Luke 13:1-5 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.… I. THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT LED TO THIS IMPORTANT TEACHING ABOUT REPENTANCE. II. THE NATURE OF REPENTANCE. 1. The relation of repentance to faith. In order of time they spring up together in the soul. In order of nature faith must precede repentance. We cannot turn from sin without Christ, and we cannot come to Christ without faith. 2. Repentance consists of three elements. (1) Godly sorrow for sin. 1. Not mere sorrow for sin, for there is much sorrow because sin is an evil and brings punishment, yet no godly element in it. 2. It is the sorrow of a man more concerned for his guilt than his misery, whereas worldly sorrow is more concerned for the misery than the guilt, and would plunge into deeper guilt to escape the misery. 3. Illustrations of worldly sorrow (Pharaoh, Ahab, Judas). 4. The true spirit of godly sorrow is that of the prodigal — "I have sinned before heaven, and in Thy sight." Also David's sorrow (Psalm 51:1-4). (2) Confession of sin. 1. This is an essential part of repentance. (Often a relief to guilty men to confess their crime.) 2. It must be very thorough and humbling and heart-searching. 3. It is connected with the continuous forgiveness of believers (1 John 1:7). (3) Turning from sin to God. 1. The godly sorrow must have a practical result, in the way of proving its genuineness and attesting itself by fruits. 2. Necessity of reparation recognized by civil law (cases of libel). But there are injuries in which no reparation can be made (murder). 3. In cases of Pharaoh, Ahab, Judas, no turning from sin to God, though there may have been sorrow and confession of sin. 4. There must be a turning from all sin — from the love and the practice of that which is sinful. III. THE NECESSITY OF REPENTANCE. 1. Jesus spoke-the words of the text in a spirit of prophecy. (Forty years after, at siege of Jerusalem, the Jews felt the meaning of the "likewise" of the text.) 2. Preachers cannot now say that, but they can say that if you do not repent you will perish everlastingly. (T. Croskery, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. |
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