Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 13:4

"Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them, think ye that they were offenders above all the men that dwell in Jerusalem?" — Luke 13:4 (ASV)

We cannot be certain as to the exact incident referred to in v.1. The social tension made revolutionary activity in those days possible at any time. Galileans were especially susceptible to revolt (see also comment on 1:26). Any attack by Pilate or any other governor against Jews who had come to offer sacrifices was horrendous whatever its reason. Jesus refuses to attribute tragedy or accident directly to one’s sin as the Jews did (cf. Jn 9:1-3). On the contrary, he affirms the sinfulness of all people. Whereas the victims of the two calamities referred to in vv.1–5 perished physically, all who do not repent face spiritual death.