IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Repent or Perish

Date: Jul. 22, 2023

Passage

Luke 13:1-9

Repent or Perish

13:1 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 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? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

6 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. 7 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?’ 8 And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”

Daily Bread

Key Verse: Luke 13:3

No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

As Jesus was teaching, people brought up a current event: the despicable act of violence perpetrated upon some Galileans by Pilate, a Roman governor with a reputation for cruelty (1). Jesus brought the focus of conversation to the people right in front of him: “Unless you repent, you too will all perish.” He then brought up a local story that was perhaps equally tragic: a tower that fell and killed city folk. His application was the same: “Unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

Jesus teaches us how to engage with current events: not as rumors to be swapped, but lessons to lead us to repentance. We perish because of our sins. We repent to seek God’s forgiveness. Instead of speculating about others’ misfortunes, gospel faith leads us to repent of our own sins.

Jesus’ parable of the fig tree expresses God’s displeasure towards those who do not bear the fruit of repentance (6-9; 3:7-9). Yet the gardener’s proposed delay also reveals God’s desire, expressed fully through Jesus, that none should perish, but all be brought to repentance (2Pe 3:9). The ball is in our court. Will we bear the fruit of repentance in our lives, or settle for comparing with others and speculating on their sin?

Prayer: Prayer: Father, thank you for Jesus, through whom we have forgiveness of sins. Help me to bear the fruit of repentance today.

One Word: One Word: Today is the day of salvation

Daily Bread

God Stills the Conflict

Psalm 76:1-12

Key Verse: 76:6

At your rebuke, O God of Jacob,
both rider and horse lay stunned.

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