The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

Grace, mercy, and peace be unto you all in the name of Jesus, our Risen Lord and Savior Amen!

I am Steve Garrabrant, and I am blessed to serve as vicar here at Gloria Dei.

This week we are continuing our sermon series on the parables of Jesus—radical stories that tell a spiritual truth about the divinity of God and the truth of God’s Kingdom.

If you are like me, I have found it fascinating diving deep into the messages of these parables. This morning is no exception. This morning’s study on the parable of the barren fig tree speaks of a truth that many struggle with. It speaks a truth that I struggle with. It speaks a truth about that which is the core of the Christian life—repentance and God’s grace.

In order to have a better grasp of this parable, we first need some context. While our parable is recorded in Luke 13, this conversation begins with Jesus addressing crowds of people that had gathered together as recorded in Luke 12. There were so many people in the crowds that they were trampling one another. And to these crowds, Jesus teaches them many things…such as the authority of God, Jesus’ mission, and about the end times and day of judgment.

And then, after speaking about judgment at the end of Luke 12, Jesus begins teaching about repentance in the beginning of Luke 13. So, let’s begin by looking at Luke 13:1-5

“There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.””

We really do not know much about the two tragedies that Jesus is speaking of when He mentions Pilate’s murdering of the Galileans or those that perished when the tower in Siloam fell and killed them. Nowhere else in the New Testament or in historical pieces do we find mentioning these tragedies.

But, we do know that many people thought (and perhaps still think today) that tragedies happen to people as divine punishments for specific sins.

However, Jesus is clear in His teaching—the tragedies He spoke of and tragedies we see today are not punishments because they were greater sinners. But, they do serve a purpose—to bring people closer to God and to move them to repentance.

You see, Jesus uses the examples of these tragedies to spur those He is teaching into self-examination and have an honest assessment with their walk with God. While these people did not suffer worse because they were greater sinners, there is an urgency to repent. The truth is that sin is the cause of all evil in this world, and when tragic events occur, they warn us of sin and its effects. But God, through Christ, has made a way of escape through repentance. This leads us to our parable.

Listen to the words of Luke 13:6-9

“And Jesus told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’ ””

There are two things that I want you to see in the teaching of this parable:

First, the need for repentance.

Second, God is merciful and He is slow to punish.

In order for us to grasp these two truths—the need for repentance and that God is merciful and He is slow to punish—we need to dive into the meaning of this parable that Jesus is telling the crowds that have gathered by the thousands.

A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard...

The vineyard owner is God the Father. The fig tree was intentionally planted. It was not a wild tree. It was planted. It was planned. It belongs to the owner—it belongs to God the Father. It belongs in the vineyard.

We’ve seen the vineyard expressed in earlier parables that we have studied. Consistent with those parables, the vineyard is God’s Kingdom in the here and now. It is His chosen people. It is His church. In Jesus’ time, it would have been clearly understood that the vineyard was Israel. And, today, it would be Jews and Gentiles alike that confess Jesus is Lord.

The tree is really two things. It is Jerusalem. The religious center of Israel. And, the tree is the individual. The tree is you and me. It is those who God has called and planted and placed in His Kingdom in the here and now.

…and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.

The vineyard owner planted the fig tree and had every right to expect it to bear fruit. But the owner—God the Father—found no fruit.

Often, fruit is looked at as faith. But this fruit in this parable is not so much the good deeds of faith, but rather it is repentance which evidences faith. This is consistent with what is written in Matthew 3:8 which says, “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.”

The need for repentance—the first theme of Jesus’ teaching in this parable—is a powerful image of our faith walk with God.

The Greek word for repentance conjures the image of turning, even being turned, from our ways to God’s ways.

Repentance consists of contrition—godly sorrow over one’s sins—and faith—trusting in the divine promise of forgiveness through faith in Christ.

Repentance is both a once-for-all event that shapes the whole life of the person baptized into Christ, and repentance is a day-by-day affair that keeps putting sin away.

You see, our whole faith life should be viewed as one of repentance rather than performance.

Our maturing in the faith is not so much about behaving better or sinning less, but rather it is about depending on Christ more. As we grow and develop in faith, we become more and more aware of our sin and our desperate need of Jesus.

And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’

God the Father is the vineyard owner, and Jesus is the vinedresser. God the Father sent His Son to establish and grow His Kingdom in the here and now.

There is something significant of the three years. You see, it is brought into clarity by looking at Luke 3:1-3

“In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”

When you look at the specificity of time that Luke is recording for John the Baptist’s ministry in the wilderness, 3 years had passed from when John the Baptizer said “repent and be baptized” to when Jesus is telling this parable.

And then the charge comes from God the Father to His Son—the vinedresser of His vineyard—His Kingdom—that for 3 years Jerusalem had not born the fruit of repentance that John the Baptist pleaded.

Our second theme in Jesus teaching this parable starts to come to light—God is merciful and slow to punish.

For three years God the Father waited for the fruit of repentance to evidence faith. He didn’t punish immediately. God is merciful and slow to punish.

And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’ 

Just as the vinedresser was not yet done with this fig tree in the parable, Jesus was not yet done with Jerusalem. You see, Jesus was on His way to the city of Jerusalem for His last effort.

Luke 9:51 says “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.”

Luke 17:11 says “On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee.”

Our parable in Luke 13 takes place right in the middle…when Jesus is teaching and preaching as He journeys to Jerusalem.

The vinedresser gets his hands dirty. He works the ground and puts down manure because he wants the barren fig tree to bear fruit.

Likewise, Jesus got dirty for us.

He who knew know sin became sin for us.

He who was pure and blameless and innocent was forsaken by God for us.

He who was perfect was bloodied and bruised and beaten for us.

He who spoke life into existence as the Word of God gave up His life for us.

He who was born the Prince of Peace and King of Kings was cut down on the tree of the cross for us.

God’s mercy is on display in the latter half of the teaching of this parable. He waited patiently for 3 years and did not punish immediately. The vinedresser—God the Son—pleads to the vineyard owner—God the Father—for more time, to allow Him to do His work and to get dirty in hopes the fig tree would become repentant. Jesus—the Mediator, our Mediator—goes to the Father, and God the Father in His mercy accepts the intercession on behalf of Jerusalem and on our behalf.

2 Peter 3:8-10 sheds light on God’s mercy and His patience:

“But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.”

Several Psalms also speak to the slowness of God’s anger and His merciful patience.

One such example is Psalm 145:8 which says, “The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”

I invite you to look at these next few verses in light of repentance and God’s mercy. Remember repentance is a turning away from sin and turning toward God’s steadfast love, God’s grace, and God’s mercy:

Ezekiel 18:32 “For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”

Ezekiel 33:11 “Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?”

1 Timothy 2:4 “who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Joel 2:13 “Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.”

Ok, we’ve looked at this parable. We see Jesus’ teaching on the need for repentance and the truth of God’s mercy and grace and patience. But what does it really mean for us today?

Well, the Lord’s delay in returning is actually a matter of urgency for the Church, which He has called to spread the Gospel of repentance and salvation.

Listen to the what Peter said to the early Church in Acts 2:38:

“And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

We are a church of repentance and salvation.

We are a baptizing church in which God grows His Kingdom.

We are a church that lives out the Great Commission to baptize and teach.

We are a church that confesses sins in repentance and receives the assurance of the forgiveness of sins.

We are a church that is strengthened and preserved in the one true faith through the forgiveness of sins.

Coming up in our service this morning, we will be partaking in the Lord’s Supper—the feast of forgiveness.

It is here where we see repentance and God’s mercy coming to fruition.

It is here at the Lord’s Table that He invites us to examine ourselves as repentant sinners in need of Him.

It is here in receiving the true body and blood of Jesus in, with, and under simple bread and wine that He nourishes our soul through God’s grace and forgiveness of sins.

It is here this morning that we receive that which Jesus won for us on the cross when He—the vinedresser—did the work in saving us in according to God the Father’s merciful and gracious will for us.

My friends, my brothers and sisters in Christ, when you hear the words that Pastor Dan will say when he consecrates these elements of the means of grace…when he says Jesus’ body was broken for you and Jesus’ blood was shed for you…know with all certainty and assurance that the vinedresser has worked salvation for you because God has forgiven your sins.

I am here this morning to tell you, your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Please pray with me.

Lord, we come to You this morning thanking You for Your mercy and grace and patience.

We come to You with repentant hearts that want to turn away from sin and turn toward living an abundant life in Your grace.

We come to Your Table thanking You for giving us the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.

We pray this in the name of Jesus, Your Vinedresser, Your Son, and our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Lord, we lift up those who have lost loved ones. Give them comfort and peace as they grieve with hope in the promise of the Resurrection.

Lord, we lift up those who are battling sickness and illness. You are the Great Physician, and we pray that You would bring healing to them according to Your will.

Lord, we lift up those who serve as first responders. Protect those who You have called to protect your creation. Keep safe, protect, and strengthen our military men and women, our police officers, our fire fighters, our medical personnel, our teachers and administrators .

Lord, we ask that You calm the anxious, heal the hurt, invigorate the tired, and empower the weak.

We place these and all things into Your hands and providential care.

We pray this in the name of Jesus, Your Vinedresser, Your Son, and our Lord and Savior. Amen.