Chapman brought a great deal of fruit to this country. In this morning’s passage, Jesus talks about the need to bring forth fruit. Luke 13:1-9. Good results are often compared to fruit in Scripture. “Bear fruits in keeping with repentance” (Lk 3:8, ESV). “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit” (Matt 12:33, ESV).

Jesus speaks of three very specific fruits in this morning’s passage. We bear two of them & God bears one of them. Those three fruits are: FINISHING FRUIT; FORSAKING FRUIT; FORBEARING FRUIT.

Finishing Fruit vv 1-5

“There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, ‘Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 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? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish’” (Lk 13:1-5, ESV).

In the context of Luke, Jesus has been preaching about judgment. He has told the Parable of the Rich Fool (Lk 12:13-21). “You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Lk 12:40, ESV). Those hearing Jesus mention Pilate’s mingling the blood of some Jews with their sacrifices. This is all we know of this incident, but it very well fits Pilate’s character. Jesus’ hearers wish to move away from talking about judgment upon themselves to God’s “judgment” upon others. Are we not often guilty of the very same thing?

The Scriptures urge us to look at ourselves before we look at others. “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (Matt 7:3, ESV). “You have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things” (Rom 2:1, ESV).

People in Jesus’ day believed that if you suffered, you had sinned to deserve it. Eliphaz: “As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same. By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his anger they are consumed” (Job 4:8-9, ESV). When the disciples encountered a man who had been born blind, they asked the Lord, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (Jn 9:2, ESV).

The people hearing Jesus likely mention the incident with Pilate to say, “See, you want to talk about divine judgment? They died & we’re still alive!” Jesus, however, goes right to the heart of the matter.

Jesus mentions the fall of the Tower of Siloam. Again, we know nothing of the incident except what’s recorded here. Siloam was the site of Jerusalem’s water reservoir on the south & east side of the city. For some reason, this tower fell & killed 18 people. Perhaps these Jews thought that God himself had forced the tower to fall.

Jesus declares that disasters do not befall people because they are more sinful than others. Isn’t that great news?!?! Nevertheless, death comes because of sin. Unless these Jews repent, they are going to perish. The penalty of death is sin. “Sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned” (Rom 5:12, ESV). Every death since Abel’s has been the result of sin.

Jesus declares that disasters do not befall people because they are more sinful than others. Isn’t that great news?!?! Nevertheless, death comes because of sin. Unless these Jews repent, they are going to perish. The penalty of death is sin. Spiritual death also comes from sin. “The wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23, ESV). “As for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death” (Rev 21:8, ESV).

If we haven’t repented, that “Finishing Fruit” will find fruition in us! Have you truly repented, or shall you perish?

A Forsaking Fruit vv 1-5

“There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, ‘Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 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? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish’” (Lk 13:1-5, ESV).

“Repent” is a compound word in Greek & literally means “to think again Repentance, then, is basically an “afterthought” about sin.

If we are to have an “afterthought” about sin, we must realize that we have sinned. Much repentance took place at Pentecost. About 3,000 heeded Peter’s admonition to repent & submit to baptism (Acts 2:37-41). Those 3,000 began that day oblivious to their need to repent. Yet, the preaching of Peter drastically changed their thinking & caused an “afterthought.”

If we are to have an “afterthought” about sin, we must realize that we have sinned. Much repentance took place at Pentecost. The preaching of truth causes an “afterthought” about sin. When Jonah preached the word of the Lord in Nineveh, the people repented. The previous letter Paul wrote to the Corinthians brought about repentance. “Even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it— though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us” (2 Cor 7:8-9, ESV).

If we are to have an “afterthought” about sin, we must realize the seriousness of sin. “Sin” is far more than a “mistake” or an “error.” Sin grieves the holiness of God. Before the Great Flood, “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart” (Gen 6:5-6, ESV). Sin is so serious that God gave his Son to redeem me from sin. When we realize the seriousness of sin, how can we not wish to change our thinking about sin?

Change is an extremely important part of repentance. Having a true “afterthought” about sin means we do not wish to keep committing the same sins. Change is an extremely important part of repentance. Paul had drastically changed his life. “Formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent” (1 Tim 1:13, ESV). Paul was no longer a blasphemer, persecutor or insolent opponent, for he had repented.

The change repentance brings is often compared to death. “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col 3:2-3, ESV). “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Gal 5:24, ESV). Just as physical death is the separation of soul & body and spiritual death is the separation of soul from God, the death of repentance is the separation of one from sin.

Christ will put a new life in us if we allow him. Do you need his new life this morning?

A Forbearing Fruit vv 6-9

“And he told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, “Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?” And he answered him, “Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down”’” (vv 6- 9, ESV).

The parable Jesus tells here demonstrates God’s patience with sinners. The point of the parable would not have been lost on Jesus’ hearers: God is patient, but his patience is wearing thin!

God is so patient with us. The Lord “is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Pet 3:9, ESV). God has long demonstrated his great patience. “They formerly did not obey, when God’s patience in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared” (1 Pet 3:20, ESV). “In his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins” (Rom 3:25, ESV). “I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life” (1 Tim 1:16, ESV). God is patient with us this morning!

While God is patient, his patience shall not endure forever. In the Parable, the gardener asks for just one more year from the landowner. God patiently delayed the Flood, but the Flood came. “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed” (2 Pet 3:9-10, ESV).

One day Jesus shall judge the world. Are you ready for that Day?