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Or those eighteen, on whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them; do you think that they were worse offenders than all the men who dwell in Jerusalem?

Verse Takeaways

1

Tragedy Isn't a Sin-Meter

Jesus uses the real-life tragedy of a tower collapse to challenge a common assumption. Commentators stress that Jesus is teaching his audience not to view the victims of accidents or disasters as greater sinners than anyone else. The eighteen who died were not being punished for being 'worse' than their neighbors in Jerusalem. This corrects the human tendency to blame victims for their misfortune.

See 3 Verse Takeaways

Book Overview

Luke

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Commentaries

7

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes

On Luke 13:4

18th Century

Theologian

Or those eighteen. Jesus himself adds another similar case to warn them — a case which had probably occurred not long before, and which it…

AT Robertson

AT Robertson

On Luke 13:4

The tower in Siloam (ο πυργος εν Σιλωαμ). Few sites have been more clearly located than this. Jesus mentions this accident (only i…

Charles Ellicott

Charles Ellicott

On Luke 13:4

19th Century

Bishop

Upon whom the tower in Siloam fell.—Here, again, we have a reference to an incident not recorded elsewhere. It was clearly one that had im…

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Charles Spurgeon

Charles Spurgeon

On Luke 13:4–5

19th Century

Preacher

This was a foreshadowing of the overthrow of Jerusalem, and the razing of its walls and towers to the ground, which happened not long after; and ev…

Expositor's Bible Commentary

Expositor's Bible Commentary

On Luke 13:4

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…

John Gill

John Gill

On Luke 13:4

17th Century

Pastor

Or those eighteen
Men; the Persic version reads, "those twelve"; but all copies, and other versions, agree in this n…

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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry

On Luke 13:1–5

17th Century

Minister

Christ was informed about the death of some Galileans. This tragic story is briefly recounted here and is not mentioned by historians. In Christ's …