Jesus was responding to news about a calamity in Luke 13:1-5 when He
was told of how Pilate (the Roman governor) had killed
some Galileans (Jews from Galilee, the same region Jesus was from) and mingled
their blood along with their sacrifices. He
anticipated the thinking of those who brought Him this news.Were
those who suffered such atrocities worse sinners than other Galileans? No,
and unless they repented they would likewise perish! He
reinforces His point with a reference to a similar calamity in
which a tower in Siloam (in Jerusalem) collapsed and killed eighteen people. Those
victims were no worse sinners than others in Jerusalem. He
then repeats His warning that unless they repent, they will all likewise
perish! Some
understand this to be a reference to the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Whether
or not, it still called for individual repentance.
