4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. (Luke 13:4-5 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Another instance our Saviour gives of persons that fell by sudden death, even eighteen that were slain by the fall of a tower in Jerusalem. He takes occasion from thence to caution the Jews, that they did not rigidly censure the sufferers, or conclude that those have wrought the most sin, who are brought to most shame. Oh, how ready are we to judge of men’s eternal condition, by their present visitation; and to conclude them the greatest offenders, upon whom God inflicts the most visible punishments! Our Saviour forbids this and advises everyone to look at home, telling the whole body of the Jews, that if they did not repent, they should all likewise perish, and that two ways:
1. By as certain a punishment as these did.
2. Ye shall likewise perish, by the same kind of punishment; you shall perish by the ruin of your whole city, as they did by the downfall of that tower, if a timely and sincere repentance does not intervene.
Learn hence, that we must judge of persons by their conversation towards God, and not by God’s dispensation towards them; all things here fall alike to all. A sudden death, yea, a violent death, as it comes upon many men, so it may come upon the best of men, as well as others: think not, says Christ, that those eighteen were sinners above all that dwelt in Jerusalem because they suffered such things, I tell you, Nay; but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Teaching us, that repentance is the only way and means to prevent punishment here, and perishing hereafter: Except ye repent, ye shall perish.
BURKITT | Luke 13:1-3 | Luke 13:4-5 | Luke 13:6-7 | Luke 13:8-9 | Luke 13:10-17 | Luke 13:18-21 | Luke 13:22-24 | Luke 13:25-30 | Luke 13:31-33 | Luke 13:34-35 |