Read Luke 13:1-9

Thursday

Read Luke 13:1-9

13  At that time some people were there who told Jesus about the Galileans whom Pilate had killed while they were offering sacrifices to God. ²Jesus answered them, “Because those Galileans were killed in that way, do you think it proves that they were worse sinners than all the other Galileans? ³No indeed! And I tell you that if you do not turn from your sins, you will all die as they did. ⁴What about those eighteen people in Siloam who were killed when the tower fell on them? Do you suppose this proves that they were worse than all the other people living in Jerusalem? ⁵No indeed! And I tell you that if you do not turn from your sins, you will all die as they did.”

6 Then Jesus told them this parable: “There was once a man who had a fig tree growing in his vineyard. He went looking for figs on it but found none. ⁷So he said to his gardener, ‘Look, for three years I have been coming here looking for figs on this fig tree, and I haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it go on using up the soil?’ ⁸But the gardener answered, ‘Leave it alone, sir, just one more year; I will dig round it and put in some manure. ⁹Then if the tree bears figs next year, so much the better; if not, then you can have it cut down.’ ”

 Think

This is quite a confusing passage - the question is raised:  Do bad things happen to people because of the bad things they have done?  Jesus' speaks about the collapse of a tower that killed 18 people - he reminds his disciples that the people killed were not 'worse offenders' than all the others in Jerusalem.

He reminds everyone:  '...unless you repent, you will all perish.'  The positive note - Vs 6-9 the land owner gives the tree another chance.

Pray

Lord - help me to repent - also, help me to trust in you for your grace and help.