Coronavirus and the Tower of Siloam
Our Bible verse of the week is from Luke 13. I would like for you to read the passage, then read what Pastor John MacArthur says about these verses.
Luke 13:1-5
There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pastor John MacArthur says…
Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. This incident is in keeping with what was known about the character of Pilate. Evidently, some worshipers from Galilee were condemned by Rome--perhaps because they were seditious zealots and were sought out and killed in the temple by Roman authorities while in the process of offering a sacrifice. Such a killing would have been the grossest sort of blasphemy. Incidents like this inflamed the Jews’ hatred of Rome and finally led to rebellion, and the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.
Worse Sinners. It was the belief of many that disaster and sudden death always signified divine displeasure over particular sins. Those who suffered in uncommon ways were therefore assumed to be guilty of some more severe immorality (John 9:2).
Unless your repent. Jesus did not deny the connection between catastrophe and human evil, for all such afflictions ultimately stem from the curse of humanity’s fallenness (Gen 3:17-19). Furthermore, specific calamities may indeed be the fruit of certain iniquities (Prov 24:16). But Christ challenged the people’s notion that they were morally superior to those who suffered in such catastrophes. He called all to repent, for all were in danger of sudden destruction. No one is guaranteed time to prepare for death, so now is the time for repentance for all (2Cor. 6:2).
You will all likewise perish. These words prophetically warned of the approaching judgement of Israel, which culminated in the catastrophic destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. Thousands in Jerusalem were killed by the Romans.
Siloam. An area at the South end of the lower city of Jerusalem, where there was a well-known pool (John 9:7,11). Evidently one of the towers guarding he aqueduct collapsed, perhaps while under construction, killing some people. Again, the question in the minds of the people was regarding the connection between calamity and iniquity (worse sinners). Jesus responded by saying that such a calamity was not God’s way to single out an especially evil group from death, but as a means of warning to all sinners. Calamitous judgment was eventually coming to all if they did not repent.