The Tower of Siloam in Luke 13

[Vanellus]

Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
Lk 13:1-5

In this passage Jesus warns his hearers (in Jersusalem) that they will likewise perish unless they repent. Both the notes in my Bible and a commentary I have talk about the last judgment with regard to this passage. Instead, I rather think this passage is about the near future sack of Jerusalem by the Romans. This is because of the inclusion of that strong word "likewise". The two examples are both instances of sudden, unexpected and violent death. Yet for many death comes slowly, inevitably and painfully: it's not a surprise though still a shock to friends and family. This doesn't mean that God's judgment only applies to the Jews of course!

Thoughts?

 

[d taylor]

The perish is a physical death, Jesus is here (on earth physically) presenting Himself as Israels promised Messiah and offering Israel The Kingdom of God. But there is a condition to receive the Kingdom Israel must receive Jesus as The Messiah. Israel needs to repent and believe Jesus is who He says He is.

But it is seen in Matthew 12 Jesus is rejected based on Jesus doing His miracles not by the power of God but by the power of demons/satan ( Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”).

So Jesus pronounces judgment on this generation of Israel who rejected Jesus as The Messiah ( the blasphemy against the Spirit ). So now like the ones who have died in the tower, Israel has a coming judgment. That is seen in 70 A.D. for any Jewish person who was a believer, to escape that judgment, they had to repent and be baptized and if they were and unbeliever they had to first believe in Jesus as The Messiah the repent and be baptized.

So if a Jewish person believer or unbeliever did not repent they would died physically in the 70 A.D. destruction.