Luke 13:3 says, “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (NKJV). In order to explain this verse, we need to read verses 1-5: “There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 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? I tell you, no; 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 sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

In this passage Jesus refers to two tragic occurrences; the slaughter of some Galileans by Pontius Pilate; and the collapse of the tower of Siloam resulting in the death of eighteen souls. In saying, “Do you think that they were worse sinners than others?” it is implied that the Jews DID think they were worse sinners and that their deaths were a “judgment from God” even though Pilate ordered the deaths of the first group and a tower accidentally fell on the second group. Yet Jesus went on to teach them that “all men are sinners and all men will perish if they don’t repent.” They may not meet with a catastrophic physical death as these people did, but one day, if they do not repent, they “perish in the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15; 21:8).   The word “perish” does not mean “annihilation” (loss of being), but “destroyed” (loss of well-being). The most well-known verse in the Bible speaks to this, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not PERISH but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). One will either experience ETERNAL LIFE IN HEAVEN or ETERNAL PUNISHMENT IN HELL.

Jesus taught clearly what determines our eternal destiny. In Luke 13: 3 & 5 Jesus taught that the sinner MUST REPENT in order to escape perishing in the lake of fire and in John 3:16 He taught that the sinner MUST BELIEVE in order to have everlasting life. In other words, there must be “REPENTANCE toward God, and FAITH toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). What does it mean to REPENT? Repentance is literally a “change of mind.”  In the Biblical sense it means to have a “change of mind regarding our lost and sinful condition before God.” It is to “take God’s side against yourself” by admitting to God that you are a sinner who deserves eternal judgment.”

We have a good example of this in Luke 18:9-14: “Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, “God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or EVEN AS THIS TAX COLLECTOR. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.” And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God be merciful to me A SINNER!” I tell you; this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” The proud, self-righteous Pharisee illustrates “those who do not repent.” They think they are not so bad “compared to other men” and that their good works will save them. Like those in Luke 13:1-5, they do not consider themselves to be “wicked sinners who deserve to perish.” The humble tax collector does not compare himself with others; he comes before God in true humility confessing that he is A SINNER who deserves to be judged for his sin. This, dear friend, is “REPENTANCE toward God!” And repentance always leads to salvation through “FAITH toward our Lord Jesus Christ” as we see in 2nd Corinthians 7:10, “For godly sorrow produces REPENTANCE LEADING TO SALVATION.” Once you see yourself as a lost sinner in need of salvation, you are then able to see, by faith, that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (see 1st Timothy 1:15 with Luke 19:9-10).  (DO)  (593.1)