Evil and Victims

When evil people commit atrocities, people blame the victims. For example, when terrorists struck the Twin Towers, some said the evil of America brought God’s wrath. Similarly, when women go jogging and get killed or raped, once again, people blame the women. Such victim blaming is unbiblical.

Once, a group of people reported to Jesus about Pilate mixing the blood of Galileans with their sacrifices, a metaphor for him killing them while they were in their temple, sacrificing and worshipping (Luke 13:1). Josephus, a Jewish historian contemporary of Jesus, wrote about several similar incidents (War 2.9.2–4; Ant 13.13.5; 18.3.1–2, etc.). Pontius Pilate was cruel to anyone who opposed his or the Roman regime. Sometimes, he killed one group to please another (e.g., the Pharisees to please the Sadducees) and vice versa.

The Lord Jesus took the opportunity to teach an important lesson.

“Do you think those Galatians were more sinful than other Galileans for receiving such suffering? Not at all.” (13:2–3a)

People suffer not necessarily for their sins. Often, victims are just that – innocent victims of evil people. They were not necessarily more sinful than the rest of the people to incur such harm against them.  

Then the Lord said,

“But if all of you do not change your mind (metanoeo), you will die likewise.” (13:3b)*

When a ruthless ruler like Pilate was on a rampage to harm people who opposed him, it was time to be prudent and alter one’s course of action. A case in point was Joseph taking Mary and Jesus and fleeing to Egypt when Herod sought Jesus’s life.

Jesus cited other examples.

“What about the eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam collapsed on them? Do you think they deserved it compared to all other inhabitants of Jerusalem? Not at all.” (13:4–5a)

Unlike the previous example, where an evil man harmed innocent people, a natural calamity harmed another 18 people here. Once again, they weren’t more deserving of their unfortunate and untimely death than the rest of the Jerusalemites. They were innocent victims.

One can learn a lesson even in their deaths: Don’t stand beside a leaning or weak wall. So the Lord concluded, “But if you don’t change your mind (metanoia), you will die likewise” (13:5b).

Instead of victim blaming, one can learn to be prudent in an evil world or face unfortunate consequences. When an evil ruler or people are on a rampage to harm innocent, avoid them. When jogging, jog in pairs or take a well-lit route. Being wise is never a bad thing. But while being wise, if someone encounters an unfortunate disaster, we shouldn’t blame the victim.  

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*Since Jesus used the wordmetanoeo, which is often translated as “repent,” some scholars think Jesus talked about spiritual repentance. Here, most likely, he was talking about political surrender or prudence.