Lk. 13:1 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
Mention is made in this passage of certain “Galileans” whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices." There is some evidence that the Zealots were sometimes called Galileans, possibly from the Galilean origin of their founder. The New Testament does not tell the real story behind this particular incident, but it is recorded by Josephus. "A certain Samaritan claimed to have discovered some Temple vessels on Mount Gerizim hidden there by Moses. A group of Samaritans gathered at the foot of the mountain to follow him to the top to see these vessels, which naturally any Jew would want to see. Pilate, who was already paranoid, believed this was another religious uprising and ordered his soldiers to block the road up the mountain. The Samaritans became furious and began to taunt the soldiers who fell on them and killed many. Then they sacked a nearby Samaritan town, killed the leaders, and took many captives. The Samaritans then complained to the governor of Syria about Pilate, claiming that he had 'mixed their blood with their sacrifices.' They called Pilate a murderer since they said they were innocent, just trying to escape with their lives, not revolting." This incident happened just about fifty days prior to the trial and crucifixion of Yeshua. Pilate would have been declared “no friend of Caesar,” which meant that he would have been deported back to Rome and executed.
Lk. 13:2 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?”
Lk. 13:3 “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”
Lk. 16:4 Or those on whom the Tower of Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all the other men who dwelt in Jerusalem?"
Repentance does not necessarily mean to just shed tears and to be all up tight over your sins. The word “repent” (in Hebrew, the word is teshuvah) means to change your mind and turn from your wicked ways. Unless they repent and change their minds about Him, they will perish in like manner, and because they failed to change their minds about Him being the Messiah, they did die in the same manner. After a two-year siege of Jerusalem, the Romans broke through the walls. As they did, they undermined the walls and the towers on the walls (for its defense) began to collapse, and many, many of the Jewish soldiers were killed in the collapsing towers around the city of Jerusalem.
The last stand was made within the Temple compound. When the Roman soldiers finally broke into the Temple, it was about the time of the evening sacrifices which were being offered. Jewish blood was once again mingled with the blood of the sacrifices. Yeshua’s prophecy was fulfilled just as He said.
Two incidents had recently occurred that are referred to here. One is described above, which had to do with the Galileans who were in the Temple compound. Pilate’s soldiers set upon them and killed several people. The other incident was when the Tower of Siloam recently collapsed, killing eighteen residents of Jerusalem.
Lk. 13:5 “I tell you, no; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
Lk. 13:6 He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.”
Lk. 13:7 “Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and found none. Cut it down, why does it use up the ground?”
Lk. 13:8 “But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.”
Lk. 13:9 “And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.”
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