Luke 13:1-5 (NIV) Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them–do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
Like many people today, the people of Jesus’ day often believed that if a tragedy befell someone, that they were worse sinners than those to whom the tragedy did not occur. Jesus not only used the tragedy that was brought to His attention, the Jews that Pilate had killed, but added to it the eighteen who had died when the tower of Siloam had collapsed on them, to address this misunderstanding.
This faulty theology of the masses was also reflected in Jesus’ own followers when they asked of the man born blind, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:2 NIV) In that case, Jesus answered that the man was born blind so that God’s work could be displayed in his life. Jesus then healed him.
But in this case, Jesus’ focus and His answer take the conversation in an entirely different direction. Jesus’ point in this case is that the people killed in those tragedies, both the natural and the man-caused, were not killed because they were greater sinners than the rest of the people around. Instead, everyone around was guilty before God, and completely worthy of the death that had, up to that point, avoided them. The fact that others had died while they had lived should not be a cause for pride and smugness, but should lead those who were mercifully spared the tragedy to deep self-inspection, humility, thankfulness for God’s mercy, and, above all, to genuine repentance.
This really is the key to the gospel. The most difficult people to save are the “nice” people, the “good folks” who compare themselves favorably to the people around them (like the Pharisee in Luke 18:9-14). These see that they are nicer, kinder, and perhaps more generous than others around them, and so feel no need to truly assess their sins, or to genuinely repent.
But Jesus’ point is that ALL have sinned and fall far short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). ALL are deserving of not only God’s judgment here on earth, but of His judgment forever in eternity. And the only solution is not turning over a new leaf, or trying to do better in the future. It is repentance, pure and simple. Nothing short of confessing one’s sins and turning wholeheartedly toward God to receive mercy and forgiveness through Jesus will accomplish anything.
Father, I can remember that, while I was still walking far from You, I felt pretty good about myself, because there were many others I could point to who were far worse people than I. It was only when You got me alone with You, with no one to compare myself with but You, that I got a clear look at myself and at the darkness and foulness that had accumulated in my heart through years of sinfulness. It was only then that I saw my clear need for repentance and for Your mercy and forgiveness. And I am so grateful that both of those were freely given to me through Jesus when I fully confessed and turned toward You in repentance. Thank You! Amen.