Double Trouble
Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 35:30
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We cannot be certain what verse 1 refers to.
Tensions of the day made revolution possible at any time.
Pontius Pilate did not get along with the Jews- he was insensitive to their religious convictions.
He brought official Roman ensigns into Jerusalem and the Jews were angry with Caesar’s image in the Holy City. Protests erupted, Pilate threatened to kill the protestors and they were willing to die. Eventually Pilate removed the symbols, but the hostilities continued.
Pilate was governor of a tiny province far from Rome, and that made everyone’s situation precarious. The Galileans were especially susceptible to revolt.
Some sort of attack took place against some Jews. Apparently Jesus was not there.
1 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
This event MAY have occurred when Pilate took money from the temple treasury to help finance an aqueduct.
A large crowd of Jews protested. Pilate had soldiers in civilian clothes mingle with the crowd, using concealed weapons they killed a number of unarmed Jews, and this added to their hatred for Pilate.
jesus knew that anything he said concerning Pilate would arrive in Jerusalem before he did. If he ignored the matter, they would accuse him of being pro Rome and disloyal to Israel. If He defended the Jews and blamed Pilate, He would be in trouble with the Romans and the Jewish leaders would have their excuse to get Him arrested.
Jesus answers their question by asking a question. He moved the discussion up the importance chain… to a new level. He was able to avoid the politics (which didn’t really matter to him), and placed it on the level of eternal matters.s Pay attention to that. He didn’t discuss Pilate’s sins, and instead chose to discuss the sins of the people who were questioning Him.
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?
Jesus would not attribute tragedy directly to one’s sins.
Jesus made it clear that this kind of tragedy is not always divine punishment- and we are not to sit in God’s judgment seat and pass judgment on others. Job’s friends did that and were wrong. Jesus died the most tragic death and was sinless… that math, and that logic, never adds up.
The Jews did, see John 9.1-3
1 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?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.
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?
He would not attribute accident to one’s sins either. Nor would he attribute that to Pilate.
Bad things happen to protestors in crowds, bad things happen to people minding their own business. Bad things happen.
5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
“likewise” means similarly, in the same way. The one who flouts their God cannot count on immunity from sudden adversity either.
Jesus’ point is that the victims of the calamities referred to in verses 1-5 died physically, all who do not repent will face spiritual death.
Jesus’ point is not that God punishes sinners in this way (in fact, all are sinners and well....)
The question is not “Why did these people die?” Jesus’ question is, “What right do you have to live?”
Have you noticed it is easier to talk about other people’s deaths than it is to face our own sin and possible death?
Before we read this parable, look at Leviticus 19.23-25
23 “When you come into the land and plant any kind of tree for food, then you shall regard its fruit as forbidden. Three years it shall be forbidden to you; it must not be eaten. 24 And in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, an offering of praise to the Lord. 25 But in the fifth year you may eat of its fruit, to increase its yield for you: I am the Lord your God.
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.
Jesus alludes to Micah 7.1
1 Woe is me! For I have become as when the summer fruit has been gathered, as when the grapes have been gleaned: there is no cluster to eat, no first-ripe fig that my soul desires.
Don’t miss the point… this man could not look for fruit until the fifth year, according to the Leviticus passage… so in reality, he had been waiting for seven years. No wonder he wanted to cut it down.
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 fig tree was given an extra year of grace beyond the original three years.... Israel failed to recognize her opportunity… see Luke 12.56
56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
See Luke 19.41-44
41 And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42 saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side 44 and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
God’s patience with Israel is legendary see Isaiah 5.1-7
1 Let me sing for my beloved my love song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. 2 He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; and he looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes. 3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. 4 What more was there to do for my vineyard, that I have not done in it? When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes? 5 And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. 6 I will make it a waste; it shall not be pruned or hoed, and briers and thorns shall grow up; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. 7 For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting; and he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, an outcry!
7 For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting; and he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, an outcry!
Paul reflected God’s patience with the Jews… see Romans 9.1-5
1 I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
And so what? What does this have to do with us?
Patience.
Patience.
God’s patience.
God’s patience.
God’s patience with us.
God’s patience with us.
Bottom Line:
What Happened To The Tree Could Happen To Me
What Happened To The Tree Could Happen To Me
Listen to 2 Peter 3.9
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
or Matthew 3.7-10
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 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.
patience of God…see Proverbs 19.11
11 Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
4 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?
What Happened To The Tree Could Happen To Me
What Happened To The Tree Could Happen To Me