Just then, some people came to tell Yeshua about the men from the Galil whom Pilate had slaughtered even while they were slaughtering animals for sacrifice. 2 His answer to them was, “Do you think that just because they died so horribly, these folks from the Galil were worse sinners than all the others from the Galil? 3 No, I tell you. Rather, unless you turn to God from your sins, you will all die as they did!
4 “Or what about those eighteen people who died when the tower at Shiloach fell on them? Do you think they were worse offenders than all the other people living in Yerushalayim? 5 No, I tell you. Rather, unless you turn from your sins, you will all die similarly.”
6 Then Yeshua gave this illustration: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit but didn’t find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘Here, I’ve come looking for fruit on this fig tree for three years now without finding any. Cut it down — why let it go on using up the soil?’ 8 But he answered, ‘Sir, leave it alone one more year. I’ll dig around it and put manure on it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, well and good; if not, you will have it cut down then.’”
10 Yeshua was teaching in one of the synagogues on Shabbat. 11 A woman came up who had a spirit which had crippled her for eighteen years; she was bent double and unable to stand erect at all. 12 On seeing her, Yeshua called her and said to her, “Lady, you have been set free from your weakness!” 13 He put his hands on her, and at once she stood upright and began to glorify God.
14 But the president of the synagogue, indignant that Yeshua had healed on Shabbat, spoke up and said to the congregation, “There are six days in the week for working; so come during those days to be healed, not on Shabbat!” 15 However, the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Each one of you on Shabbat — don’t you unloose your ox or your donkey from the stall and lead him off to drink? 16 This woman is a daughter of Avraham, and the Adversary kept her tied up for eighteen years! Shouldn’t she be freed from this bondage on Shabbat?” 17 By these words, Yeshua put to shame the people who opposed him; but the rest of the crowd were happy about all the wonderful things that were taking place through him.
18 So he went on to say, “What is the Kingdom of God like? With what will we compare it? 19 It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in his own garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds flying about nested in its branches.”
(Complete Jewish Bible)It was common in ancient Jewish culture to understand tragic events as the result of sin in the life of those affected. In this passage, Jesus asks the question to those listening, whether the people who suffered these tragedies were worse sinners? He asked the question to those listening, whether the people who suffered these tragedies were worst sinners? But before they have an opportunity to begin engaging in discussion about sin in the lives of these other people, Jesus reminds his audience of the reality that all of them are going to face death at some point and need to consider their own standing before God.
Whether by tragic events or natural causes, we all will die and stand in judgment before God. It is easy to get caught up in debating the sins of others and their need to repent. How will these other people respond to God’s call to turn to Him? The danger in this is we begin to lose sight of our own lives. We fail to consider the sin present in our lives and our need to repent. Jesus reminds us to first consider how we will respond to God’s call to turn to Him.
Hymn for Today: "O for a Heart to Praise My God" by Charles Wesley.
1. O for a heart to praise my God,
a heart from sin set free;
a heart that's sprinkled with the blood
so freely shed for me:
2. A heart resigned, submissive, meek,
my great Redeemer's throne;
where only Christ is heard to speak,
where Jesus reigns alone:
3. A humble, lowly, contrite heart,
believing, true, and clean,
which neither life nor death can part
from him that dwells within:
4. A heart in every thought renewed,
and full of love divine;
perfect and right and pure and good —
a copy, Lord, of thine.
5. Thy nature, gracious Lord, impart,
come quickly from above;
write thy new name upon my heart,
thy new best name of Love.
Thought for Today: Prayer of a sufferer overcome by weakness and pouring out his complaint before Adonai:
Adonai, hear my prayer!
Let my cry for help reach you!
Don’t hide your face from me
when I am in such distress!
Turn your ear toward me;
when I call, be quick to reply! (Psalm 102:1-2).
Please pray: For faculty and students as they prepare for Christian ministry in Taiwan.
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