Called to repent

In Luke 13:1-5, the Jews had asked Jesus about a past event which involved Pontius Pilate. Jesus asked them, “Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:2-5). From the answer of Jesus, it appears that the Jews were negatively inferring about the character of those men, and that they supposed the Galileans deserved their bad treatment by Pilate. The answer of Jesus is a reproof of their habit of quickly judging the character of others.

Were the Galileans worse sinners? No. Time and chance happened to them and they met their Creator. Everyone has to be ready and watchful. In the previous chapter, Jesus said, “Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not” (Luke 12:35-40). Everyone needs to examine and test themselves (2 Corinthians 13:5).

Will Christ find faith on the earth when He returns (Luke 18:8)? We are called to endure. Paul lived his life, and at the end could write, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8). If you cannot say this, then you are called to repent and obey.

Kyle Campbell