“JUST AT that time there [arrived] some people who informed Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And He replied by saying to them, ‘Do you think that these Galileans were greater sinners than all the other Galileans because they have suffered in this way? I tell you, No; but unless you repent (change your mind for the better and heartily amend your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins), you will all likewise perish and be lost eternally. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them–do you think that they were more guilty offenders (debtors) than all the others who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, No; but unless you repent (change your mind for the better and heartily amend your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins), you will all likewise perish and be lost eternally.’ “And He told them this parable: ‘A certain man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it, but did not find [any]. So he said to the vinedresser, “See here! For these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and I find none. Cut it down! Why should it continue also to use up the ground [to deplete the soil, intercept the sun, and take up room]?”
This is an excerpt from Luke 13. And I’m completely baffled. I know that God has something to say to me about it… but I can’t imagine what. I’ve never really studied this before. It seems, on first and second quick-reading, that… in the first paragraph, Jesus is a little heated up. He’s like, “GUYS, come ON. These sinners are just as AWful as YOU. Don’t you realize that you’re putting yourself into judgement by passing judgement on them??” And then in the next paragraph He’s like, “… siiigh … so you KNOW that I don’t want to give you what you deserve. My Dad says you guys are a lost cause, but I still want to give you a chance. Just stop passing judgement, okay?”
That’s what I got anyway. Could be wrong. I’m going to keep chewing it.
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