if we do not show up for the banquet! Another parable that Jesus told shows the worthlessness of a verbal response to the invitation without an actual volitional response. In Matthew 21:28-31, Jesus said, "What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' 29 And he answered, 'I will not,' but afterward he changed his mind and went. 30 And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, 'I go, sir,' but did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first."
Many, many church people have said yes to God only to ignore his commands and fail to follow his call. Their words are not adequate. Next time, we will see that our excuses will not be acceptable on the day of the Lord.
Until then…
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
The Urgency of Repentance: Part 2
Our relationship with God is not something that we should put off. It is urgent that we repent and that is exactly what the passage of Scripture before us is about. It is urgent for 2 primary reasons that we see in Luke 13:1-9.
Hear the Word of God.
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." 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
There are two main reasons that we should urgently repent.
Last time we looked at the first reason: our lives will end, and we really don't know how or when. The second reason that we should urgently repent is that God's Longsuffering Will End. Listen again to the parable Jesus told in verses 6-9 to illustrate his point that repentance is urgent. 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.'"
This parable is not only a picture of God's great mercy, but it also serves as a great warning to those he told it to. Vineyards were obviously very common. This man had a fig tree and it had been there a while. He came looking for fruit on it and didn't find any. He said to the gardener, "Behold." That word behold is a word that indicates surprise. This is not expected. Fig trees did really well and they particularly would do very well in vineyard soil, because vineyard soil was cared for, watered, and fertilized and cultivated. This particular fig tree had been given unique opportunities. Everything was done to make it fruitful. He came expecting to find fruit, but there was none. Then it dawned on him, this is the third year in a row that this tree has failed ot bear fruit. Three is the number of completion, so this tree was completely barren. He sais, "Three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down. Why is it even using up the ground?" This is just an expression of disgust. I mean, why does it even use up the ground. Not only was it not bearing fruit, it was taking up ground that might otherwise be productive. Cut it down.
The fate of these people (the Galileans and those in Siloam) and the message of this parable were not only meant to show the mercy of God towards sinners, but also as a warning that his hearers needed to repent now. The fig tree was a symbol of the nation of Israel. The fig tree had been planted in the most fertile place spiritually. God had sent the patriarchs, the prophets, and had given them priests. Now, he had sent them the vinedresser himself…Jesus. For three years (Jesus' ministry was 3 years in duration), He had crossed and recrossed the vineyard looking for fruit and found none. The Lord had been gracious. He had been merciful. He had been patient. Now it was time for judgment. Jesus warned them in Luke 3:9, "Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." He cursed the fig tree at the end of his 3 year ministry. Israel was cursed and the Gospel was taken to the Gentiles. Rom 11:7-11 describes what happened with Israel. Paul wrote, "What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, as it is written, "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day." And David says, "Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them; let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs forever." So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles." The Gospel was taken to the Gentiles because Israel's eyes had been blinded to its truth. Then in A.D. 70 the temple was demolished and 1000's of Jews were massacred by the Romans. Patience had been extended, but now the axe was being swung.
The fact of the matter is, God's Longsuffering will end. One thing you can be sure of….if God's judgment came upon his chosen people…the descendents of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob…the people he had invested so much in and had made covenant with…you can be sure that his judgment will not be withheld from you or me as Gentiles. We should not assume that God will give us another year, another month, another week, another day, or even another moment to repent. Romans 2:4 says, "Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?" The need for repentance is urgent. Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Why is it so urgent to repent? Because it is appointed unto man once to die, and after this the judgment. Your life will end and God's judgment will come.
I want to plead with you to repent today! Rentance is turning from sin. Twice in this passage Jesus says, except you repent, you will all likewise perish. However, he is not saying exactly the same thing in Greek. In verse three he uses a present imperative with continuous force. This means that the word repent carries with it the idea of a continual, daily action. Then in verse 5 he uses an aorist which denotes a single decisive action. Repentance is both a once-for-all event that shapes the whole subsequent course of the life and a day-by-day affair that keeps putting sin away. It is not something that you take care of at the altar one Sunday and then get on with your life. It is a lifestyle: Repent and keep repenting. And it is something that needs to be done now, before it is too late.
Repentance is not just confessing your sin or realizing that you are a sinner. Repentance is turning away from your sin. It is a change of life. It is a change of mind. It is turning away from your worldly affections, attitudes, and actions. The question is, when you turn away, what will you turn to? A better life? The church? Good works? NO! You must turn to Christ alone. You must embrace and believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You must take up your cross and follow Him. It is urgent that you do so now. Psalm 32:6 says, "Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him." Repent while He may be found. Turn away from your sin, your flesh, and the world and turn to Christ. Pursue Him. Follow Him. Live for Him. Except you repent, you will all likewise perish.
Hear the Word of God.
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." 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
There are two main reasons that we should urgently repent.
Last time we looked at the first reason: our lives will end, and we really don't know how or when. The second reason that we should urgently repent is that God's Longsuffering Will End. Listen again to the parable Jesus told in verses 6-9 to illustrate his point that repentance is urgent. 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.'"
This parable is not only a picture of God's great mercy, but it also serves as a great warning to those he told it to. Vineyards were obviously very common. This man had a fig tree and it had been there a while. He came looking for fruit on it and didn't find any. He said to the gardener, "Behold." That word behold is a word that indicates surprise. This is not expected. Fig trees did really well and they particularly would do very well in vineyard soil, because vineyard soil was cared for, watered, and fertilized and cultivated. This particular fig tree had been given unique opportunities. Everything was done to make it fruitful. He came expecting to find fruit, but there was none. Then it dawned on him, this is the third year in a row that this tree has failed ot bear fruit. Three is the number of completion, so this tree was completely barren. He sais, "Three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down. Why is it even using up the ground?" This is just an expression of disgust. I mean, why does it even use up the ground. Not only was it not bearing fruit, it was taking up ground that might otherwise be productive. Cut it down.
The fate of these people (the Galileans and those in Siloam) and the message of this parable were not only meant to show the mercy of God towards sinners, but also as a warning that his hearers needed to repent now. The fig tree was a symbol of the nation of Israel. The fig tree had been planted in the most fertile place spiritually. God had sent the patriarchs, the prophets, and had given them priests. Now, he had sent them the vinedresser himself…Jesus. For three years (Jesus' ministry was 3 years in duration), He had crossed and recrossed the vineyard looking for fruit and found none. The Lord had been gracious. He had been merciful. He had been patient. Now it was time for judgment. Jesus warned them in Luke 3:9, "Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." He cursed the fig tree at the end of his 3 year ministry. Israel was cursed and the Gospel was taken to the Gentiles. Rom 11:7-11 describes what happened with Israel. Paul wrote, "What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, as it is written, "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day." And David says, "Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them; let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs forever." So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles." The Gospel was taken to the Gentiles because Israel's eyes had been blinded to its truth. Then in A.D. 70 the temple was demolished and 1000's of Jews were massacred by the Romans. Patience had been extended, but now the axe was being swung.
The fact of the matter is, God's Longsuffering will end. One thing you can be sure of….if God's judgment came upon his chosen people…the descendents of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob…the people he had invested so much in and had made covenant with…you can be sure that his judgment will not be withheld from you or me as Gentiles. We should not assume that God will give us another year, another month, another week, another day, or even another moment to repent. Romans 2:4 says, "Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?" The need for repentance is urgent. Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Why is it so urgent to repent? Because it is appointed unto man once to die, and after this the judgment. Your life will end and God's judgment will come.
I want to plead with you to repent today! Rentance is turning from sin. Twice in this passage Jesus says, except you repent, you will all likewise perish. However, he is not saying exactly the same thing in Greek. In verse three he uses a present imperative with continuous force. This means that the word repent carries with it the idea of a continual, daily action. Then in verse 5 he uses an aorist which denotes a single decisive action. Repentance is both a once-for-all event that shapes the whole subsequent course of the life and a day-by-day affair that keeps putting sin away. It is not something that you take care of at the altar one Sunday and then get on with your life. It is a lifestyle: Repent and keep repenting. And it is something that needs to be done now, before it is too late.
Repentance is not just confessing your sin or realizing that you are a sinner. Repentance is turning away from your sin. It is a change of life. It is a change of mind. It is turning away from your worldly affections, attitudes, and actions. The question is, when you turn away, what will you turn to? A better life? The church? Good works? NO! You must turn to Christ alone. You must embrace and believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You must take up your cross and follow Him. It is urgent that you do so now. Psalm 32:6 says, "Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him." Repent while He may be found. Turn away from your sin, your flesh, and the world and turn to Christ. Pursue Him. Follow Him. Live for Him. Except you repent, you will all likewise perish.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
The Urgency of Repentance: Part 1
There is the story told of a meeting that took place in hell. Satan asked his demons what they were doing to advance his cause and to harm the Kingdom of God. The first demon stood up and said, "I am telling people everywhere that there is no God." Satan replied, "That is good, but everyone knows deep down that there has to be a God of some kind." The second demon in hell said, "I am telling them that there is no afterlife." Satan replied, "I am sure that is affecting some people, but most individuals know that physical death is not the end." Finally, a third demon stood up and said, "My strategy is a little different Satan. I am telling people that there is a God and that there is an afterlife, but I am also telling them that there is always tomorrow." At this, all the demons in hell erupted in joy!
This is the lie that many of us have bought into still today. There is always tomorrow. I will get my life right tomorrow. Whenever I graduate High School I will get my life right. Then we say, whenever I get out of college I will get my spiritual life in order. Then we decide, whenever I finally get married, I will then get my life in order. Our next excuse it to wait until we have kids to get right with God, then it is to wait until the kids are out of the house. Then when the kids are out of the house, we decide to wait until we retire to get right with God. And then, out of nowhere and unexpectedly, we die without getting right with God.
Our relationship with God is not something that we should put off. It is urgent that we repent and that is exactly what the passage of Scripture before us is about. It is urgent for 2 primary reasons that we see in Luke 13:1-9.
Hear the Word of God.
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."
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
There are two main reasons that we should urgently repent.
First, our life will end. There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. Pilate's rule was marked by briberies and robberies and frequent executions without trials. Apparently Pilate sends his soldiers to slaughter some Galileans for some reason. These soldiers slaughtered a number of Galilean Jews who had come down to offer sacrifices. There is only one place in Israel where you could offer sacrifice and that is the temple. This very likely this is the Passover. These Galileans are worshipping! They are doing what the OT says and Pilate had them killed in the middle of their act of worship.
Jesus asks those who brought him this report, "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." Just by the way that Jesus addresses these issues at hand, you can tell that the Jewish people had a distorted view of tragedy, pain, and tribulation. Their view was that, if one suffered tragedy or trial then they were obviously worse sinners than those around them. These guys whom Pilate killed in the act of worship must have sinned against God. This was undoubtedly the judgment of God. Their theology was, if calamity falls, it is a good indication that God is judging you. We see this illustrated in the account of John 9:1-2. The Bible records, "As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" They assumed if you were born disabled, then it was due to something you did. If you were born healthy, it was due to how holy you were.
Jesus continues his discourse: 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?
Just because the tower fell and you had just left with your water doesn't mean you're more righteous than the ones who were crushed and it doesn’t mean that they were any less righteous than those who escaped. Just because your plane landed and somebody's crashed doesn't mean you're any better than them. Just because things are going well with you does not mean that God is pleased with you. Just because things are falling apart with you does not mean that God is displeased with you.
The fact of the matter is, we are all sinners and we will all die. We all deserve to die. We are so sinful that disasters should not shock us as though something unwarranted were coming upon innocent human beings. There are no innocent human beings. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). There is none righteous, no not one (Romans 3:10). What should amaze us is not that some are taken in calamity, but that anyone, including us is spared and given another day to repent. The real question is not, what kind of God would allow such tragedy, but what kind of God would let us live. We're all living on borrowed time and it's time we don't deserve. We should all be dead and in hell and if you haven't recognized that about yourself yet, you need to repent.
Jesus goes on to say, "No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." Jesus looks at the very people who had, in their heart, judged the Galileans killed by Pilate and the people the tower fell on and tells them, unless you repent you will all likewise perish. What does he mean? It is obvious that we cant' all die just like the Galileans who were murdered. We aren't all going to die just like those on whom the tower of Siloam fell. Likewise must mean something else. It can't just mean die, since that is going to happen to those who repent too. So what does he mean? Your end will be unexpected. You will be unprepared. Unless you repent you will all in an unexpected manner and with unprepared hearts perish. Dying without repentance is the true calamity. The real calamity is not that you were killed in the temple or that the tower fell on you or that you died by any other means. The real calamity is that if you don't repent, when death comes you will perish. And since none of us know when death will come, it is urgent that we repent now. The first reason that repentance is urgent is because, our life will end. The second reason we should repent now is that God's longsuffering will end, but we will save that for next time.
This is the lie that many of us have bought into still today. There is always tomorrow. I will get my life right tomorrow. Whenever I graduate High School I will get my life right. Then we say, whenever I get out of college I will get my spiritual life in order. Then we decide, whenever I finally get married, I will then get my life in order. Our next excuse it to wait until we have kids to get right with God, then it is to wait until the kids are out of the house. Then when the kids are out of the house, we decide to wait until we retire to get right with God. And then, out of nowhere and unexpectedly, we die without getting right with God.
Our relationship with God is not something that we should put off. It is urgent that we repent and that is exactly what the passage of Scripture before us is about. It is urgent for 2 primary reasons that we see in Luke 13:1-9.
Hear the Word of God.
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."
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
There are two main reasons that we should urgently repent.
First, our life will end. There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. Pilate's rule was marked by briberies and robberies and frequent executions without trials. Apparently Pilate sends his soldiers to slaughter some Galileans for some reason. These soldiers slaughtered a number of Galilean Jews who had come down to offer sacrifices. There is only one place in Israel where you could offer sacrifice and that is the temple. This very likely this is the Passover. These Galileans are worshipping! They are doing what the OT says and Pilate had them killed in the middle of their act of worship.
Jesus asks those who brought him this report, "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." Just by the way that Jesus addresses these issues at hand, you can tell that the Jewish people had a distorted view of tragedy, pain, and tribulation. Their view was that, if one suffered tragedy or trial then they were obviously worse sinners than those around them. These guys whom Pilate killed in the act of worship must have sinned against God. This was undoubtedly the judgment of God. Their theology was, if calamity falls, it is a good indication that God is judging you. We see this illustrated in the account of John 9:1-2. The Bible records, "As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" They assumed if you were born disabled, then it was due to something you did. If you were born healthy, it was due to how holy you were.
Jesus continues his discourse: 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?
Just because the tower fell and you had just left with your water doesn't mean you're more righteous than the ones who were crushed and it doesn’t mean that they were any less righteous than those who escaped. Just because your plane landed and somebody's crashed doesn't mean you're any better than them. Just because things are going well with you does not mean that God is pleased with you. Just because things are falling apart with you does not mean that God is displeased with you.
The fact of the matter is, we are all sinners and we will all die. We all deserve to die. We are so sinful that disasters should not shock us as though something unwarranted were coming upon innocent human beings. There are no innocent human beings. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). There is none righteous, no not one (Romans 3:10). What should amaze us is not that some are taken in calamity, but that anyone, including us is spared and given another day to repent. The real question is not, what kind of God would allow such tragedy, but what kind of God would let us live. We're all living on borrowed time and it's time we don't deserve. We should all be dead and in hell and if you haven't recognized that about yourself yet, you need to repent.
Jesus goes on to say, "No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." Jesus looks at the very people who had, in their heart, judged the Galileans killed by Pilate and the people the tower fell on and tells them, unless you repent you will all likewise perish. What does he mean? It is obvious that we cant' all die just like the Galileans who were murdered. We aren't all going to die just like those on whom the tower of Siloam fell. Likewise must mean something else. It can't just mean die, since that is going to happen to those who repent too. So what does he mean? Your end will be unexpected. You will be unprepared. Unless you repent you will all in an unexpected manner and with unprepared hearts perish. Dying without repentance is the true calamity. The real calamity is not that you were killed in the temple or that the tower fell on you or that you died by any other means. The real calamity is that if you don't repent, when death comes you will perish. And since none of us know when death will come, it is urgent that we repent now. The first reason that repentance is urgent is because, our life will end. The second reason we should repent now is that God's longsuffering will end, but we will save that for next time.
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