Luke 13:1 - Printer Friendly

What does Luke 13:1 mean?

ESV: There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

NIV: Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.

NASB: Now on that very occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.

CSB: At that time, some people came and reported to him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.

NLT: About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple.

KJV: There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

NKJV: There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

Verse Commentary:

Jesus is teaching a crowd about priorities. It's foolish to strive after worldly wealth and a comfortable life if they don't pay any attention to their relationship with God (Luke 12:13–21). They need to properly interpret how His ministry heralds the coming of God's kingdom (Luke 12:54–56). And they need to reconcile with each other (Luke 12:57–59). In these last two lessons, He emphasizes the urgency with which they should repent and seek salvation. This is meant to apply both individually and as a nation (Luke 13:1–9).

The wording of Pilate's actions sounds like he killed Galilean Jews at the temple, possibly even burning their bodies with their offerings. This might also be more poetic: saying that the governor killed Galileans who had come to sacrifice in Jerusalem, possibly at Passover. The Galileans had meant to offer animals but wound up losing their own lives. Non-biblical records detail several Roman attacks on large numbers of Jews, but none of them fit the time and location. However, those records do indicate Pilate was a violent ruler, even for a Roman. The murder of a group of Jewish worshippers might have been common enough to not be considered newsworthy, even for ancient historians such as Josephus. Such things were not unheard of.

Josephus records two events which epitomized Pilate's term as governor. At one point he took money from the temple treasury to pay for a waterway to bring fresh water to Jerusalem. Tens of thousands of Jews joined together and "made a clamor against him" but didn't seem to be violent. Pilate sent soldiers who carried long knives into the crowd. At Pilate's command, they "laid upon them much greater blows than Pilate had commanded them, and equally punished those that were tumultuous, and those that were not, nor did they spare them in the least…" The soldiers killed and wounded many, and the "sedition" broke up, according to Antiquities of the Jews, Book XVIII, 3:2.

At another time, preserved in Antiquities of the Jews, Book XVIII, 4:1, a mystic convinced a large group of Samaritans that Moses' sacred vessels were buried on Mt. Gerizim. Thousands joined him in the trek up the mountain. Pilate apparently thought the mystic was building an army. He sent horsemen and footmen who killed many. Because of a formal complaint by the Samaritan senate, Pilate was recalled to Rome.

In Jesus' previous lesson, He had warned the crowd that if they have wronged someone, they need to settle the matter before it goes to trial. Otherwise, they risk losing the case and being imprisoned and fined (Luke 12:57–59). The same applies to their crimes against God. Violence, injustice, and fatal accidents can happen at any time. They need to settle with God before they meet the "court" of His judgment (Luke 13:3).

Luke 13:1–5 expounds upon the lesson Jesus has just taught. In Luke 12:57–59, Jesus told the crowd to reconcile with other people they have wronged. Now, Jesus contextualizes real-world tragedies to point out that being "good" won't protect people from physical death. However, repentance to God will protect from eternal death. Next, Jesus will apply the same lesson to Israel as a nation. These are the last passages of a section comparing living for the world with living for the kingdom of God (Luke 12:1—13:9).

Chapter Summary:

Jesus uses real-world examples to show that tragedy and death can come to anyone, even the righteous. No one should delay in reconciling to God; time is running out. Jesus heals a woman in the synagogue, on the Sabbath, triggering an angry response. Jesus scolds the synagogue leader, then preaches about the inevitable spread of the gospel around the entire world. However, He also notes that most people will reject this message, including the people of Israel.

Chapter Context:

Luke 9:51—19:27 is sometimes called "Jesus' Travelogue to Jerusalem." The segment describes how Jesus prepared the disciples for their future as He approached His own death and resurrection. Interspersed are a few altercations with religious leaders. There are calls for the crowd to repent of their sins and reconcile with God before it's too late. In Luke 13, two stories in particular reveal Jesus' heart. In one, He heals a long-suffering woman on the Sabbath; healing is a type of rest. In the last, He mourns the fact that, for now, the Jews as a nation will reject their Messiah.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.

Accessed 4/29/2024 5:00:41 PM