Note 2 at Lk. 13:2: This passage of scripture raises a similar question to the one that Jesus' disciples asked about the blind beggar in John 9:1 (see note 2 at Jn. 9:2, p. 237). Does excessive sin cause special judgment?

Jesus had just taught that final judgment would be according to a person's knowledge. Those who knew more would be judged more harshly than those who sinned in ignorance (see note 5 at Lk. 12:48, p. 272). Sometimes, there can be special judgments due to excessive sin (Examples: Er and Onan--Gen. 38:7-10; Nadab and Abihu--Lev. 10:1-2; Achan--Josh. 7:19-26; Herod--Acts 12:23). However, God's mercy can delay the execution of His judgments (Gen. 15:16; Lk. 13:6-9). In these instances, Jesus is saying that these people were not sinners any more than anyone else. It was just because of God's mercy that they hadn't all been consumed.

Jesus was warning those present not to take God's lack of judgment on them as God's acceptance (2 Pet. 3:9,15) but to realize that unless they repented, they would likewise perish. This applies to everyone at the last judgment, but it literally came true for some of those Jesus was talking to when Titus plundered Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Walls fell and crushed many people as Jerusalem was burned.