Sermon Tone Analysis

Luke 13:1–17 (CSB)

1 At that time, some people came and reported to him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.

2 And he responded to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were more sinful than all the other Galileans because they suffered these things? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well.

4 Or those eighteen that the tower in Siloam fell on and killed—do you think they were more sinful than all the other people who live in Jerusalem?

5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well.”

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?’

8 “But he replied to him, ‘Sir, leave it this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.

9 Perhaps it will produce fruit next year, but if not, you can cut it down.’

”

10 As he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath, 11 a woman was there who had been disabled by a spirit for over eighteen years.

She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called out to her, “Woman, you are free of your disability.” 13 Then he laid his hands on her, and instantly she was restored and began to glorify God.

14 But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, responded by telling the crowd, “There are six days when work should be done; therefore come on those days and be healed and not on the Sabbath day.”

15 But the Lord answered him and said, “Hypocrites!

Doesn’t each one of you untie his ox or donkey from the feeding trough on the Sabbath and lead it to water?

16 Satan has bound this woman, a daughter of Abraham, for eighteen years—shouldn’t she be untied from this bondage on the Sabbath day?”

17 When he had said these things, all his adversaries were humiliated, but the whole crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things he was doing.

The Text In Its Context

Repent Today

Last week we heard that we need to repent, do it right away, and examine ourselves regularly for remaining unrepentant sin.

The urgency comes from the truth that we don’t know how much time we have before we meet Jesus, and we will be judged when we do.

Judgment will be sudden and unexpected.

So repent today to be prepared to meet Jesus.

In today’s text, some people came to Jesus and told him about

Luke 13:1 (CSB) 1 At that time, some people came and reported to him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.

The details of this conflict are lost to history.

Still, we don’t need specifics to understand that Jesus had been talking about interpreting the times, and these people wondered if Pilate’s actions had some special significance.

The Jewish hope for a messiah looked to a political and military leader, and maybe the people hoped that the act would enrage Jesus and begin the revolution.

Or did these people die because of their sin?

It is human nature to ask why.

If we understand why something happens, we can believe that we can have control over the outcomes.

They thought Jesus might be the promised Messiah, and he had not reacted to Pilate.

Was it because God had judged them sinful and used Pilate to deliver divine retribution?

Luke 13:2–5 (CSB) 2 And he responded to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were more sinful than all the other Galileans because they suffered these things? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well.

4 Or those eighteen that the tower in Siloam fell on and killed—do you think they were more sinful than all the other people who live in Jerusalem?

5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well.”

Jesus’ response must have made their heads and hearts spin.

He focused on the urgent need for everybody to repent and get right with God.

What the Galileans suffered wasn’t due to the gravity of their sins.

Death, illness, and financial or material setbacks can be linked to God’s judgment for our sin.

But it isn’t always the case, even though many people seem to assume they are—Jesus’ words in our text stand against that assumption.

John 9:2–3 (CSB) 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” Jesus answered.

“This came about so that God’s works might be displayed in him.

God controls all things, either actively causing something to happen or passively allowing it.

We all sin and fall short of God’s glory.

God uses all things for the benefit of those who believe.

Human tragedies are not always divine punishments, and it is wrong for us to “play God” and pass judgment.

Job’s friends made this mistake when they said that Job’s afflictions were evidence that he was a sinner.

If we take that approach to tragedy, we will have a hard time explaining the sufferings of the Prophets and Apostles and even of our Lord and Savior Himself.

Warren Wiersbe uses John Milton's conversation with King Charles II to illustrate this truth.

When the blind English poet John Milton was old and obscure, he was visited one day by Charles II, son of the king that the Puritans had beheaded.

“Your blindness is a judgment from God for the part you took against my father,” said the king.

Milton replied, “If I have lost my sight through God’s judgment, what can you say of your father who lost his head?”

Don’t try and create a hierarchy of sin, don’t try and make people who suffer into greater sinners than yourself.

You deserve death for your sin.

We all deserve that judgment.

The vital response must always be repentance!

Jesus said that sin of any sort is deadly- all sin causes death- spiritually if not physically.

Every minute that God allows us to breath while we sin is an illustration of

God’s Patience,

but He won’t wait forever!

Luke 13:6–7 (CSB) 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?’

Our text includes a parable with application to individuals, the nation of Israel, and the Church.

We must bear fruit for God.

The length of time that the owner waited for the fig tree to bear fruit was excessive.

According to Leviticus 19:23–25 the Jewish people did not eat fruit from newly planted trees the first three years, and the fourth year the crops belonged to the Lord.

A farmer would not get any figs for himself until the fifth year, but this man had now been waiting for seven years!

No wonder he wanted to cut down the fruitless tree!

He had shown exceptional patience already.

God has every right to cut us down, but He gives us time to come to repentance in His mercy.

2 Peter 3:9 (CSB) 9 The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.

Don’t question that God is going to judge sin.

His patience and mercy are not weaknesses.

Every man, woman, and child earns the wages of sin.

Don’t spend too much time wondering when He is coming back for us.

Every day is a gift, either for us to draw closer to Him or share the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with another.

He is coming soon, be prepared.

Repent and make straight the way for the Lord.

Luke 13:8–9 (CSB) 8 “But he replied to him, ‘Sir, leave it this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.

9 Perhaps it will produce fruit next year, but if not, you can cut it down.’

”

In the OT, the nation of Israel would swing from faithful to rebellious.

God sent many prophets to warn them of coming judgment.

Then God sent His son Jesus Christ.

God waited three years during Jesus’ ministry on earth.

The nation did not bear fruit.

God waited about forty more years before allowing the Roman armies to destroy Jerusalem and the temple.

During those years, the Church of Christ gave Israel a powerful message of the Gospel.

But the nation didn’t listen, and finally, God cut down the tree.

Every person, the nation of Israel, and Jesus’ church are to be judged by the fruit they bear.

Therefore, make every effort you can to bear fruit.

Use every resource God has given you to do so.

The first step is always to repent and make straight the way for the Lord.

Bear Good Fruit, Not Just Fruit That Looks Good

Luke 13:10–13 (CSB) 10 As he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath, 11 a woman was there who had been disabled by a spirit for over eighteen years.