siloam.htm

The Tower in Siloam

There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 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? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.; (Luke 13:1-5)

This passage of the Bible was closed to me until my Christian brother Darryl explained its ramifications at our church meeting this morning.

Remembering that Jesus of Nazareth used worldly examples and parables to explain spiritual truths, what was He really saying to those around Him at this time?
As we see in the fourth verse, they were discussing sin and its consequences; or put another way, those who the tower in Siloam fell on, were they more sinful than the average citizen because they died early deaths?: That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:; (Ephesians 2:12)
It is very clear here what humanity must do to avoid spiritual death; we must each and everyone repent. Heart of the Gospel explains repentance well enough so it is not repeated here.

In Mark's gospel we see the first words of Jesus when He started His public ministry:: Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.; (Mark 1:14-15)
"Repent and believe the good news that I bring, because the Kingdom of God is at hand.": Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.; (John 3:3)
In Luke's gospel we read:: And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.; (Luke 17:20-21)
Here, in the gospel of John, Jesus was speaking to His disciples only:: If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.; (John 14:15-17)
We see here that the Spirit of truth is with us, but is only in those who repent and are born again. There is a difference. Look what happened at Pentecost:: But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.; (Acts 1:8); And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.; (Acts 2:1-4)
The Kingdom of God was now in them.
This great new power was evident for all to see and gave Peter the opportunity to say:: Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. ¶ Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.; (Acts 2:36-38)
I hope that you can see the connection, the thread running through these verses, as it will explain something of what God's word teaches about the consequences of repentance or lack thereof.: He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.; (Proverbs 28:13)

Going back to the tower in Siloam passage, we see that immediately thereafter he told the following parable, making it part of the discussion about sin and repentance:: 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. 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? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.; (Luke 13:6-9)
We see here that the fig tree belonged to the man, it was part of his "kingdom". It was watered and cared for as we can see from the attitude of his gardener and yet it didn't bear fruit. We also see what was going to happen to it if it didn't bear the next season.

There are those who claim to have repented, to be born again, but don't bear fruit.: I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.; (John 15:1-7)
Do you see the rewards that are promised by your Lord!? Do you believe that it can happen to you?
: If ye love me, keep my commandments.; (John 14:15)
If we don't bear fruit it's because we don't obey the commandments of Jesus, therefore we don't love Him enough, not so?

Many claim to be born again but their tower in Siloam is crumbling about their ears because they believe and therefore only obey parts of the gospel that Jesus of Nazareth brought, those parts that suit them. They shall surely be found wanting on that day.
: Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.; (Isaiah 5:1-7)




The Same Coin
Yes, the same passage, but another angle.: There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 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? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.; (Luke 13:1-5)
It is questioned here that the people who died, for example the eighteen who died under the rubble of the tower in Siloam, whether they were worse sinners than the average citizen and therefore God despatched them to the spirit world earlier than normal.

Here's the promise:: He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.; (Psalms 91:15-16); My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.; (Proverbs 3:1-2)

Further facts that seem to bear this out are the examples of two true men of God, who were both used in a mighty way here in South Africa, who were later in their ministries disobedient to the gospel, as laid out in God's word because of pride and were warned. Both died violently at a relatively young age.

We can only lose if we are disobedient. And the rewards of obedience are so wonderful.
: He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.; (John 14:21-24)