 Let's begin reading at Luke chapter 13 verse 1. I'll read to verse 5 and we'll get into our study Luke chapter 13 beginning at verse 1 Reading to verse 5 Luke writes there were present at that season some who told him about the Galileans whose blood pilot 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 Are those 18 on whom the tower in Shalom 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 Parish now in the previous verses that we've been looking at Jesus has been stressing certain things He's especially been stressing the need for repentance He also has been stressing the need for conversion In order to enter into the kingdom of God in order to be somebody that God is pleased with you need to repent and You need to be born again. You need to have a conversion experience He's been speaking about that and so what we see is a continuation of the theme that he's already been teaching on when we begin chapter 13 because he continues here to stress the need for repentance and a personal preparation to be with him Now as we begin let me say a couple of things very basic things here notice verse one It doesn't really give to us the exact time. It isn't specifically noted though. We can we can guess Possibly when this may have happened this thing that he's speaking about where it says there were present at the season at That season some who told him about the Galileans whose blood pilot had mingled with their sacrifices We can kind of surmise that this may have taken place during Passover Though it is not specifically stated and so we have to be careful not to say that that's exactly when it took place and Josephus the historian doesn't Register when that happened doesn't even make mention of that and no other no other Historians during that era speak specifically of this and so what you have to do is you look at this verse And you say to yourself well, when could that have been if it's not mentioned in In detail here, and if sexual historians don't give us an exact date Then how can we know or what can we do to kind of figure out when it may have been and and the only time that the Jews allowed lay people non priests who to offer blood sacrifice was Passover. That's the only time and so many Orthodox commentators believe that you can probably Believe that this took place during Passover, but it really doesn't matter But what is being spoken about here is interesting I want you to notice that they came to report that pilot had murdered some Galilean pilgrims now that's not Pointing out something that was pretty obvious at that time It's not that they're pointing out that pilot is cruel that he was a political leader That was extremely cruel because during that day pilot was already known to be a very strong and forceful governor We know that We know that during that day everybody knew that the Roman governor was a very powerful man and could be cruel on occasion Everybody knows that and so they're not telling Jesus something he doesn't already know and so when we read this again We have to ask ourselves and why would they come and report to Jesus would have taken place? And we know that the reason they do that is because this really has some very deep theological connotations There's something deep going on here when they bring this up to him They're reporting to Jesus as a deep theological meaning you see at that time many believe that terrible events like this proved How evil the people were that suffered those events? They believe that if you were you were an evil person you would go through evil things It was very simply that way that seems to be ingrained in human nature this idea that the evil people Eventually really get penalized and all in this age And it seems to be just the part of the way that we think all the way in the book of Job in in chapter 4 if you take notes It's found in verses 7 through 9 in Job chapter 4 verses 7 through 9 there's a man by the name of Eliphaz and He says this he says remember now whoever perished being innocent or Where were the upright ever cut off? Even as I have seen those who plow iniquity and so trouble reap the same by the blast of God They perish and by the breath of his anger. They are consumed evil people have Occurrences occurring to them that is from the hand of God And so the theological meaning here is that they really believe that Evil people are treated in evil ways. We see that even in the New Testament in other places for example in John chapter 9 Very interesting passage of scripture, but in John chapter 9 verses 1 and 2 John records as Jesus passed by he saw a man who was blind from birth now You have to picture this Jesus is walking and as he's walking by John who is writing the gospel gives us an account of what happens He's walking by and there's a man who has is blind but not simply blind through an accident He wants us to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this man was born blind He was blind from birth, but notice what Jesus's disciples say his disciples asked him saying rabbi Who sinned this man or his parents that he was born blind? So even Jesus's disciples believe that if something happened to you It's because you are an evil person you can even be evil in the womb and be born blind It's interesting how Jesus responded in chapter 9 verse 3 of John's gospel Because Jesus answered and said neither this man nor his parents sinned But that the works of God should be revealed in him and so what we're seeing here is The Lord Jesus Christ teaching us something about how God works in people's lives You see their personal theological belief was evil people get judged with evil But at the heart of that would simply be this They considered themselves better than those who suffered because they hadn't endured those things themselves Therefore we are better than the ones who were offering their sacrifices and had their blood mingled with their sacrifice It may be that they wanted Jesus to preach on how evil those Galileans were in order that they would die like that But notice what Jesus does here in verse 2 Jesus answered and said to them Do you suppose that these Galileans because Because we're do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all of the Galileans because they suffered such things Do you think that do you think that they were evil because they suffered in that way? Well, that really goes to the heart of their belief and it now also goes to the heart of our own belief Here it is. Do you believe that only evil people suffer? Do you think only evil people? Experienced tsunamis. Do you think that only evil people? Experienced fires and avalanches tornadoes and natural disasters like that Do you think that it's the evil people and it's evil people who suffer these kinds of things? I have to tell you over the years I've heard more than one time somebody who has intimated that they think that those people finally got what they had coming to them and Sometimes people do think that way. There's no doubt about that. They think. Oh, yeah, they deserve that because they're evil Of course, Hollywood guys die of drug overdoses. Look how evil they are people think that way they really do Of course, Brittany goes through all this trouble. Look how crazy she is, you know, she's People think that way even even Christians even Christians can say well, you know, they're reaping what they sow Isn't that what God says? Well, Jesus is actually answering a question that has some deep implications here Do you think that that good people don't suffer or the bad people always do is that what you think? Is that how you think it works in the economy of a God? Well, Jesus answers that question. He says in verse 3 I tell you no But unless you repent You will all likewise perish. I tell you no Pain and sorrow pain and sorrow afflicts all human beings and It's an equal opportunity experience that all people have Believers as well as unbelievers can go through some very tough and very difficult times. We know that this Sunday, I was sharing some of you were with us on Sunday morning And I was sharing in the book of Acts in chapter 2 and we were looking at prayer And I was sharing a few things about prayer and all and after the service was concluded I went outside and as I was standing by the gazebo one of the members of our fellowship approached me and And we were having a visit. I've known him for a while now He's been part of our church for some time and we were visiting and as we were speaking he said, you know I I needed to hear the Bible study today. The Lord was ministering to my heart. He said and I said well That's great. He said, you know, it's been an interesting interesting time Nine months ago and he begins to share nine months ago. He goes my wife's mom my wife's mom died and He said and then About three months or so ago my sister died He said and then last Saturday my mother died And he said, you know, I began to think in The last nine months. I have attended 27 funerals I want you to think about that for a minute in the last nine months. I have attended 27 funerals of friends and family members Mothers-in-law my own mother sisters people. I love with all of my heart And and you see this is a guy who wants to serve the Lord This is a man who wants to wants to serve him full-time. This is somebody who loves the Lord Do do people who love the Lord do they go through hard times? Absolutely, of course it's an equal opportunity experience everybody does and to have this attitude that only the real evil go through bad times is Something that Jesus had to deal with Immediately I used to wish that I could give invitations Where I would say to the church listen if you come forward Your life is going to be perfect from the day you get saved Wouldn't that be a great message? But for me it was perfect for three days and then after that man It can be tough. It can be hard. You go through difficult times. Did we all know that? It would be great to be able to give a message where where I could promise you from this day on Everything is going to be absolutely beyond anything incredibly beyond anything you'll ever ask her thing It'll be so awesome that you will just regret you didn't come to Christ And and all of that is true except for one thing the fact is is we still go through tough times You we all know that anybody who's around for a while You know that if you're a Christian for a while, you know that you go through hard times Just like anybody else and that's when I started memorizing little sayings, you know that would speak to my heart I may not know what tomorrow holds, but I know who holds tomorrow things like that because I Want to keep my eyes on the prize I want to keep my eyes on the one who's in control because I'm not and some Circumstances some situations that occur are things that there is no natural answer for I don't know why somebody's house burnt down I don't know why that baby has leukemia. I don't know why that newborn baby had to have open-heart surgery. I don't know They just do Is it because they're evil? Is it because their moms were evil? Is it because their dads were evil? It's because they were into drugs and that's why no that would be ridiculous for me to say well You know they are the reaping what they sowed, you know the bottom line is is yes We do sometimes of course we reap what we sow ultimately in in many senses of the word But if I sow to the flesh from the flesh I reap corruption if I sow to the spirit from the spirit I reap everlasting life when I got saved yes There are things that I used to do that may have ramifications in my saved life now But God still has a way of restoring me and working through me and and renewing me and all of that I'm aware of that and yes, I could have done some stupid things and yes I have to pay for some of the things that I did in the past and all that's just the way it works But does it mean that that I'm going to be exempt from pain if I get saved and if I'm evil I'll just be filled with pain not necessarily at all and that's what Jesus is dealing with so they walk up to him They say do you hear about those guys that were making a sacrifice and Pilate killed them as they were making the sacrifice and their blood was mingled with the blood of their offering and Jesus sees right through that and So what are you saying to me and you can picture Jesus looking at them I die What are you saying to me are you saying that they were the most evil of all people and that's why let me tell you something And that's how Jesus was speaking to them. Let me say this to you unless you repent you will perish also What a powerful thing to say what a powerful thing to say You need to repent yourself But he goes on and he says in verse 4 or those 18 on whom the tower in saloon 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 pool of saloon we read about that in scripture when you go to Israel you have an opportunity to go buy it It's in the southern corner of the city of Jerusalem. It was fed by a small string called the spring of guion Jesus obviously is aware of current events But he uses this opportunity for a call to personal repentance When he speaks to them he's saying listen you're talking about those Galalans Northerners Now there may have been some kind of a prejudice involved in the question even the Galileans were from the north They were not respected by the southern Jews down especially by by Jerusalem because the northern portion of Israel was agricultural and the southern portion is cosmopolitan and So it almost has a similar connotation to how people will look at certain people if they're from a city like New York Versus a small country town so they didn't have respect for them and So Jesus brings in inhabitants of Jerusalem to balance it out because that's what he's speaking about when he speaks of the tower of Jerusalem and he said these are men who dwelt in Jerusalem and so he obviously being aware of current events Uses that as an example, but he still calls for personal repentance now when he says and I want you to notice this unless you repent The word repent I want to talk about that for just a moment because sometimes we hear the word repent And we may have a connotation about repentance that is so unbiblical Because sometimes people talk about people repenting and it seems that what they're doing is that they're crying emotionally And perhaps they're doing something with with great emotion to it repentance doesn't carry that connotation Though there may be an element of an emotion involved You see my wife Marie when she first got saved She really had a problem with the fact that she didn't have the same conversion experience that I had when I got saved I went through a big emotional thing my life was radically transformed and I was Absolutely changed in tremendous ways, but Marie when Marie was saved It was kind of like one day she opened her eyes and said I need Jesus and she did there was no emotion There was no tear there was nothing. There was just like I need Jesus She really had a biblical repentance. She didn't understand it You see the word repent metanoia in the Greek says it speaks of a change of mind. It's a change of thinking It's a change of thinking how you get to heaven You see sometimes people that I don't think I've repented because I've never cried over my sins I see some people give their testimony and they weep I don't do that. Maybe I'm not really a believer I don't feel those things my dad was that way My dad at first thought I don't know if I'm really a Christian because my son David had this kind of transformation and me I just agreed. I think that it's right. Well, that's repentance Repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change of life. It's an agreement with God It's an awareness that God is right and I'm wrong and so Jesus says you need to change your mind You need to agree with God Because if you don't if you don't agree, you will likewise perish. No, you may not have your blood Mingled with an offering. No, you might not have a tower fall on you But you will perish the word perish speaks of a of an utter loss and it speaks really Theologically of Spending eternity separated from God in a place called how and that's what Jesus is saying here If you don't repent is what he's saying Instead of doing theological nitpicking thinking of yourself as being better than people who suffer through tragedies If you don't repent you will be eternally lost is what Jesus says. That's why you need to repent That's why you need to get right with God. He's saying so it's not an emotional response It's a change of mind that lasts It's a change of life that occurs because these people agreed with God because they understood the things that God was saying and they said yes Now when he says you will perish We have a promise that we all know in John 3 16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish But have everlasting life and so on the one hand He says if you don't repent You will perish But on the other hand he says but if you do then you have eternal life and so how can I have eternal life? By repentance by agreeing with God receive in the gospel and Saying God I need I need I need to change not just today But every day I need forgiveness not just for today Thank you that your mercy is renewed every morning your compassion's fail not because I need your mercy and compassion tomorrow, too And the next day and the next day every day. I need to be washed by you every day I need to be empowered by you every day so repentance is a one-time event But it's also a daily reality Where I'm making decisions to follow the Lord and to change and so Jesus is speaking to them about their suppositions And he's saying evil people and good people all go through tragedy The real key is are you right with God now as he condoned continues on in verse 6. He also spoke this parable a Certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard And he came seeking fruit on it and found none Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard Look for three years. I've come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find a nun cut it down Why does it use up the ground? But he answered and said to him sir let it alone this year also until I dig around it and fertilize it and If it bears fruit well But if not after that you can cut it down So Jesus now gives a parable Obviously what we see here is we see an owner of a vineyard Coming to seek some fruit from a tree Now the problem is even though it's the season for figs the tree is not producing any fruit And so what does he do well? He speaks to the keeper of his vineyard and he says look at I've been coming seeking fruit And it's not producing anything. So he's angry over this He tells the keeper that over the years he has come seeking fruit and it is completely barren So as a result he plans on tearing it out of the ground. It has had enough time to bear fruit and I'm tired of it The question is asked really why allow it to take up space and use up resources when it is Unfruitful, but notice verse 8 notice how he answers and says let it alone this year also The keeper is asking for more time. Give me another year. I'll give it more personal attention Give this tree one last chance give it added time and let's see if it'll produce fruit now In order to understand this we need to develop a context one You need to know that the fig tree is one of the oldest trees found in Scripture as a matter of fact You first see figs mentioned in the book of Genesis in chapter 3 And you remember how that Adam and Eve covered their nakedness with fig leaves? And so in Genesis gives to us a picture that this is a very ancient tree In the history of Israel ultimately a fig tree came to symbolize God's blessing on the nation Again when you go to Israel, they will tell you that they are there are seven fruits that are representative of the nation of Israel it's one of the seven fruits of Israel the fig in Deuteronomy in chapter 8 verse 8 God when he was describing the nation that he was giving to the children of Israel God said it is a land of wheat and barley of vines and fig trees and pomegranates a land of olive oil and Honey, and so it's a picture of God's blessing on Israel The fig tree Eventually became a symbol of peace and security That's why in 1st Kings chapter 4 verse 25 During Solomon's lifetime Judah and Israel from Dan to Beersheba lived in safety each man under his own vine and fig tree And so a fig tree symbolizes the nation of Israel and the blessings of God The fig tree ultimately came to become a symbol for Israel And so if you understand that you're gonna understand the parable that Jesus is giving here So in this particular parable the fig tree symbolizes national Israel But national Israel is spiritually dead It has an appearance of life, but it isn't producing any fruit Israel had an impressive picture of religion, but it was spiritually dead The Apostle Paul in Romans chapter 10 speaks about that in Romans chapter 10 verses 1 and 2 Paul said brothers my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge the nation of Israel had a very very Outwardly beautiful religious System and People who went to Israel very often were attracted to the Jewish faith because of the purity especially pagans When Romans and Greeks would go into Israel and they would go up into the temple area and the areas that they were allowed to go into Many of them were absolutely Ostruck by this because they saw such an outward devotion. They saw such religiosity They saw such ceremony in Holland and many of them became God-fearers They were not fully brought into the promises of Israel through total conversion But they became God-fearers meaning that they they partook in some of the things of Israel because they thought that that Nations religion was so pure and so right and so righteous that they wanted to be part of that And so on the outward appearance it was beautiful They they could come they could see the temple they could see so many things and it was very attractive It's sometimes like people who've gotten no religious training whatsoever And sometimes they've gone to Europe and they've they've toured some of the beautiful cathedrals of Europe and you can walk into some and I've seen many beautiful cathedrals from various You know from Spain to France you name it I've been to a lot of countries and I've seen a lot of cathedrals in Germany Austria and you can walk in and you'll see Incredible things and you look and there are people who walk in and they're in awe They think look how beautiful these buildings are but it has an appearance of godliness, but denying the power thereof It's all just outer appearance And so that's what happened to the nation of Israel They had all their outward religion, but no life in it and that's what Jesus is speaking about when he uses this this fig tree as an example Verse 6 a certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard He came seeking fruit on it and found none. That's what Jesus is speaking about the nation of Israel You see bearing spiritual fruit Will always be evidence of spiritual life It'll always be that because that which is alive produces fruit. Oh I don't know if you're if I should tell you this I've told you this several times over the years But some of you haven't heard this and so for those who've already heard this forgive me for using an old illustration But it comes to mind for those who've never heard it We had a house we bought years ago and The former occupant moved out But he left a potted plant in the patio. I've never been very good with plants and I Try but I'm not really very good But this was Ivy Ivy's pretty hearty and So I thought you know it's cool. He left this Ivy here. I'll take care of it So I would go out on a weekly basis and I would water it every week. I was putting water in this plant watering it and I did that for like months and Then he hit me one day. I haven't watered that Ivy So I opened the slider and I stepped out I looked to the left where it was it was still green and I thought oh man This is a great plant. I mean, oh god, you're good to me You gave me a plant that could withstand my hands and I walked up to it And I actually got I had the hose and I was walking up to it to water it and I really did this I talked to it I said man Said you're a good plant. I like you and as I was looking at it I touched it like it was a little dog It was plastic the only thing that I had that actually remained green and it wasn't even alive Wasn't even alive and you know So I'm glad you left But that's a true story. I mean it had the outer appearance of life, but it was not a wonder I mean it stayed green because it was dyed green and and religion can be that Religion is like that it has the appearance of life But when you go to Take some fruit off of it because it's not alive. There is no fruit. That's what Jesus is talking about here It may have an impressive appearance of religion, but it is dead You see true fellowship with God always produces fruit and Fruit is the result of being engrafted in the true vine Jesus Christ in Matthew chapter 7 verses 18 and 19 Jesus said a good tree cannot bear bad fruit and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire That's why in John 15 verse 5 Jesus said I am the vine you are the branches if a man abides in me and I and him He will bear much fruit for apart from me You can do nothing of course empty religion has an appearance of being alive, but upon closer inspection It does not bear fruit. They may have an appearance of godliness But no power of godliness true fellowship with God will always produce fruit You'll see it in various portions of scripture for example in Galatians chapter 5 verses 22 and 23 You'll have a character that is is is fruitful. It's spiritual in Galatians 5 22 and 23 the fruit of the Spirit is love Joy peace long suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance Against such there is no law so true fellowship produces character true fellowship produces conduct Colossians 1-10 says that you might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruitful in every good work and Increasing in the knowledge of God and so true fellowship with God has a fruit a fruit of conduct When you're walking with the Lord there are going to be Evidences that you have a relationship with him because it actually produces the fruit of conversions in first Corinthians chapter 16 verse 15 Paul said I beseech you brethren You know the house of Stefan is that it is the first fruits of akea They have been addicted to the ministry to the saints and so part of what is Fruitful or demonstrates that you have fruit is that you get concerned with other people that they get saved too That's part of the fruit. That's part of concern one of the ways that I have always by the way Tested my walk with the Lord and I've done this for many years one of the ways that I've always done it I've taught to do this and I do it is Just check in my heart to see whether I care if people are saved or not Doesn't matter, you know, it doesn't matter. That's one of the things that I keep myself pretty aware of do I care? Do I care if people get saved or not? Because if I don't something's wrong in my walk with the Lord something's happening in me because I don't care anymore If they're saved or not and if I don't care anymore Then I'm quenching the spirit because God cares and if he doesn't if he cares and I don't something's wrong here And so conversions will always be part of the fruit that God is working into your life Praise learning to praise God is part of having fruit in Hebrews chapter 13 verse 15 by him Therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually. That is the fruit of our lips Giving thanks to his name and so praising the Lord Learning to give thanks to him learning to magnify him learning to say how worthy he is That's fruit in your life worship is an interesting word We worship the Lord, but the word worship actually is an old English word worthy ship Worthy ship speaks about the fact that God is worthy of our praise And one of the words in scripture in the original language that is translated worship Actually literally speaks of kissing the face of God And so when you have a relationship with the Lord, it's a very praise oriented relationship It's it's a relationship where you say God you're too much. I love you so much. You've worked in my life So wonderfully And I know all of us who love the Lord experience that I know we do There are times that that I get so overwhelmed that that I actually become emotional I mean just today my my grandson Josiah is here and and and my granddaughter Sophie and Josiah was getting on his mom's last nerve and so She was uh, Coriney was Being a mom, you know and getting a little uptight And uh, that's why it's great to have a grandpa around And so I I walked and I saw her getting a little uptight And I said, you know and I told Josiah And Corine was holding Sophia and and I told Josiah listen Josiah I said If if mama needs to release you for a little while You can come on into my office and and hang with me. Okay And he says okay. I said no, that's if mama is needing to be relieved. Okay Okay, five minutes later. He says here. I am so, you know, he comes into my comes into my office, you know And and has he's there he wants to visit with me wants me to read to him the three little pigs and this and that And I was studying so I said listen I said I'll get to that in a minute But why don't you just rest for a moment and he goes okay And he sits down and before you know what he's laying down and now he's I say you tar baby Yeah, so I wrap him up and he falls asleep and there he is laying in my office I turn all the lights off except for my My computer. I keep working walk around there He's been asleep for a little while and like so many of you did that with your children I do that now with my grandson. I sat on the edge of that couch and I just looked at him I just looked at him And I kissed his little head And I thanked god for my baby I love him so much It's easy It's easy to praise the lord Because if it's easy for me to just just touch that baby and just oh god, I just love him so much Well, I love the one who gave me that baby Praise him It's the fruit of your life People know that you love the lord because you have a heart of praise and then finally stewardship is also part of the fruit of Walking with the lord paul and philippians 4 17 said not because I desire a gift I desire fruit that may have bound to your account and so when people are saved there are evidences of that So jesus is speaking concerning the nation of israel. There's just no fruit So as he's giving this parable here, I want you to see this. I want you to see verse 8 In verse 7 it has been said cut it down. Why does it use up the ground? Why is it using up the resources? It's not valuable verse 8 But he answered and said to him sir Let it alone this year also until I dig around it fertilize it if it bears fruit Well, but if not after that you can cut it down So what is jesus doing here? Well, he's warning them. He's saying on the one hand God is patient and god is merciful towards those who repent But what he's doing is giving them a chance to repent because he's saying if you reject that opportunity You will be severely judged The lord is not slack concerning his promise as some men count slackness But as long suffering to us word not willing that any should perish But that all should come to repentance. Peter tells us since I can Peter 3 9 And that's true God's desire is not that we should perish but that we should repent so he gives us time He gave me 20 years. He gave others, you know 40 years 50 years We've had people in this church get saved in their 80s What an incredible act of grace and mercy that that person had over 80 years until they came to christ And so he's very long suffering for us because god's desire is that everybody gets saved is equal 33 11 God says say to them as I live say at the lord god I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked But that the wicked turn from his way and live turn turn from your evil ways for why should you die? Oh house of israel God's desire is not that man should perish but that man should have eternal life So jesus in verse 8 and 9 is really picturing himself as the intercessor pleading for mercy for the nation And that's what he's saying here But israel didn't respond to the mercy that they received In matthew in chapter 23 verse 37 We see a beautiful picture, but a very tragic one and jesus is there looking at the city of jerusalem in matthew 23 37 and and he said oh jerusalem Jerusalem the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her How often I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings But you were not willing how often I wanted to save you from destruction How often I wanted to gather you and protect you because the chicks are out there running around but the hawk is going to destroy them I tried to gather you under my arm so that I might lay my life down for you and protect you And yet you had nothing to do with me and that's a tragic picture In luke 1941 through 44 as he drew near he saw the city wept over it saying If you had known even you especially in this your day the things that make for your peace But now they are hidden from your eyes For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you surround you and close you in on every side And level you and your children within you to the ground And they will not leave in you one stone upon another because you did not know the time of your visitation josephus tells us That in ad 70 titus of rom general Was seizing the city of jerusalem People took refuge in the temple and as they were in the temple Somebody threw in through one of these slits there in the wall Somebody threw a torch in and when the torch ignited a Some cloth The entire interior of the temple went up in flames The heat was so intense That it literally melted the gold and objects of gold That were there in the temple Now the objects of gold were immense and of high value And so rather than just letting the gold Be lost They came and began to dismantle the rocks that the gold had seeped into in doing so They dismantled and destroyed the temple Taking the gold and leaving with it Jesus's words were 100 accurately fulfilled in the year ad 70 And as he was there Weeping over the city and saying to them they're going to build an embankment They're going to surround you. They will close you in on every side you and your children within you And they will burn you to the ground They will not leave one stone left upon another You did not know the day of your visitation that was literally fulfilled in ad 70 when Titus of rome destroyed the city of jesusland Repent is what jesus said because if you don't You will all likewise perish But We have repented We don't perish. We have everlasting life in him But his word is true to those who repent you have life But to those who do not Then god's judgment awaits you. It's a choice that we made and we made the right one when we gave ourselves to jesus