March 2019 Messenger Newsletter

"Do you think they were worse offenders than all the others?"
(Luke 13:4)

Third Sunday in Lent

Repent or Perish

Luke 13:1 At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
Luke 13:2 He asked them, "Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans?
Luke 13:3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did.
Luke 13:4 Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them--do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem?
Luke 13:5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did."

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

Luke 13:6 Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none.
Luke 13:7 So he said to the gardener, 'See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?'
Luke 13:8 He replied, 'Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it.
Luke 13:9 If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"

NSRV & Believer's Study Bible (BSB) Notes

[Luke 13:1] Only Luke records this murderous act, although Josephus pictures Pilate as a cruel official and tells of similar violence. The reference seems to be to people whom Pilate caused to be killed while they were engaging in sacrifice. The location of the event was probably the court of the priests in the temple at Jerusalem.

[Luke 13:4] Only Luke records this accident. Some suppose that the tower is part of an aqueduct which Pilate constructed with money from the temple treasury. The people killed would then be workers who had wrongly accepted such wages. Others think the tower is part of the city wall. The Lord says that those casualties are not due to the unusual wickedness of those people. His warning is to the whole nation, who are as guilty as the few.

[Luke 13:6] The fig tree is understood as a symbol of Israel, revealing Israel's failure to bear fruit for God. At last the tree is to be cut down and replaced by others who would bear fruit (Matt. 21:18-20). Four other parables of Jesus (Matt. 20:1-15; 21:28-32, 33-46; John 15:1-11) emphasize the same truth.

Readings for the week of March 31st
Fourth Sunday in Lent
First: Joshua 5: 9-12
Psalm 32
Second: 2 Corinthians 5: 16-21
Gospel: Luke 15: 1-3, 11b-32

Sunday Worship Services at 10:00am
Sunday School at 9:00am

Thursday Bible Study (Library) 10:30 am
Holy Communion Service (Sanctuary) Noon