Luke 13:1-9 - Repent or Perish
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction:
Why do bad things happen to good people? I have heard this question countless times. The question comes from a place of raw emotion. It is hard to watch people suffer. This past week I have watched my uncle pass away from a massive heart attack. I have watched the suffering of my family. It is difficult to deal with death and suffering so up close and personal.
I do not wish to act like suffering is not difficult. I do not wish to make light of suffering. Suffering was not a part of God’s initial creation. Suffering came because of the fall of man as seen in Genesis 3.
And because of the fall of man, the question that we started with is wrought with misunderstandings about humanity. The Bible is clear that no one is good (Romans 3:9-12). It reminds us that we all deserve death (Romans 3:23). Sin has entered the world, and it has affected everyone and everything on earth.
In light of the state of our world now - the more pressing question that we should be asking is - why do good things happen to bad people? Yes there are a lot of bad things that occur. There is death and suffering. But, why is there any good at all? In a world of sin, why does anything good happen to any of us?
Yet, we don’t ask this question do we? It isn’t common for someone to request a time of counseling with me in order to discuss why God has blessed them with so much. Most requests for counsel and prayer requests are about a difficult circumstance, illness, life situation, or possibly even about a consequence of sin.
Today we are going to see a crowd bring a situation to Jesus. It is a terrible tragedy. And they want to see what Jesus has to say about it.
As always, Jesus never wastes an opportunity to teach an even greater thing. He teaches that each of us must repent or perish.
Read Full Scripture:
There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way?
No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
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?
No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
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.
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?’
And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure.
Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’ ”
Prayer
Today we will see two important aspects of true salvation. The first is:
I. In Order to Avoid Eternal Judgment, We Must Repent of Our Sins (1-5)
I. In Order to Avoid Eternal Judgment, We Must Repent of Our Sins (1-5)
There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
Pilate was a cruel and unstable governor in Judea. He was appointed to office in AD 26 by Tiberius Caesar and ruled for around 10 years. He provoked Israel at one point by trying to bring idol-like images of Caesar into Jerusalem. After an intense standoff, he showed his vacillation by moving them outside to Caesarea. He went on later to steal money from the temple treasury in order to build an aqueduct to bring water to Jerusalem. His reign was marked by brutality and tension with the Jews.
With that in mind, we come to verse 1 where it seems probable that a few messengers from Jerusalem had arrived and brought some bad news about this horrible atrocity that had occured in Jerusalem. Luke’s use of the phrase ‘at that very time’ seems to indicate that this event was fairly recent. This may have occured around the time of the Passover where men of Galilee and other parts of Israel would travel to Jerusalem to sacrifice for the Passover.
The messengers brought up the massacre that occured in Jerusalem while the men of Galilee were sacrificing. They were struck down and their blood was mixed in with the sacrifices. This was an abomination to the people. The holiness of the sacrifice was marred by bloodshed and murder.
Jesus had earned a reputation as a leader. He was a miracle-worker, healer, and exorcist. What would His response be?
Would He respond with nationalistic Jewish roots and decry such an abomination? Would He respond with a call to war?
Instead Jesus responds to this issue with a question.
And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way?
Jesus knows the hearts of the people there. And their hearts were wondering if these men who were slaughtered in such an abominable way were worse sinners. Maybe these people had some hidden sins that people didn’t know about. Maybe they were a lot worse than the men who survived.
People today can struggle with thoughts and ideas like that, can’t they?
Sadly, many people have a false view of the world. They have allowed the false teaching of karma from Hinduism to influence their way of thinking. There is a common belief that what goes around comes around. Yes, there can be some nuggets of truth to this. If you treat others well, there is a greater likelihood that you will be treated well. However, this is not a principle that always pans out in our sinful world.
Jesus treated everyone perfectly and ended up crucified. Some people live generous lives only to lose their jobs and end up with a chronic illness. While others live their lives hoarding and continue to gain more and more financially.
The Jews of Jesus day had a karma-like theology.
But listen to Jesus’ response to this:
No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
Jesus answers the question of their heart - the question of whether these people who died this horrendous death were worse sinners than others - with a resounding no.
And He completes the statement with a warning to repent. I will talk more about this in a moment because He is going to repeat this statement after another scenario.
But before moving forward Jesus gives another scenario for them to consider. He brings up another well known event that had occured recently.
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?
This tower in Siloam was likely a tower constructed in the wall that surrounded Jerusalem. Siloam was the name for a pool or reservoir for the city of Jerusalem near the southeast corner of the city. Obviously a horrible tragedy had occured and the tower fell and killed 18 people.
Whereas the first event was an act by an evil ruler, this was an accident that killed these people. As people might say today, maybe fate or karma came around to them and they deserved to die.
Jesus answers in the same way in regards to this tragedy - were these people worse sinners or worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem?
No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
Again He says no.
And He hints that the question that is in their hearts is the wrong question. They want to know why this happened to those people of Galilee and those people near the tower that died. They want to know if this was a judgment sent from God or if it was because of something else.
Jesus lets them know that the event was not because they were worse sinners.
He doesn’t tell us whether either of these were direct actions by God or not. God is sovereign and completely in control. He sends some calamities while at other times He uses secondary means and allows calamities. He sometimes steps in and prevents evil while at other times He allows it. He never does evil and is always righteous (Psalm 7:11). He never sins (Hebrews 4:15). He never lies (Titus 1:2, James 1:13, Hebrews 6:18, Numbers 23:19). But He chooses to use the sins of mankind for good at times.
No one can truly understand the mind of God. We cannot figure Him out. We must, instead, trust Him.
But Jesus would say that we are missing the truly relevant point here. They fact is that people are dying. They are dying at the hands of wicked men, they are dying of accidents, and we might add that they are dying of natural causes.
So what should we do in response to these truths?
Jesus asserts that unless we repent, we too will all likewise perish.
Jesus is teaching the universality of sin and death. Because of sin all will die on earth.
Warren Wiersbe asked his friend what the death rate was in his city. His friend replied, “One apiece.” Then his friend added, “People are dying who never died before.”
There is a 100% chance of dying.
Jim Elliot, the missionary and martyr gives us good advice when he says:
“When it comes time to die, make sure that all you have to do is die.”
Jim Elliott
In other words, make sure you have your affairs in order. Make sure that physical death is the worst thing you will have to experience.
As Jesus has asserted, be sure that you have repented or you too will perish. And Jesus isn’t just referring to the first death. He is referring to the second death - the lake of fire.
We use this word, repent, a lot don’t we? But what does it mean:
Repentance means changing your mind. It is a change of direction. It is both a state of mind and a state of action. It is not only being sorry for your sins, but it is turning from your sins and turning toward Christ.
We have seen that Jesus has glossed over the questions of the crowd and has hit the heart of the matter. Their whole response is misunderstanding what really matters. They are trying to figure out why this happened. However, Jesus asserts that instead of wondering why this happened, they need to be sure that they are ready to meet their Maker.
People are so quick to talk about what is going on in the lives of others. They don’t mind discussing the issues going on in the lives of those around them. However, Jesus asserts that your focus needs to be first and foremost on eternity when it comes to situations like this.
Instead of wondering why tragedies occur, we need to ask ourselves some important questions as we consider our own mortality.
Am I ready to meet my Maker? In other words, am I right with God?
If I was in a natural disaster today or suffered a calamity such as a car accident today or died of a sudden medical emergency today, am I ready to stand before the Lord?
He repeats the call to repent two times - once in verse 3 and once in verse 5. When Jesus says something twice, He is emphasizing a very important truth.
He says but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
Wow. That is a tough word. Don't spend your time worrying about everyone else when you aren't ready to meet your Maker yourself. So many people are worried about so many things that will pass away. They are worried about the stock market. They are worried about their retirement. They are worried about wars going on in our world. They are worried about the economy. They are worried about politics.
Yet these same people often spend very little time being concerned about their relationship with the Lord. All of these other things will pass away. Politics will cease to exist. The economy will one day be no more. Yet your soul will go on for eternity. It will either be in a place called hell or a place called heaven. Be sure that you have repented, or you too likewise will perish.
So far we have seen that we must repent of our sins… and lastly we see that…
Scripture References: Genesis 3, Romans 3:9-13, Romans 3:23, Psalm 7:11, Hebrews 4:15, (God never lies: Titus 1:2, James 1:13, Hebrews 6:18, Numbers 23:19)
II. In Order to Avoid Eternal Judgment, We Must Render Works of the Holy Spirit (6-9)
II. In Order to Avoid Eternal Judgment, We Must Render Works of the Holy Spirit (6-9)
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. 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?’
Jesus ends this section with a parable. Whereas the last interaction focused on the need for repentance, this section is focused on the fruits that come with true repentance.
He mentions a man who had a fig tree planted.
The man in this parable is representative of God.
The fig tree likely has two direct applications. It stands for the nation of Israel as well as the individual believer as well.
And finally:
The vinedresser likely represents Jesus Christ who intercedes with mercy.
We see that this man has planted a fig tree in his vineyard. The vineyard is a great place for the fig tree. It is a place with nutrients and a place that is designed to bring about fruit. It isn’t like He planted this fig tree in the desert. The tree is given a good opportunity to produce fruit. After the tree matures, the man comes by three years in a row and finds the tree not producing fruit. In light of his findings, he tells the vinedresser to cut the tree down.
This tree is just taking up space. It is wasting nutrients. It is good for nothing but firewood.
But listen to the vinedresser’s response:
And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’ ”
The vinedresser asks for more time to work the ground and try even harder to get this tree to bear fruit. He will put fertilizer down deep near the roots. Maybe then the tree will bear fruit. But if it still does not, then it can be cut down.
The focus of this parable is on the fig tree and whether or not it produces fruit. Fruit is a sign of salvation. Fruit is a sign of repentance. Consider Matthew 3:8:
Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
In other words, good deeds are a sign of a changed heart and life. They are a sign of a true believer.
Jesus told the parable of the sower earlier in Luke (Luke 8:4-15). If you recall there were four different soil types but only one bore fruit - the good soil. The Word of God - namely the Gospel was preached to all but only one produced true fruit in keeping with true repentance.
For those who have heard me preach for any time at all, you know that we are saved by grace through faith and not by works - Ephesians 2:8-9.
However, the Scriptures are also clear that those with a true saving faith will do good works through the power of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:10 and James 2:17). We who are saved are sealed and filled with the Holy Spirit who works in us and through us.
With that in mind let’s discuss the fig tree a little further from Jesus’s parable.
The first application that many commentators mention is the application of the fig tree to the nation of Israel. They had been given so much. Talk about fertile soil - they were given the entire counsel of God in the Old Testament. They were given the covenants of Abraham and Moses and David. They had witnessed the Lord’s mighty works over the centuries. Yet they were not bearing fruit. They were, instead, rejecting the Messiah.
And in AD 70, the tree was chopped down when Rome destroyed Jerusalem.
Yet, there is also an individual application for those in the Church as well. Listen to verses 8-9 again:
And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’ ”
It is one thing to see the application of these verses to Israel. We are far off from that. We can feel it somewhat, but we are far removed from the nation of Israel during the first century AD. But what about this parable’s application to us today?
There are many planted in the churches of God right now that are not bearing fruit.
Friends, you have been planted in the vineyard of the Lord. You are at least seemingly a part of His universal and eternal church. Is there fruit in your life bearing with repentance? Are you being sanctified in the Lord and being made more and more in the image of Christ? Do you love His Word? Do you long for His return? Are you a true believer filled and sealed by His Holy Spirit?
Brothers and sisters, there is a day where His patience will run out. Your time will run out. And if found fruitless and not a true believer, you will be cut down and thrown into the Lake of Fire.
What a terrifying thought! How many will be found wanting in our churches across our nation and across our world? How many will have the following terrifying interaction with the Lord Jesus at the judgment?
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Notice what Jesus says here - only those who do the will of the Father are saved. Aain, this is not a works-based salvation. Jesus is stating that if you are saved then you will have the Holy Spirit. If you have the Holy Spirit then the Holy Spirit will be working in you and through you for obedience to Christ.
Also notice what amazing things these people did. Exorcisms and mighty works were done! But they weren’t done in Christ’s name. They were done for their own glory and renown and not for Christ.
But don’t miss the mercy of the vinedresser in these verses. He asks the man who represents God for some time to dig around the tree in order to fertilize it. He wants some time to see if the tree will actually eventually produce fruit.
What does this look like in the life of the unsaved person? What mercy God is allowing to be shown to those who have refused to truly accept Christ’s free gift of salvation?
John Bunyan said the following of the vinedresser’s work here:
Thus, I say, deals the Lord Jesus ofttimes with the barren professor; He diggeth about him, He smiteth one blow at his heart, another blow at his lusts, a third at his pleasures, a fourth at his comforts, another at his self-conceitedness: thus He diggeth about him. This is the way to take bad earth from the roots, and to loosen his roots from the earth. Barren fig-tree! see here the care, the love, the labor, and way, which the Lord Jesus, the Dresser of the vineyard, is fair to take with thee, if haply thou mayest be made fruitful.
John Bunyan
Bunyan asserts that the vinedresser’s digging is for your good stubborn false believer. His blows are for your good. His digging and work are done in order to bring you to true repentance.
May we pray for the Lord to send these blows upon those who refuse to bow their knee to Jesus Christ in repentance and faith. May we pray for the Lord to get the attention of those who are stiff-necked and that refuse to acknowledge Christ’s loving kindness toward them through the cross.
Those who refuse to repent and believe in their Savior - Jesus Christ. God made-flesh who died on the cross for their sins and rose three days later.
The Savior who will return one day in power and authority.
May they repent and not perish!
I had a friend who had grown up in the church. However, he continued living his life the way he wanted to live it. He refused to submit his life to the Lord. This became even more apparent during a conversation one summer that I had with him. I asked him where he thought he would go when he died. After further discussion, he eventually admitted that he thought he might go to hell. Yet, he was not very bothered by it. He felt he could make things right in the future. In the meantime, he would live his life for himself.
He was in grave danger.
I started praying a hard prayer for this friend. I prayed that whatever it would take - no matter what needed to happen - that God would save his soul. Within months, after a series of serious events that resulted in legal trouble, he finally hit rock bottom and confessed his sin to the Lord, repented, and was saved.
The Lord’s digging around this fruitless tree finally caused enough pain for the tree to be resurrected by the power of Christ. This spiritually dead man was now alive.
There is no promise that prayers like these will result in the salvation of lost persons. However, we should pray not for the comfort of false converts or unbelievers - we should instead pray that whatever it takes - that they be saved.
Scripture References: Matthew 3:8, Luke 8:4-15, Ephesians 2:8-10, James 2:17, Matthew 7:21-23
Conclusion:
As we begin to close today, I want you to consider three things in reflection.
First, I want to ask you to spend some time reflecting on your own life. Have you repented of your sins and are you bearing fruit? Be sure that you are in Christ and truly saved. If not, may today be the day of salvation for you.
Second, consider how you ought to pray for the lost. Pray that the vinedresser - Jesus Christ - continues digging around their lives and souls. It might bring pain for a while, but if they respond in repentance and faith - it will lead to an eternity in a place with no more pain or tears - an eternity with Christ in heaven.
And finally, may you pray that you trust in God’s sovereignty more and more. Although we will not have answers to all of the tough questions we have while on earth, we know that God is good and worthy of our trust and praise.