The Fall of the Siloam Tower.

(Luke 13:1-5)

Returning from Jerusalem, the people related to the Lord about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. The Jews often staged uprisings against the Roman rule. In all probability, this was one of these uprisings that occurred within the temple during a major feast-day, when there were armed Roman soldiers safeguarding the peace. Judging by this narration, Pilate ordered the rebellious Galileans be put to death in the temple. This was at the same time as the sacrifices were being offered, and as a consequence, the blood of the dead mingled with the blood of the sacrificial animals. Jesus Christ explained, that this violent death in such a holy place cannot be explained in that these Galileans were more sinful than the others: therefore, one shouldn’t think that those who perished were less righteous than those who were unharmed — those, who the Lord did not punish in this severe manner. The Lord is forbearing, awaiting their penitence.

The meaning of the Lord’s words are thus: you are similar sinners as they and will also likewise perish if you don’t repent. The Lord’s judgment had already passed for them, whereas with you, it will come sooner or later, “unless you repent.” It is possible that here the Lord is hinting at God’s judgment, passed on the Jewish people when Titus Flavius destroyed Jerusalem and a great number of Jews died inside the temple, in similar fashion as those Galileans killed by Pilate. With this, the Lord Himself recalls another occurrence, when a tower in Silaom collapsed, crushing 18 people — were they more sinful than the other inhabitants of Jerusalem? — Who knows. Both unfortunate incidents are offered by the Lord to be understood differently: this is only a warning to the living: “unless you repent you will all likewise perish!” — death will overtake you when you are not ready, overwhelmed with sin. Developing this thought, the Lord narrates the parable of the fruitless fig tree.