Unless you repent.

Luke 13:4-5, 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? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

Some raised an example of a rebellion quelled by a barbarous revenge by Pilate to challenge Jesus thinking about who needs to repent. His response here uses the example of those who seem to be unworthy of being crushed by a tower falling, seemingly innocent victims caught up in an undeserved tragedy. He simply reinforces what Isaiah tells us, that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” No matter who we are or what we have done, we are all in need of repentance, of turning towards the Lord Jesus, and going another way, the way of the cross. And by that cross he has made a way that we may come under the amazing grace of God, so that we may boldly approach his throne of grace to receive his great mercy in our time of need!

We thank You for your great mercy in the Lord Jesus, and for the power he gives us to repent, to turn towards you!

ESV Lectionary