13 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; 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 that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
The brutal and tragic way in which the Galileans were slaughtered by Pilate, when it was mentioned to Jesus, became the tool of Jesus’ examination and one might say rebuke on the hearts of His hearers. This He did by asking them a question, “Were they worse sinners than the others because they suffered this way?”
The answer is immediately given by the Lord Himself, “No”, then He confronts them with a very direct truth - one that would shake and humble one who has a high sense of self, “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” Notice the completeness of His words. It has no place or provision for an alternative.
Such has always been the way of the Lord, exact and without holes where a man can weave his way through. In His warnings, commands, and promises, this theme is ever prevalent: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3)", which is followed in the same chapter by the famous, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16 ), culminating to the last verse where John the Baptist says, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on Him”.
4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
Our Lord further underlines this call to repent or perish when it's Him now who continues to point His hearers to the 18 on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed. He asked “Were they worse offenders than all others who live in Jerusalem?” He finally nails it to the coffin as He reiterates that, “unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
Harsh it may seem to us who are self-exalting, proud, sinful, to us who are carnal, and who love our life and think of ourselves as righteous. Nevertheless, this is the Lord of heaven and earth, in whose command the air and raging seas are stilled. This is the One whose word is true and perfect, like the air and seas our right response is to have ourselves silenced, listen, rightly submit ourselves and obey.
It has since been believed that the manner an individual dies is a consequence of the quantity and severity of his sin. This, we could speculate, might be the heart behind the ones who told Jesus about the Galileans. Friend, it is good to remember that just like how the towers symbolize safety it could very well be man’s demise, oh that this would cause us to be prudent caretakers of our souls. For oftentimes, we, in our complacency of health and comfort, think that we are good in the sight of God, confusing abundance as a sure benefit of God’s favor when we are ignorant of our true standing before Him.
Remember the Rich Fool who stored up all his grain and goods and said to his soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” But God said to him “Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God (Luke 11:19-21).”
These comforts, this seeming security could be our very own demise. Technology, entertainment, vice, our lusts, the pleasure, and pride of life – all these are but the prince of this world’s cheap alternative to the glorious treasure of salvation that is in Christ, eternal life.
The real case is you are a sinner, you’re just like me, we have a great debt before our Holy God, our wages being death (Romans 6:23). If you, without any thought of God and any of these truths – if your heart is not moved or pricked by these and no thought of the very state of your soul and its destination, you are right to fear.
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many (Matthew 7:13).”
This world and its god, Satan, are geared towards making us walk on this road to destruction, entertaining us to death. The Book of Wisdom warns that, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end, it leads to destruction (Prov. 14:12)."
A question, then, worthy of inquiring - how about Job? Has Job sinned greatly against God that in His own counsel and sovereignty has allowed the death of his loved ones? Were his children bigger sinners? We may speculate so, but there is not enough evidence to conclude that to be the case. Ultimately, God in His sovereignty and counsel of His good will, allowed their perishing but that in all He may be glorified.
As per Matthew Henry’s Commentary, Christ cautioned His hearers not to blame great sufferers as if they were great sinners. It is, instead, a call to hear the Lord Jesus Christ, the Light of the world, hear with much reverence His warning. For death does not schedule itself according to your preference, but according to God. “It is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment (Hebrew 9:27).”
We will, one day, stand before the Holy Judge who knows the content of our heart and mind and all that we have done, give an account for our sins to which we have nothing to pay with – except that which Christ Himself alone can pay with His very own life, blood, death, and resurrection.
As in our case, we only have two choices: repent or perish. Our choice is gloriously limited to only one, too. Glorious because this is the sure road to eternal life – Christ. It is only in Him, the work He has done, His robe, which can shelter us from the Holy & Righteous God’s wrath. Only these & only Him can pay the fine for our sins, our forgiveness
Remember O sinner, Christ who died the most gruesome & cruelest death of all, the Perfect One, Most Holy, Pure, without blemish. He has died so that we may live. He is the resurrection and the life, whoever believes in Him, though he dies, will live (John 11:25).
The call then dear friend, is to repent, turn to Christ, and our faith, though little, be placed in Him. He promised to hear and not cast us out.
Settle now with your accuser – death. Flee to Christ, Him and Him alone is life, He alone is able to defend you, the conqueror of death, the antidote of the sin’s poison, only Christ can shelter you and make you whole altogether, He alone is able to give life and life eternal.
All these or otherwise “… you too will all likewise perish.”
