There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
6 And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ 8 And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”
Lessons
Not all disaster is God’s judgment (Luke 13:1-5 Job 5:1-4)
There isn’t always a spiritual reason for every disaster (Luke 13:1-5, Ecclesiastes 8:14, Romans 8:28)
Sometimes bad things just happen to good and bad people (Luke 13:1-5, Ecclesiastes 8:14)
All deserve judgement but all have time to repent (Luke 13:1-9, Romans 3:23, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
Our God is working with us and is incredibly patient with as He waits for us to bear fruit – i.e. repentance (Luke 3:8-9, 13:6-9, 2 Peter 3:9)
