Luke 13:1-3 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. (2) And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? (3) I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Jesus was not only a preacher, he was also perceived to be a political leader as well. The Jews, at this time, were under the iron fist of the Romans, and they were ever on the look out for the next Moses to deliver them from Roman rule. Some of Jesus’ followers mistook some of his teachings to believe that he was the one that would deliver him. In fact, that was the official Roman charge that the Jews used to convince the Romans to put him to death.
Matthew 27:37 And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
While Jesus spoke, he would sometimes have people interrupt him to promote their own agendas. In our text today, that is the backdrop of our text. Some people, while listening to Jesus told him about how Pilate, the leader of the Roman empire in this region, had put to death some Galileans and mixed their blood with the sacrifices that they were offering. In verse 2, Jesus asks a rhetorical question: “Do you suppose that these Galileans were sinners above others because they allowed such things?” There apparently was a belief that the sin of those involved was so extreme, that it rose to a level that Jesus used it as a standard of comparison
Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Jesus is using this event of these Galilean’s physical death to make a commentary about spiritual death. This statement is a foundational principle of Jesus’ plan of salvation. If we want to have a hope of our sins to be forgiven, to have a hope of a relationship with God, and to have a hope of eternal life, Repentance is essential.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
2Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death
2Peter 3:9 ¶ The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
If repentance is so importance, what is it? The best definition that I have heard is a “change of mind, which will lead to a change of life”. Repentance is not just regret. Repentance is not just saying that you’re sorry. Instead it is a realization of how damaging that sin is to both you and God and a determination that you will try with all of your being that you will turn from that life of sin and being living a life that God would want you to.
Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
This passage is the best description of repentance in the Bible. While it does not use the word, it describes the concept beautifully. In verse 2, it describes that we cannot be conformed or molded by the world. Instead we must have a transformation that starts in the mind. But when the transformation is complete, we will present our bodies as a living sacrifice.
If we ultimately are going to be pleasing to God to a point that we have our sins wiped away, we must be willing to put away the ways of this world and be willing to live the life that God would want.
Reflecting His SON,
Dennis Hogan
Minister, North Hardin Church of Christ
1804 Sam Stewart Dr.
Radcliff, KY 40160
Questions, comments or further explanation? Contact me at: dennis.hogan@icloud.com
If you have friends, family, or acquaintances that you feel could benefit from RTS, please forward
their e-mail address to me and I will add them to my mail list.
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