Repentance is the great need for all the men of the entire earth, for without it no one shall ever see inside the pearly gates of heaven., but will be cast into the eternal fires of a never-ending hell. This is the greatest calamity that can befall any human being. Just the mere thoughts of such an end should drive us to our knees, seeking God with all our hearts, for the promise is, "In that day that ye seek me with your whole heart ye shall find me."

There are some that will try to make you believe there is no fiery, burning hell, but that it is only the grave. But there is such a place and it is a place of torment as we read in Luke 16:23-24, "And in hell he lifted his eyes, being in torments….And he cried and said…for I am tormented in this flame." And it is also never-ending. Therefore, there can be no doubt but what repentance, to escape this awful place of punishment, is man's greatest need.

God is not willing that any souls be lost and He sacrificed His only begotten Son that we might escape this dreadful place. If we go there it will be because we have chosen to go there. He stands at the door of every sinner's heart and knocks, pleading for admittance. He has given us a conscience to help us aright. How sad it is that the great majority of our people are turning a deaf ear to the call for repentance. Our land is filled with Bibles, so to speak, and if their owners would but read them carefully, the Spirit would lead them to repentance, for the goodness of God will lead one to repentance as we read in Rom 2:4.

In view of the foregoing facts, is it any wonder that David said, in Psalm 111:10, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that so his commandments"? How could any one be said to have any real wisdom that will continue on the broad road which leads to hell, when he could just as well be travelling the strait and narrow road to an eternal mansion in heaven" Dear reader, which road are you on?

Repent or Perish

Luke 13:1---Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled---This may have reference to the followers of Judas, in Acts 5:37. They would not acknowledge the Roman government and Pilate had a number of them slain while they were offering sacrifices in the temple.

Verse 2---Suppose ye that these were sinners above all---All sin is punishable by death, spiritual death for the Word of god says that the wages of sin is death. They had not been slain just because they were sinners, but because they had rebelled against the law of the land.

Verse 3---I tell you nay---No, they were not the worst of sinners, but they did stand condemned in the eyes of God. Here is one thing that the sinner can be absolutely be sure of, unless he repents, and that is , he will perish in the flames of a never-ending hell. And it does not matter whether his sins be grave, in the eyes of men as were the sins of the Galileans, who were slain, or whether they be trivial sins in the eyes of men. Every sin unrepented of carries the death penalty.

Verse 4---The tower of Siloam---This tower was probably built over one of the porticoes near the pool of Siloam mentioned in John 9:7

Verse 5---See comments on verse 3.

The Parable Of The Fig Tree

Luke 13:6---A certain man had a fig tree---In this parable the certain man probably refers to God and the fig tree to the Jewish people and the dresser of the vineyard Jesus. Jesus had been preaching now for quite some time and the Jews, as a people, had not responded to His teaching and so were not bearing any fruit.

Verse 7---Cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground---If we are a child of God, w3 must bear fruit and if we do not God will remove our name from the book of life. Jesus said, "if any man abide not in me, he is cast forth as branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned."-John 5:16. The more fruitful we are, the more we will please God. Jesus said, "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples."

Verse 8---Lord, let it alone this year also---Jesus had a heart of love and compassion for all men and did not want to see the people destroyed, so He pleads with Hid Father to let Him to accept His teachings, to which God consented. Back preach a little longer and see if He could not get them in the days of Moses God threatened to destroy the Jews and start with Moses to build a new nation, but Moses plead so earnestly for the people that the Lord repented of evil which He thought to do to His people and spared them. Truly our God is a God of love and mercy.

Verse 9---And if it bear fruit well---God, in his love and mercy, will not cut any one off as long as there is the slightest bit of hope for him. We ought to be grateful to God for His striving with us and yield to His gentle wooing. It is a vey serious matter to fail to give heed to the striving of the Spirit, for God said, "My spirit shall not always strive with man," and when this happens, there is no more hope for that individual.

Herod Plots Against Jesus

Luke 13:31-For Herod will kill thee---Herod wanted to get rid of Jesus because it was commonly reported that Jesus was a king and was going to set up a kingdom, thus depriving Herod of his power.

Verse 32---Behold I cast out devils---Herod's threat did not worry Jesus because He knew His time had not yet come. His work was not yet finished and He could, with confidence outline just what He was going to do. The third day I shall be perfected---He means to say here that in a very short time His work will be finished and Hid life given for the sins of the world and the plan of salvation will then have been perfected.

Verse 33---I musty walk today---I must continue my ministry of healing the sick and teaching the people the right ways of the Lord a little longer, and I cannot listen to your advice to depart hence for Herod can have no power over me until my work is done.

Jesus Reproves Jerusalem

Luke 13:34---O Jerusalem, Jerusalem---Though they had been wicked and killed God's own elect, still he loved them and mourned over the fate that was soon to destroy them. How gladly would He have saved their souls and made them a happy people and saved their city from destruction. The city was destroyed in A.D. 76 and the historian, Josephus, claims that over a million of them were slain. It is an awful thing to reject the tender mercies of God.

Verse 35---Behold, your house is left desolate---You will note that Jesus did not say my house, but your house, in speaking of the temple, meaning that God had abandoned it and would dwell in it no more forever. The temple was utterly destroyed in A.D. 76 and the place where it stood was plowed up. It was never rebuilt. From henceforth they would not be able to find favor with God until they humbled their hearts and acknowledge that Jesus was the Christ and the Savior of the world.