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Luke 13a: HG Bishop Youssef

Outline

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  • 1-5: Repent or Perish
  • 6-9: The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree
  • 10-17: A Spirit of Infirmity
  • 18-19: The Parable of the Mustard Seed
  • 20-21: The Parable of the Leaven
  • 22-33: The Narrow Way
  • 34-35: Jesus Laments over Jerusalem

Repent or Perish

1:12

1 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 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? 3 I tell you, no; 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 sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

  • Who were these Galileans?
    • According to St Cyril, these were followers of Judas the Galilean, who is mentioned in Acts 5:37
      • Acts 5 is when the high priest and council came together to imprison the apostles and Gamaliel stood up and reminded them of many who rose up before the apostles and perished... if this is from God, let them be lest you stand against God. If it is from men, then it will come to nothing.
      • One example he gives is "Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed." (Acts 5:37)
      • Judas the Galilean taught that no one should be called "master" or "lord" and they refused to call Caesar, Roman Emperor, "Lord"
      • So Pilate was enraged, sent a band of soldiers, and punished them by slaying them when they came up for Passover... so as they were coming to offer the Passover Lambs, he killed them and mixed their blood with the blood of the Passover Lambs.
    • Why did they tell Him about this?
      • They wanted the Lord to condemn Pilate as cruel and vicious, so they could report Him to Pilate and get rid of Him
      • Or maybe He would approve what Pilate did and this would be a good opportunity to criticize Him and bring Him in contempt with the people
      • Or to know His thoughts about those who were slain... were they wicked or not? Would He pass judgment on them or not? Would He consider their death as the right punishment or not?
  • The Lord knew their tricks... He neither approved nor condemned Pilate. He acknowledged their sins, but without condemning them but rather by saying they are not considered greater sinners just because they were taken like that
    • The Lord answered the indirect question indirectly
    • He turned the question of "why did this happen" to be "what does this mean to me"
      • Why did God allow this person to die in this way?
      • Why did God allow this pandemic?
      • This isn't the right question! But rather... What does this mean to me?
  • What does this mean to me?
    • Unless you repent, you will perish
    • I can die at any moment... so I need to be ready.
  • The Lord Spoke about Two Things
    • An evil done by a ruler
    • A natural disaster
  • Why do bad things happen to good people?
    • We usually think that people are either good or bad, and God will allow good things to good people and bad things to bad people... and we always ask "why do bad things happen to good people"
    • The Lord answers that question...
    • They were not more guilty than others. All of us are sinners and guilty. Unless we repent, we will perish.
    • When you see such tragedies, it will be an opportunity for you to examine yourself, continually change yourself, respond with humble repentance for my own sins.
  • In the Greek, two words are used for "repent" 
    • In verse 5 - once you stop a sin you don't go back to it
    • In verse 3 - a continuing repentance or a life of repentance

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

14:46

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