Luke 13:1

Luke 13:1 says, There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.  Some of those around Him told Jesus that Pilate had been killing Galilaeans as a sacrifice to false god's.  There has always been discrimination against God's people, even to the point that many have been killed.  Verse two adds, And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?  Jesus asked those who told Him and the others around Him if they thought those Galilaeans who had been slain were bigger sinners than other Galilaeans.  We too often want to think that Christians who are suffering must be guilty of some sin, and one that is greater than ours.  Verse three continues, I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  Jesus told them that no, they weren't more guilty. Jesus then told those there that unless they repented of their sins they would perish spiritually.  We don't need to attempt to judge others, but we simply need to repent of our sins.  Verse four states, Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?  Jesus then askedcthem if they thought the eighteen people who had died when the tower in Saloam fell on them, which would have been a natural disaster, were more guilty of sin than others were.  We sometimes want to declare a natural disaster as God's punishment of sin, but when God destroys something to punish someone, I believe He will always let us know.  Verse five adds, I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  Jesus once again said that wasn't true and called for the people to repent unless they wanted to perish.  We still must make that choice today.  Verse six says, He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.  Jesus once again used a parable to teach, this time about an unproductive fig tree.  A man had planted it, but it had no fruit when he came to check on it. We are called on to plant the gospel, but we cannot make it bear fruit.  Of course, once we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are called on to bear fruit for Him, and He will be the one to determine whether we are productive or not.  Verse seven adds, Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?  The man told the keeper of the vineyard that after three years the tree still hadn't borne fruit, so cut it down.  It was just taking up space that could be better used.  If we are not bearing fruit for God, then we are just taking up space that could be better used.  Verse eight continues, And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:  The keeper of the vineyard said give it one more year, fertilize it, and see if it bore fruit.  We should be glad that God gives us more than one chance to be productive, and that the Holy Spirit will provide us with all that we need to do so.  Verse nine concludes, And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.  The keeper of the vineyard said that after a year the fig tree produced fruit, that would be good, and if not it would be cut down.  God is not going to wait forever for us to bear fruit for His kingdom, but when we do it will be very good.