Luke 13:2-5 “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.’”
The word repent always means “to change one’s mind or purpose” in the NT, involving a change for the better. One see’s a vivid example of this by the thief crucified with Jesus. During the early hours of the crucifixion, both thieves railed against Jesus. But the one had a change of heart and began to defend Jesus. We can only assume what brought about the change but the fact is this man had put his trust in Jesus.
Notice the text above. The conversation that started this discussion involved the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. His question, “Was their sins any worse than the other Galileans?” His answer, “No, but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” He reminded them about those whom the tower of Siloam fell and were killed. He again asks the question, “Were they worse sinners than the others in Jerusalem?” Then came the same response, “No, but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” Jesus teaches us that death happens to all men because we have all sinned, Romans 5:12. Because we have sinned, our hope lies in repentance. When one repents he changes his mind about his life and destiny. It’s no longer about himself, but about his relationship with Christ. What does he have to do to have a relationship with Him and what must one do to maintain that relationship. Repentance not only brings about the change in the mind, it also is a precursor to a change in behavior. Many confuse the sorrow and guilt of the sin as repentance. Notice what Paul wrote to the Corinthians in 2 Cor. 7:9-10, “Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.” This passage introduces us to two types of sorrow. The godly sorrow which leads one to repent and the worldly sorrow that leads to death. Godly sorrow motivates one to obey God and literally turn his mind and his life around. We have the example of Esau who was overwhelmed with sorrow and regret, but refused repentance. Heb. 12:16-17 “lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.”
Christianity requires all sinful men to turn from their sins with a change of mind which will prompt a change in behavior.