Dear Friends,

I hope you can join us tonight for Bible study. We will study Luke 13:1-9, "An Unstated Question and a Parable." Notes are attached. 

LIVING THE CHRISTLIFE

WAYNE BARRETT

AUGUST 5, 2026

Luke 13:1-9

An Unstated Question and a Parable

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.’”

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v 1 – “There were some present at that very time …”

This seems to refer back to 12:1 – “In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had

gathered together that they were trampling one another …” This is the type of (unspoken)

question that large crowds tend to ask.

They told him about the Galileans—to see what he would have to say about it. How could God

let this happen? What did these people due which brought this judgment on them? Maybe he

will criticize Pilate for what he did.

We don’t know anything about the incident except what is referenced here.

The Greek says “telling him,” not “who told him”—so it could have been that it had just recently

happened, and word was just getting around

Pilate was known to be brutal—all Romans rulers were. And he was no friend of the Jews.

So, apparently, with some Galileans who had gone to the temple to make sacrifice, something

had happened to offend Pilate, and he had both had them killed and then mingled their own

blood with their sacrifices they had brought.

Jesus response was not what they expected—perhaps not what we would have expected. He shifted the

topic back to the more relevant and urgent topic—which Jesus was emphasizing (and still is)—which

was that his hearers needed to repent, or they would be facing judgment. Their philosophical

speculations were a diversion from confronting their need to repent.

vv 2-3 – “And he answered them … “

A prevailing belief among the Jews in Jesus’ time was that if someone (a fellow Jew) suffered

misfortune, it was a judgment, and they had done something to deserve it.

First Jesus confronted that belief by reframing the assumption, which was:

• Most people (especially me) are basically good, so they do not get suffering (which is

judgment)

• People who do something wrong (sinners) receive suffering

Jesus asked: “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans”

The assumptions in that question:

2

• ALL the Galileans are sinners

• All of you are deserving of misfortune

“So are you asking if these Galileans were particularly worse than the rest of you, based on the

fact that they suffered like this?” Of course, that is not what they asking. They were not

asking “Since we are all sinners and deserve to suffer, why did this happen to them and not to

us?”

But Jesus consistently taught that we are all sinners, and his harshest words were for those who

were self-righteous and did not think of themselves that way.

He did answer the immediate question, but he did not then offer a comprehensive explanation

about why some type of suffering may happen to this person but not the next. (He still

doesn’t.)

His answer: No. (These Galileans were not worse sinners that all the other Galileans. So, no, they

were not any worse that you all are. This, itself, was thoughtworthy)

His follow-up: “but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

This may seem insensitive, but it was directed toward their good. Their great need was to repent,

because all were under judgment. Their great need was not to enter into a long discussion

about the nature of suffering in this world.

Still, Jesus basically used it as an object lesson: Unless you repent, that’s what will happen to

you (but here, he means eternally).

This was a jarring response. Imagine if instead of Galileans that it was Texans (and that Jesus,

himself, was a Texan), and that as Jesus was preaching on repentance, he was told about

some Texans who had died in a tornado, or a hurricane, or a fire, or a flood. And this was

Jesus’ response.

And Jesus drilled down on this.

vv. 4-5 – “Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell …”

We also know nothing about this event except what is here.

This example makes clear Jesus’ point that all are sinners (with religious people in focus)

“Do you think they were worse offenders [debtors] that all the others who lived in Jerusalem?”

Jesus frames the question the same way.

And he answers the question in the same way.

And he follows this teaching with a parable on God’s patience and mercy.

vv 6-9 – “And he told this parable; ‘A man had a fig tree …’”

We all belong to God; our lives are to bear fruita

Three years was more than sufficient time for a fig tree to bear fruit

It had been given more than its “fair chance”—time to get rid of it.

But the vinedresser intervened. The vinedresser represents Jesus himself and the mercy of God.

“Let me personally give the tree some special attention—let me try to bring it to fruitfulness.”

For one year! For a limited time

v 9 more lit. “and if indeed it bears fruit from then on …; but if not, you will cut it down.”

God is showing mercy and patience in sending Christ, but even so, his patience is not without a

limit. If a fig tree is still resistant to care, it is cut down.

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,

not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”—2 Peter 3:9

a This is a topic in itself—more than we can study this evening. But consider the fruit of the Spirit, which are character

qualities. And those qualities result in faithful living and good works.