Breaking the Word

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.  

He also said to the crowds, "When you see (a) cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain– and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot– and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time? "Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny." (Lk 12:54-59)

Jesus is addressing the crowd. He tells them that they are able to discern the nature. They are able to see the clouds in the west and they say that it would rain and it does so etc. Jesus criticizes them for their ability to discern the nature and the earth and the sky. If they could discern the nature then they should also be able to discern the history. They should be able to discern what is happening in and around them.

The people should be able to judge between right and wrong. Each one should and has the ability to judge between right and wrong. Then the question is why should there be a need for a magistrate judge between. Jesus’ argument is that there is no need for another person to judge between. If they have the need then the consequence is imprisonment. Not only imprisonment but also one will come out paying the last penny that is pauper.

Jesus’ advice to the crowd is on two grounds: discernment and judgment. Man is gifted with these two qualities. Man is able to discern the events and the happenings in nature and history. His discernments are true and correct and so also his judgments. But the sad situation is that man is making wrong judgments and discernments regarding what is happening around him and what is happening to him.