Luke 13:2 kjv

And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

Luke 13:2 nkjv

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?

Luke 13:2 niv

Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?

Luke 13:2 esv

And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way?

Luke 13:2 nlt

"Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?" Jesus asked. "Is that why they suffered?

Luke 13 verses

Luke 13 2 Meaning

Luke 13:2 records Jesus challenging a prevalent misconception of His day: that those who experience severe suffering or tragedy must be greater sinners than others. Jesus refutes this notion, indicating that the tragic fate of the Galilaeans, killed by Pilate, or the victims of the falling tower, was not a result of them being exceptionally sinful. Instead, He redirects the focus to the universal need for repentance, emphasizing that all humanity is subject to divine judgment if they do not turn to God.

Luke 13 2 Context

Luke chapter 13 begins with Jesus being informed about a specific tragedy: some Galilaeans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. This likely refers to a brutal suppression of a Jewish uprising or disturbance, perhaps during a Passover pilgrimage in Jerusalem, where Pilate's soldiers executed Jewish pilgrims inside the Temple area. In parallel, mention is made of eighteen people on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed. Both events represented unexpected, tragic deaths. In the cultural context of Jesus' time, there was a prevalent belief, rooted in parts of Old Testament teaching (e.g., Deut 28) but often simplistically applied, that great suffering or sudden death was a direct consequence of equally great sin. The question posed to Jesus (implied by His answer in v. 2) reflected this assumption: were these victims worse sinners than others, deserving of such a fate? Jesus directly addresses and refutes this false theological premise, using these two calamities not as proof of particular sinfulness, but as stark reminders of human mortality and the universal need for repentance before God's ultimate judgment. This sets the stage for His call to repentance in verses 3 and 5 and the subsequent parable of the barren fig tree, underscoring the urgency of spiritual fruitfulness.

Luke 13 2 Word analysis

• And Jesus answering: (Greek: kai apokritheis ho Iēsous - καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Ἰησοῦς). The word apokritheis is a participle indicating a direct response to a query or implicit thought. It signals that Jesus' following statement is a crucial address, not an unsolicited remark, showing His active engagement with the disciples' (or others') immediate concerns.
• said unto them: (Greek: eipen autois - εἶπεν αὐτοῖς). A straightforward declaration directed to those who had brought up the news of the tragedy or were present pondering it, emphasizing the direct nature of Jesus' correction and teaching.
• Suppose ye: (Greek: dokeite - δοκεῖτε). This verb is in the indicative mood, meaning "Do you think?" or "Do you suppose?". It interrogates their current belief or assumption. Jesus confronts their ingrained way of thinking about suffering and sin, forcing them to re-evaluate their premises.
• that these Galilaeans: (Greek: hoti hoi Galilaioi houtoi - ὅτι οἱ Γαλιλαῖοι οὗτοι). Refers specifically to the victims of Pilate's act mentioned in Luke 13:1. Galilaeans were often viewed by some Judeans with a degree of contempt, being seen as less orthodox, more prone to rebellion, or influenced by Gentile cultures. This negative perception might have fueled the judgmental conclusion about their fate.
• were sinners above all: (Greek: hamartōloi para pantas - ἁμαρτωλοὶ παρὰ πάντας). This is the core of the challenged assumption. Hamartōloi (sinners) refers to those who miss the mark, deviate from God's standard. Para pantas literally means "beside all" or "beyond all," conveying "more than" or "in a greater degree than all others." This phrase directly expresses the faulty human tendency to comparatively measure sin and its assumed punitive outcomes.
• the Galilaeans: Specifies the group they were being compared against—other people from Galilee, perhaps even a wider circle. The thought was that these specific Galilaeans had committed more egregious sins than all other Galilaeans to warrant such a unique and dreadful end.
• because they suffered such things?: (Greek: hoti tauta peponthasin? - ὅτι ταῦτα πεπόνθασιν?). This connects the suffering (their violent death) as the reason for their perceived greater sinfulness. Jesus' question challenges this cause-and-effect thinking. The suffering is not the proof of greater sin, but rather an example of human mortality and the general condition of a fallen world.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans": This entire phrase encapsulates the erroneous human judgment Jesus confronts. It reveals the common but flawed theological equation: terrible suffering equals extraordinary sin. This thinking is a dangerous form of self-righteousness, implicitly declaring oneself less sinful because one has not suffered similarly.
• "because they suffered such things?": This phrase underlines the fallacious logic of the questioners. It reveals a worldview where adverse events are always interpreted as direct, proportional divine retribution for individual wrongdoing, ignoring other aspects of God's ways or the pervasive nature of sin and human mortality. Jesus aims to dismantle this deterministic and judgmental theology.

Luke 13 2 Bonus section

This verse directly challenges the "prosperity gospel" idea, which can sometimes implicitly suggest that illness or misfortune is due to a lack of faith or unconfessed sin. Jesus' teaching here clarifies that earthly suffering cannot always be attributed to specific sins. It is a vital foundation for understanding that while sin certainly brings consequences and ultimate spiritual death without repentance, not every calamitous event is a precise, tailored punishment from God for particular wickedness in those who suffer it. The true lesson is about universal sin and universal need for a spiritual change, shifting the human focus from assessing others' guilt to examining one's own heart and preparing for eternity.

Luke 13 2 Commentary

Luke 13:2 is a profound theological corrective, shattering a common misconception that continues to plague human understanding: the simplistic correlation between specific suffering and specific, proportionate sin. Jesus decisively rejects the notion that the victims of the Galilaean tragedy, or any other disaster, were inherently "worse sinners" than their survivors. By doing so, He liberates us from the judgmental trap of ranking sinfulness based on outward misfortune. His teaching here highlights several truths: all humanity is inherently sinful and deserving of judgment, but suffering is not always a direct consequence or indicator of a specific degree of sin. Rather, such tragic events serve as solemn reminders of the fragility of life and the universal need for repentance, diverting attention from judging others' suffering to self-examination and urgent spiritual readiness.