Luke 13:1-5 1And there were some present at that same time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2And answering he said to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered these things? 3No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them; do you think that they were more guilty than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
Some in the crowd had been listening and understood what Jesus had been saying about being persecuted. In this passage, they tell the story of how Pilate had murdered some Galileans when they had gone to the temple to offer their sacrifice. Nothing more is known about this situation, but the incident is consistent with the type of action Pilate might do. There is no indication if the Galileans did anything politically wrong, such as protesting. Verse 2 implies that they were normal people. If they had committed any sin, it was no worse than anyone else.
Jesus gives another incident not known in outside history of a tower collapsing in Siloam, killing eighteen people. Siloam was part of Jerusalem, so both of these incidents took place in the capital and were likely known news stories to local people. In both stories, Jesus points out that these were typical and normal people like everyone else. He uses two different words for the assumption that God was punishing them for their wrong doing. Sinners (hamartōloi) is given in verse 2 and is the typical word in the New Testament for “sin” as departing from God’s will. Guilty (opheiletai) has a sense of wrong doing by owing someone a debt. Sin is a debt owed God (11:4; Matthew 6:12).
Jesus asks two similar questions and gives the same answer to both. Everyone is guilty and needs forgiveness. This verse implies that suffering is not always due to a person’s sins. Even the innocent suffer. The key point is found in the word repent. Death can come at any point, and so we must be ready by having repented of our sins. Accidents can happen to anyone, including being shot by a mass murderer or a car accident. Life is precarious and can quickly be taken away. The type of perishing most important is not physical but spiritual. Repentance is the open door to eternal life. We will be ready for eternal life if we have repented and turned from our sins and trusted in Jesus for our salvation.
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