A Common Misinterpretation Of Luke 13:1-5 Concerning Repentance

Luke 13:1-5, “There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

I am tired of hearing woefully ignorant preachers cite Luke 13:5 as a “proof text” to falsely teach that a person must “turn away from sin” to be saved. Folks, that is simply not true! No where does the inspired King James Bible say that we must “repent of your sin” or “turn away from your sin” to have eternal life. Please read these helpful words from one of my favorite preachers, Curtis Hutson (1934-1995):

'In Luke 13:5 Jesus said, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” The context of this verse shows that they needed to repent or change their mind regarding punishment and sin. In this passage, Christ was talking to good people who believed that people suffered only because of their sins, and they concluded that those in Galilee whose blood Pilate mingled with sacrifices and those on whom the tower of Siloam fell were greater sinners because they died such horrible deaths. Jesus contradicts the thinking of these self-righteous people and tells them that they need to repent or change their mind and see themselves as sinners, too, or they will perish in their own self-righteousness.'

One does not have to know the Greek language to see that “repent” in this passage does not mean feeling sorry for or turning from sin.

SOURCE: Pastor Curtis Hutson, an excerpt from his helpful booklet titled: 'Repentance: What Does The Bible Teach?'

I couldn't have said it any better. Yes, bravo Dr. Hutson! This is the accurate meaning of Luke 13:1-5. So the $64,000 question then becomes: “Where do preachers get the false idea that 'repent' in this passage means to turn away from your sin?” It comes from Roman Catholicism. It comes from our English dictionary meaning of the word. But the Biblical Greek meaning is something very different. The word for “repent” in Luke 13:3 and 5 is the Greek word metanoeo, a verb which means “to think differently.” A person “repents” (i.e., they change their mind) from a wrong mindset of unbelief, to thinking differently to believe to be saved.

Sadly, we've got a bunch of dumb dumb pastors today who don't take the time to study the Bible. Instead they just listen to infidels like Pastor John MacArthur, who is one of the most dangerous teachers in the world. 2nd Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Anytime you hear a religious leader teaching to “repent of your sin” to be saved, you know that he was inspired by demons to say that, because such nonsense is not found in God's Word.

Now I have to warn you, because the rabbit hole runs deep friend. There's another reason why so many of today's pastors, Bible colleges and churches are corrupt theologically—FALSE BIBLES! Jesus Himself warned that a corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit! It is impossible! Matthew 7:17-18, “Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.” Amen and amen! If you don't believe me, then I plead with you to please listen to Jesus! The blessed Savior said that a corrupt tree CANNOT bring forth good fruit. Yet, we've got a bunch of stupid pastors and Bible college professors today, who think that the Devil's false Bibles are not a threat to the world. They've got a whole in their head the size of the Grand Canyon!

The Holy Bible Has Been Changed & Corrupted For Copyright!

Dear reader, things that are different are not the same! Anyone who downplays the danger of these modern Bibles is a darn fool. Buyer beware! The Devil is a beautiful liar! The Devil knows that if he can publish hundreds of different Bibles, then he can confuse and discourage everybody (especially young people) from trusting the Word of God. Isn't it something how words matter to politicians, engineers, lawyers, judges, businessmen and in every contract that someone signs, yet today's insane preachers would have us to believe that words don't matter to God. Please think about that! Words DO matter to God. Right doctrine matters!

So, getting backing to Luke 13:5, please don't allow any corrupt preacher to corrupt your knowledge of the Word of God. Jesus commanded us to “SEARCH THE SSCRIPTURES” in John 5:39a. NEVER accept anything as true until you have gone and verified it yourself! Everyone has a right to their own opinion, but no one has a right to their own facts. The truth of the matter is that you cannot show me any place in the inspired King James Bible where it says to repent “of your sins” to have eternal life.

Of course God wants us to turn away from our sinful living as saints (Romans 3:31). I am not diminishing the importance of holy living, God forbid. I am simply saying that the way you choose to live has absolutely NOTHING to do with receiving the gift of eternal life. Christ paid our debt of sin, because we couldn't. The very idea that God will not save a person, unless they first commit to clean up their life of sin is heresy! No Sir! God does not demand that you give up your sins to be saved. The only sin that can keep a person out of Heaven is unbelief. Therefore, the only thing necessary to get to Heaven is to BELIEVE. If a man believes the GOOD NEWS (GOSPEL) of the Lord Jesus Christ, all the sins in the world cannot keep that man out of Heaven, because he has been WASHED in the blood of the Lamb (1st Corinthians 6:11; 1st John 1:7; 1st Peter 1:18-19).

Jesus wasn't telling them to stop sinning in Luke 13:5 to be saved. He was simply taking the opportunity, upon hearing some bad news, to use it as a soulwinning moment. The wonderful Savior simply showed them their need for salvation. What do we do when we hear bad news? Most of us add our own bad news to the conversation, when we ought to be soul conscious like Jesus was. Upon hearing some negative news, Jesus used it as a chance to share the Gospel. Except you “repent” (change your thinking), you will go to Hell too! Simply change your thinking from unbelief to belief dear friend, and you too can KNOW that you have eternal life dwelling in you.