The Importance of Repentance

Tragedy

Tragedy (N): an event causing great suffering, destruction, and distress, such as a serious accident, crime, or natural catastrophe.

Tragedy, life is full of tragedy.

Many want to blame God for tragedy’s in this life.

I found this biblical illustration we can learn from.

The Book of Job tells the story of a man who endured unimaginable suffering. His friends questioned God's justice, blaming Him for his pain. Yet, Job, amidst his anguish, proclaimed, 'Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.' This illustrates that while we may wrestle with the idea of blaming God for our tragedies, true faith involves trusting in His goodness, even when we cannot understand His ways.

In my own life, from the suicide of my high school love to a 3-year old grandson lost to a tragic gun incident.

We cannot avoid tragedies; what we do with them is what matters.

(transition) After the people had listened to the Lord teaching and preparing for eternity, now man turns to tragedy and say sin is the cause, like Job’s friend, but let’s see what Jesus has to say, how He turns this into a teaching moment.

The call to repentance (Our Passage)

Luke 13:1–2 NASB95

1 Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate?

Luke 13:3–4 NASB95

3 “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 “Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem?

Luke 13:5–6 NASB95

5 “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” 6 And He began telling this parable: “A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any.

Luke 13:7–8 NASB95

7 “And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’ 8 “And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer;

Luke 13:9 NASB95

9 and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’ ”

Does anything stand out to you in this section?

This transpires at the same time, the same occasion as the teaching: God cares more (Lk12:1-12); Don’t worry about things (Lk12:13-34); Jesus is still speaking to the masses.

The people bring Jesus a presumed, known tragedy (v.1), how does Jesus respond (v.2)?

Do you think they were greater sinners then all others, because they suffered this fate?

Jesus answers the question Himself (v.3) what did He have to say? Did he use another known tragedy (v.4), if so what was it?

Unless you repent you likewise will perish the same

Think of those at the tower in Siloam what were killed, were they worse than those who live in Jerusalem?

Jesus tells them the importance of repentance again (v.5) and starts to tell a parable (v.6).

What is the complaint of the vine-owner to the vine-keeper (v.7)?

Three years no fruit, cut it down, why does it even take us ground?

The vine-keeper responds by saying what (v.8)?

Leave it alone, I will dig around it and I will fertilize it.

Then the vine-keeper tells him if bears fruit, great, if not, cut it down.

Recognize the urgent need.

The tragic incident we see in (v.1) that was accredited to Pilate was thought to be the Galileans fault.

They were thinking it was “divine” judgment and they were worse sinners, but in reality this was the way Pilate was. While this particular incident is not recorded historically outside of this verse, there is a recording in the time when Pilate wanted to build an acqaduct from the Pools of Solomon to Jerusalem and wants some of the temple treasury to be used for it. There was a rebellion by the Jews, and Pilate sent soldiers dressed as common people who took out daggers and attacked the people who were asking for the money back. - - - it shows it was his character.

Jesus corrects the conception, emphasizing personal repentance to avoid spiritual perishing.

Being a Christian does not make us immune to tragedies, but we are to examine ourselves to see if we are walking in line with God’s will. Is there an area of repentance we need to do beyond salvation? Do not wait, for you do not know when tragedy is going to come.

Repentance, urgent repentance is a theme that you find throughout the Bible. Repentance should be something we do when we come to understand God’s grace. we are all sinners who fall short (Rom3:23).

I love what Courson says in his commentary on this part, his actually goes all the way through (v.5) but here is the quote.

“This concept (repentance) is so important. Whether you observe tragedy in the lives of others, or experience it yourself, the question is not, ‘Why did it happen?’ Rather, the question is why it doesn’t happen more often, because of our sin and continual rebellion, we deserve to be wiped out totally. It’s only because of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed entirely (Lam3:22).”

Application: Time for self reflection, is there anything in us, any area of our life that we need to seek repentance? Do not hesitate, we do not know what tomorrow may bring.

Respond to universal sin.

Luke 13:4–5 HCSB

4 Or those 18 that the tower in Siloam fell on and killed—do you think they were more sinful than all the people who live in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well!”

Jesus turns to another event they all would have known those killed at the tower in Siloam. They thought it was due to sin.

Jesus quickly dispels that too saying they were not more sinful, but that unless you repent you will perish as well.

“…Jesus turned His focus from the question ‘why did this happen?’ and turned it to the question, ‘what does this mean to me?’” (Guzik)

In these verses (13:5) the word used repent is a once and for all repentance, unto salvation. Where in (13:3) it was a continuing repentance.

They did not know it, understand the urgency of this for it was this generation that did not listen, that did not repent, who perished in the destruction of Jerusalem in AD70.

“We cannot say that individual suffering and sin are inevitably connected but we can say national sin and suffering are so connected. The nation which chooses the wrong way in the end will suffer it.” (Barclay)

Application: Jesus through these two shows that those who suffer are not worse sinners than others, that all need to come to repentance. Again, are there things in your life that you need to repent of? If so, do it.

Reap the fruit of repentance

Jesus speaks in a parable, now using the national symbol of Israel, a fig tree.

It is a warning and a hope. So let’s read it again together.

Luke 13:6–7 HCSB

6 And He told this parable: “A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it and found none. 7 He told the vineyard worker, ‘Listen, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it even waste the soil?’

Luke 13:8–9 HCSB

8 “But he replied to him, ‘Sir, leave it this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9 Perhaps it will bear fruit next year, but if not, you can cut it down.’ ”

Jesus illustrates God’s judgment (warning), how do you see it displayed (illustrated) here? Can you see God’s patience?

God’s judgment would be cutting down the tree, that is the judgment, but the hope is that in patience it may bear fruit with the right cultivating.

God is long-suffering but God is just and will not hold out forever, we do not know the day or the hour of Jesus return to gather his saints and delve out the judgment already made against the world.

Gods grace gives us opportunities to turn, to repent, to seek forgiveness. God’s patience is waiting to see fruit.

Grace for today says: “The invitation is to utilize this grace proactively by repenting and bearing right fruit in our lives. This passage calls for immediate reflection and action to ensure our lives are evidence of God’s transforming work.”

What was the vinedresser, vine-keeper going to do in that year (v.8)?

He was going to dig around it and put fertilizer (dung) in it.

Our Father does the same thing with us. He is the vinedresser (Jn15:1) and he does the same with us. He gets to the root issues (us seeing our sinfulness). He exposes it through His word and by His Holy Spirit, then He fertilizes us to show us how to grow and to point out good things, We are beautifully and wonderfully made, we are His workmanship. So, bear fruit starting with the fruit of the Spirit that He gives us and needs to be nourished in us so it can be seen through us.

Application: Self-examine time, are you bearing fruit in the kingdom, are you living Gal5:22-23?

Galatians 5:22–23 NASB95

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

There is other fruit too, your fruit. Fruit of praise (Heb13:15) fruit of giving (Php4:17); fruit of loving people (again this is Gal5:22-23). Fruit of leading souls to Jesus (Rom1:13); fruit of doing good works of righteousness (Jm3:18).

One more verse before we close

Colossians 1:16 NASB95

16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.

We are created by him, through Him and for Him. Do not let unrepentant sin keep you from being who He created you to be.

(Prayer) (Exit)