Luke 13:1-8   When Jesus is asked why some Galileans had been killed by Pilate, His answer takes them by surprise.  Were they greater sinners?  " I tell you, no, but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."  He also gives another example of 18 men killed when a tower fell, and again states that they were not worse sinners than those in Jerusalem. Death is inevitable . For all of us, unless our Savior returns.  It is sometimes tragic.  It sometimes seems unfair.  But, it is not the most important thing... Repentance and salvation through faith in Christ Jesus is the only important thing!

Then Jesus tells a parable about a fig tree that has not produced fruit for 3 years.  The tree should have been  producing.  The caretaker wanted to give it one more year to be productive.  If it did not produce then it would be cut down.  The most important thing in our lives, is not how we die.. but how we live.  Do our lives produce the fruit of righteousness?  Are we walking in a manner worthy of His calling?  Are we fulfilling the purposes that He has for us?

The tree was not producing and was judged.  Likewise, Jesus, looking at the fruit of the religious leaders, saw nothing worthy of salvation.  They were hypocrites, forsaking the truth and living according to their own terms.

Verses 10-17 are another illustration .. this time a living one.  The woman was stricken with a terrible sickness - one that was caused by Satan and had bound her for 18 years!  She was completely bent over.  She " could not straighten up at all."  When Jesus saw her, "He called her over and said to her, 'Woman, you are freed from your sickness' "  Then, He touched her and she stood up straight for the first time in 18 years!  She immediately gave glory to God!   But, the religious officials were "indignant".   Work can be done the other 6 days of the week, they argued.  Come back then to be healed. What a stupid reaction to such a miraculous healing!  The hypocrites are humiliated as Jesus corrects their wrong thinking.  " You hypocrites, does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the stall, and lead him away to water him?  And this woman, a daughter of Abraham as she is, whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years, should she not have been released from this bond on the Sabbath day?"

The religious leaders were more concerned about their animals than their sister who was suffering.
They cared about their rules and regulations more than they cared about people.
Jesus saw no fruit of righteousness in their lives.  They would be judged and cast out unless they repented and came to Him.

Father in Heaven,  open our eyes and our hearts, to see You and to give You glory!  We do not want to live as hypocrites, but as faithful followers in Jesus Christ, our King. Forgive us, Lord!   May our lives abound with the fruit of righteousness.  Overwhelm us by Your Spirit that we may produce love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control.  Fruit that is produced by the True Vine to Whom we are united with as branches.  May we life a life worthy of Your calling.  May we focus, not on ourselves, but on You.  Help us to do this, for we are unable to produce such fruit on our own... but only in Christ Jesus.  It is in His Mighty Name we pray.  Amen.