In Luke 13:1-9, Jesus uses Pontius Pilate’s murdering some Galileans while they sacrificed to God, mingling their blood with the blood of their sacrifices, and the eighteen killed when the tower in Siloam fell on them, to reveal the sins of those who died were not greater than the sins of those telling Him about these horrible death, and listening for Jesus’ answers, for He assured them, if they did not repent of their sins, they also would perish, but then Jesus uses a parable about a fig tree that was also out of place, as were the Galileans and eighteen out of place that died—these were simply people and a fig tree in the wrong place, and suffered for it, so always be honest before God, when something happens, instead of blaming God or crediting the devil and his demonic forces.
Luke 13:1-9—1 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” 6 He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ 8 But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9 And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’ ”
The sins of those Galileans Pontus Pilate killed and the eighteen on whom the Salome tower fell, were sins, as are all sins, but their sins did not cause their death, for they were in the wrong place at the time of their unfortunate death, but the fig tree was also in the wrong soil, for it should have been planted in an orchard, where the soil nourishes fruit trees to produce fruit, but this fig tree was planted in a vineyard, where the soil nourishes grape vines to produce grapes, so regardless of how much the soil was loosened and fertilized, it could only help the fig tree produce grapes; thus, the fault was the land owner and the keeper of the vineyard, but not the fig tree or the soil in the vineyard, for the vineyard soil was doing what it was created to do, and the fig tree was doing what it was created to do, but not producing figs, because it was out of place.
Likewise, in Luke 15, Jesus tells three parables, to illustrate what happens when something or someone is out of place, or not in the place it or they should be, for the lost sheep was not among the other sheep, the lost coin was not among the other coins, and the younger son was not at home with his father and older brother, but was unrestrained (a prodigal), lustfully wasting his inheritance, until his money was gone, and his earnings from slopping hogs, was not enough to live on, so “coming to himself” or “being honest with himself”, he knew he should be home with his father and older brother; not as a heir, but as one of his father’s hired servants.
When we become honest with God and us, and know we are not in the place God wants us, because of our disobedient sin, then it is time to repent of our disobedient sin, ask Father’s forgiveness, receive it, study His word, and pray, until our close, intimate relationship with Him, through Christ Jesus, by the Holy Spirit becomes a joyous reality, for it is dangerous and even deadly to be in the wrong place, so be honest before God and get where God wants you.
Jim Nabors
