At that time some people who were present there told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. He said to them in reply, "Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them– do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!" And he told them this parable: "There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, 'For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. (So) cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?' He said to him in reply, 'Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.'" (Lk 13:1-9)
People in general think that the way one faces death has its link with the way he has lived. If the death is cruel than the person has sinned more. That is the reason here some people come to Jesus and tell him the situation in which Pilate had mingled the blood of the Galileans with that of the sacrifice. Jesus challenges their understanding.
All will face death. And death is a natural consequence. The way one dies is not in his control. There are people who die of natural calamity (those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them). People should not read reasons into events which are not in their control.
Man has to repent of his sinful ways to be in line with God or to live a life worthy of his calling. Parable of Jesus communicates the same. Time is allotted and even extra time awarded for repentance. But if man does not repent then he has to face natural consequence of destruction. Parable is given to show the importance of repentance and not the destruction.
