There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. (Luke 13:1)
Pontius Pilate was ...governor of Judea, ... (Luke 3:1) and he would eventually give the order to have Jesus crucified. (Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 23; John 18) Apparently, Pilate had allowed the murdering of some Galileans that the Jewish religious leaders accused of being sinners, and had allowed their blood to be mingled with the Jews sacrifices' blood during some form of temple worship. (see Galileans are Slain by Pilate) And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:2-5; read "The Tower of Siloam")
We are never to think we're better than others. Nor are we to think others are getting what they deserve if they suffer and even die. We all have sinned, For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws. So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you. (James 2:10, 12-13) He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’” (Luke 13:6-9)
This parable is very important to the children of Israel especially, but the lessons to learn are for all of us. Christ Jesus' ministry lasted for approximately "three years". (read "How Long was Jesus' Ministry") Jesus said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 15:24) Although, He did eventually minister in some areas outside of Israel. But God's "chosen people" had not accepted Jesus as the Son of God. God was ready to cut them down, just as He felt when they disobeyed Moses. (Exodus 32:1-14) After Jesus' death and resurrection, for "one more year", or the first year of the disciples witness, they first witnessed ...in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
This "disappointing vineyard", the children of Israel is exactly what God had prophesied through the Prophet Isaiah: Now let me sing to my Well-beloved A song of my Beloved [Son] regarding His vineyard: My Well-beloved has a vineyard On a very fruitful hill. He dug it up and cleared out its stones, And planted it with the choicest vine. He built a tower in its midst, And also made a winepress in it; So He expected it to bring forth good grapes, But it brought forth wild grapes. “And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, Judge, please, between Me and My vineyard. What more could have been done to My vineyard That I have not done in it? Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes, Did it bring forth wild grapes? And now, please let Me tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it shall be burned; And break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. I will lay it waste; It shall not be pruned or dug, But there shall come up briers and thorns. I will also command the clouds That they rain no rain on it.” For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, And the men of Judah are His pleasant plant. He looked for justice, but behold, oppression; For righteousness, but behold, a cry for help. (Isaiah 5:1-7)
After this prophecy, God made six "Woe" statements. The one we must be very careful about, especially these days is, Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight! (Isaiah 5:20-21) We don't want to think we're better than we are, always judging other at a higher standard than we ourselves can attain. We don't want God to look at us as a "disappointing vineyard" that He contemplates cutting down. But thanks be to God that Christ Jesus is always our advocate, petitioning God to give us a little more time, For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, (I Timothy 2:5) knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (II Peter 3:3-4, 9)
But for all who choose not to accept Christ Jesus as their Savior and Lord, God completes the six "Woe" warnings with a very unfortunate promise: Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble, And the flame consumes the chaff, So their root will be as rottenness, And their blossom will ascend like dust; Because they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts, And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 5:24) As we will study in a future lesson, Jesus says, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.(John 15:5-6) Let's not get to the end of this life and be cast out of God's presence for eternity. Let's accept Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior today!
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