Luke 13:1-9 - Both Repentance And Fruitfulness Required
Our Lord did not hesitate to hang great lessons on passing events. It is a great art to lead men's thoughts from the outward and transient to the unseen and eternal. God often gives us texts in the happenings of His providence, and when men's hearts are awed and softened there is a conspicuous opportunity for striking home.
We have no right to suppose that sudden disasters prove the presence of special sin in those who are involved in them. Sin is avenged in this life, but rather in the natural sequences than by some sudden "act of God." Accidents are not necessarily punishments, and we who witness the sad fate of others have no right to congratulate ourselves on our moral or spiritual superiority. Instead of judging others, let us look to ourselves and repent.
The parable of the fig-tree, with its three years of effort to secure fruitfulness, was intended primarily for the Jewish nation favored with our Lord's three years of ministry. But it is of universal application. God is always seeking fruit; love is ever pleading, but sometimes may have to acquiesce in judgment. [source]
Chapter Summary: Luke 13
1Jesus preaches repentance upon the punishment of the Galilaeans and others 6The fruitless fig tree may not stand 10He heals the crooked woman; 18shows the powerful working of the word, by the parable of the grain of mustard seed, 20and of leaven; 22exhorts to enter in at the strait gate; 31and reproves Herod and Jerusalem
Greek Commentary for Luke 13:5
Except ye repent [εαν μη μετανοησητε] First aorist active subjunctive, immediate repentance in contrast to continued repentance, μετανοητε metanoēte in Luke 13:3, though Westcott and Hort put μετανοητε metanoēte in the margin here. The interpretation of accidents is a difficult matter, but the moral pointed out by Jesus is obvious. [source]
What do the individual words in Luke 13:5 mean?
NoI sayto youbutifnotyou repentalllikewiseyou will perish
Greek Commentary for Luke 13:5
First aorist active subjunctive, immediate repentance in contrast to continued repentance, μετανοητε metanoēte in Luke 13:3, though Westcott and Hort put μετανοητε metanoēte in the margin here. The interpretation of accidents is a difficult matter, but the moral pointed out by Jesus is obvious. [source]