Luke 13:1

On the final tour preceding his crucifixion, Jesus worked and taught the things recorded in this chapter: the double call to repentance (Luke 13:1-5), the parable of the fruitless fig tree (Luke 13:6-9), another sabbath miracle (Luke 13:10-17), twin parables of the mustard seed and the leaven (Luke 13:18-21), the narrow door (Luke 13:22-30), the threat from the Pharisees (Luke 13:31-33), and the lament over the Holy City (Luke 13:34-35).

THE NECESSITY OF REPENTANCE FOR ALL

Now there were some present at that very season who told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. (Luke 13:1)

The sacred author, Luke alone, has documented this tragic episode from the violent, bloody period of which it was typical. Therefore, all that is known of this incident is in this verse. Such a conjecture as that of Henry, who supposed this act of Pilate "caused the enmity between Pilate and Herod"[1] (Luke 23:12), is logical but unproved. Furthermore, Luke's account does not need corroboration from profane history. "That Josephus makes no mention of this instance of Pilate's cruelty is of no importance."[2] The ruthless act of Pilate in this glimpse is fully consonant with Pilate's evil character, as invariably attested by all the histories of those times.

The implication here is that Pilate had sent a detachment of soldiers into the temple itself to execute bloody wrath on certain Galileans in the act of worshipping, their blood mingled with that of the sacrifices they were offering.

Who told him of the Galileans ... There was manifest a certain self-righteousness in the bearers of this message to Jesus, as if they had been saying," Of course, we are not wicked sinners like them." Christ had been demanding repentance of the multitudes; "and evidently those who told Jesus of this incident were breaking the force of his teaching as applied to themselves."[3]

[1] Matthew Henry and Thomas Scott, Commentary on the Holy Bible (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1960), p. 272.

[2] Norval Geldenhuys, Commentary on the Gospel of Luke (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1952), p. 371.

[3] H. Leo Boles, Commentary on Luke (Nashville: Gospel Advocate Company, 1940), p. 267.