Luke 13:1-13:9 February 29, 2024

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PREFACE FROM JOE FOCHT:
Without answering the question of the mysteries of Divine providence, Jesus teaches us that calamities should instruct us of our mortality – prompting the question where will we go after death. A clarion call to repentance is the only way to escape eternal perishing. Being familiar with the imagery of the fig tree as the nation of Israel, the mercy of preparation and patience precedes the ultimate judgment of cutting it down.

Call to Repent

13 Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had ^[a]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? ³ I tell you, no, but unless you ^[b]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 ^[c]culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? 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. ⁷ And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree ^[d]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; ⁹ and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’”

NOTES TAKEN FROM JOE’S TEACHING

(reviewing chapter 12 will help) Interesting conclusion to the previous teachings. People come and say to him, Lord have you heard the latest thing?  There is no historic record of this slaughter of these people while sacrificing.  That kind of thing went on with Pilate continually. Under Augustus there was more tolerance. Under Tiberius things were much crueler. When Pontius Pilate came he rode into town and the Jews rioted and he slaughtered Jews. He went back to Caesarea and they came and rioted again and he threatened to kill them.  They bared their necks and said go ahead, we would rather die. He left. He was known for his cruelty. He was eventually removed for it and sent back to Rome.  Interesting to listen to Joe. He gives a good history of Pontius Pilate. 

What these people were really asking was why did this happen to these people while they were sacrificing. They must have been big sinners.  Jesus confirms that this was their thought.  Judeans did look down their noses a bit at Galileans.  And there are examples of God stepping into human history and judging people for sin.  Their covenant with God was one of blessing for compliance and cursing for sinful behavior.  Job’s friends come to the same conclusion about Job’s suffering.  But nothing could be further from the truth.  We also can become “religious” and be judgmental.  We can tend to think God is really dealing with people when we see them suffering. But that may not be true. If we see someone sinning we can warn them that if they continue they will suffer God’s chastening because God can’t bless what they are doing.  But in this case Jesus swats that idea down.

Then he moves them into a circumstance where there is no human agency, and the sufferers are Judean not Galilean. These folks died in a tower that fell on them. Do you think that THEY were more sinful then any who dwell in Jerusalem?   He tells them the takeaway is that there are two options. Repenting or perishing.  And those options apply to us all. (Joe then talks about 9/11.) 

Jesus tells them they need to think about their own sin…not the sin of these other people. We need to worry about our own eternity.  John the Baptist was greater than all the prophets, and his message was repentance.  What does that mean?? It doesn’t mean that we turn from our sin because the mess it makes when it comes out into the open. Repentance is a work of grace through the power of the Holy Spirit to see and hate our sin before a holy and gracious and loving God who hates sin.  Alistair Begg says “Biblical repentance is very different from the modern presentation of Christ who offers peace, power and purpose.  Christ for the neurotic and Christ for the frustrated.  Christ the super psychiatrist. That’s not biblical repentance. To say that he can save us from our sorrows without saving us from our sins is a lie. ”  Biblical repentance happens somehow when we come under conviction by God’s grace and feel the pressure and weight of our own sin.  The weight of our own sin has to come upon us. It has to be real. This was at the center of Christ’s message. 

Now he tells them a parable of the man who had planted a fig tree without fruit.  Jesus says who do you think God is? That he just hacks people down? No! That’s the Godfather, not Father God.   John the Baptist said now the axe is laid at the root of the tree. In Isaiah 5 the Lord relates the song of the vineyard.

Repentance happens initially in our lives at our once and for all turning to God and being saved but then it should become part of our life. We don’t have to worry about why tragedies occur to some people. The question in our minds should be are we prepared. Are we ready.  How are we living our lives?  All human beings are in need of repentance.  Repentance should bring change. We cannot presume upon his mercy.  This is the message of the fig tree.

QUESTION: WHAT are your takeaways from this lesson as regards yourself and others, particularly in suffering.   Do you reason about sin when suffering comes your way or comes to those around you?  How do you think about suffering when you are going through it. What are your first thoughts in suffering? What process do you go through? Let’s think about what happened on October 7 in Israel. Do we think in our heart of hearts that this is God’s judgment? That he is “hacking people down” as Joe said?