1 Now there were some present at that very season who told him of
the Galilæans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their
sacrifices. 2 And he answered and said unto them, Think ye that
these Galilæans were sinners above all the Galilæans, because they
have suffered these things? 3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye
repent, ye shall all in like manner perish. 4 Or those eighteen,
upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them, think ye that
they were offenders above all the men that dwell in Jerusalem? 5 I
tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise
perish.
6 And he spake this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted
in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit thereon, and found
none. 7 And he said unto the vinedresser, Behold, these three
years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it
down; why doth it also cumber the ground? 8 And he answering said
unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig
about it, and dung it: 9 and if it bear fruit thenceforth, _well_;
but if not, thou shalt cut it down.
At the very time when Jesus was urging upon his hearers their need of
repentance, a report was made of a cruel slaughter of Galilæans at the
hand of Pilate. It was expected that Jesus would declare the poor
sufferers to have merited their fate, and that he would fall into the
common fallacy of supposing that exceptional suffering is a proof of
exceptional guilt on the part of men. Jesus, however, replied that
temporary exemption from suffering is a mark of special grace on the part
of God. All impenitent men are certain to suffer, and deserve to suffer;
if judgment has not fallen the delay should be regarded as a merciful
opportunity to repent.
Jesus enforced the same truth by referring to a recent calamity in which
eighteen men had been crushed by the fall of a tower. Their fate was not
to be regarded as a sign of their special sinfulness, but as a warning to
others that they would likewise suffer unless they repented of their sins.
The Master had in mind the entire Jewish nation and he further enforced
his call to repentance by the parable of the Fruitless Fig Tree. This was
a true type of Israel, but also a symbol of every impenitent soul. God
mercifully preserves and blesses and spares, but the day of mercy will
end. The nation, as the individual, which produces no fruit of penitence
and of righteousness is certain to be cut down. While the opportunity is
given, repentance must be shown. “Now is the acceptable time; ... now is a
day of salvation.”