Luke 13:4 Commentary and Bible Study

Sometimes death comes through the hand of another man, but sometimes it is the Lord alone who takes life, as with this tower. ‘Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them.’ We don’t know where they were. The famous Pool of Siloam was at south-east corner of Jerusalem, and the tower nearby.This group of people was possibly admiring it and confident with a sense of security. A tremor or something brought the whole thing crashing down on them, and strong and weak perished instantly. Notice that the crowd knew about this other event, but had chosen to speak of the Galileans. Jesus says, ‘Let’s talk about the Jerusalemites. Were they worse?’ No. By the mysterious providence of God, they were taken early. Their death is a picture; they died suddenly. ‘Think ye that they were sinners above all men’ – the Greek word for ‘sinners’ is debtors. It is not the same word as in verse 2. ‘Do you think they were debtors more?’ Sin is an offence and it is a debt. We owe God our praise. Have you never studied or rejoiced in him? You have to say, ‘I have stolen my life. I owe him my life.’ We are offenders and debtors. So this is his counsel – ‘except ye repent …’. The same exhortation is repeated by the Lord for emphasis. Doesn’t it sound so negative? If I do not repent, I will perish. What we ought to see is the wonderful possibility of being forgiven by Almighty God and receiving new life. He is a pardoning God, and gladly forgives all those who come to him. Every one of us needs to repent. The disasters were warnings. Let the people not simply ignore them, and dismiss them in their self-righteousness.