Editing Tower of Siloam (section)

==Biblical reference==
[[File:Christ teaching in the Temple.JPG|thumb|Christ teaching in the Temple]]
"Some who were present" reported to Jesus that [[Pontius Pilate]] had killed some [[Galilean]]s while they were worshiping. Their example was particularly gruesome since at the moment the Galileans were killed, they were worshiping God by offering sacrifices according to their Jewish religious law.

Apparently those making the report were looking for Jesus to offer some explanation of why bad things happen to normal people—in this case even while they were bringing sacrifices to their God.<ref name=Bennett>{{cite web|url=http://www.onefaithonechurch.com/index.php/luke13_1-9/ |title=» A magnifying glass on the Galileans, the Blood, the Tower of Siloam, and the Vineyard of Luke 13:1–9: One Faith, One Church |publisher=Onefaithonechurch.com |date= 6 November 2012|accessdate=2014-02-19}}</ref> The "sin and calamity" issue involves a presumption that an extraordinary tragedy in some way must signify extraordinary guilt. It assumes that a victim must have done something terrible for God to allow something so tragic to happen to them.<ref name=Piper>{{cite web|last=Piper |first=John |url=http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/unless-you-repent-you-will-all-likewise-perish |title=Unless You Repent You Will All Likewise Perish |publisher=Desiring God |date=1988-06-05 |accessdate=2014-02-19}}</ref>

Jesus responded to the question, answering that the calamities suffered by the victims of the falling of the tower of Siloam were not related to their relative sinfulness. He then diverted the focus onto the interrogators, wanting them to focus on their own souls.<ref name=Piper/> <blockquote>''Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.''

''Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” ''<ref>{{Bibleref|Luke|13:2–5}}</ref></blockquote>

His mention of the fall of the Tower of Siloam added a nuance to his prior point: accidents happen. Therefore, even in the absence of persecution, death can come unexpectedly to anyone, irrespective of how righteous or how sinful they are. He may have been emphasizing that the time granted by God for repentance is limited.<ref name=Bennett/>

==="Repent" and "perish" in the New Testament===
Whether due to persecution or misadventure, repentance is universally strongly and earnestly required by Jesus. The time is short, and therefore the time for repentance is now.<ref name=Bennett/> In his response to both tragedies, Jesus dismissed personal guilt or [[Causation (law)|causation]] as the reason they became victims. Instead, he turned the focus toward those wanting to hear "why".

Twice in this brief passage, Jesus declared, "...unless ''you'' repent, ''you'' too will all perish." Jesus's clear focus is on the need for everyone, individually, to "repent" of their sins before God. His answer cannot mean that all unrepentant people will die deservedly. Neither can it mean that people can escape physical death by repenting of their sins since eventually every living person dies. So ''perish'' here is something more than just to die a physical death.<ref name=Piper/>

The word "perish" in the New Testament very often refers to a terrible judgment following one's physical death. Since Jesus connects it directly to sin and says it can be escaped by repentance, "perish" here most logically refers to the final judgment. For example, in [[John 3:16]] Jesus says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Perishing is the biblical alternative to having everlasting life. Perishing is what happens to those who do not have eternal life. The same principle appears in John 10:28<ref>{{Bibleverse|John|10:28|KJV}}</ref> where Jesus says, "I give them eternal life, and they shall not ''perish'' for ever."<ref name=Piper/>