Parable of barren Fig Tree

Parable of barren Fig Tree (Lk13:1-9) Lesson 22, 4/3/24

Introduction:

We are in the midst of the warning and reward parables. We have looked at:

The unmerciful servant - all about forgiveness

The rich young fool - About greed and the temporal things of this world and the uncertainty of life

Today we look at a barren fig tree.

Audience: Seems we are still with the crowds as we saw (Lk12:1); He had spoken to them about God’s care for them, covetousness, to always be ready for the masters return. To be faithful, to be serving for when he returns there will be judgment, look for the sign of the times. Now he gets to this parable linked in with repentance.

Luke 13:1–9 NASB95

1 Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? 3 “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 “Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? 5 “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” 6 And He began telling this parable: “A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. 7 “And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’ 8 “And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; 9 and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’ ”

Background:

This parable is found only in Luke

The illustration used is a fig tree, this is very common in Israel, in fact it was often thought of as a symbol of God’s chosen people. The fig tree was very productive, produced 3-crops a year after being planted for 3-years. Fig trees provided dense foliage providing much needed shade in a hot, arid part of the world. (symbolically the shade, cover that God gives to us). Fig trees were often planted among vineyards, for they were much more certain than vines, and could be counted on to produce a crop, after the requisite 3-years.

Cause of this parable was the report given to Jesus (v.1) what had just transpired in Jerusalem. Jesus add’s in another incident

Problem could be there is no outside verifiable proof of these two things outside of the bible and this has been attacked by critics in the past.

The History does not record everything, nor does the bible expound on everything.

The Jews believed that these types of incidents occurred due to “sin” that caused sickness, disease and death. You can see Ezekiel-18 deals with this belief if you want to look there on your own. You can look at this applied belief in Jn9:1ff where Jesus deals with the man born blind from birth. People thought it was his or his parents sin.

Our parable the same question comes about, was this caused due to sin?

Jesus responds in a way they would not have expected it, and why in the warning parables in Womack’s book.

Marshall in his commentary says this regarding the question:

“The report of a tragedy in Jerusalem, though by Jesus’ hearers to be due to the especial sinfulness of those who had suffered in it, leads him to affirm that all of his hearers are equally in danger of divine judgment and to quote a further example from which the same point is repeated. This leads up to a parable indicating that, if Israel does not take the chance of repentance afforded by God’s patience, the day of reckoning will duly arrive.”

(Marshall: Commentary on Luke)

Explaining the text:

This is one of those instances where the illustrations used by Jesus are not found in extra-biblical resources. - Critics use this as a proof text that the bible is unreliable.

This is overcome by the fact that not everything makes history books, not all events.

The fig tree in a vineyard: I think I mentioned before that this was not uncommon in the time, in the region for one crop may fail and the other would succeed. It was not uncommon either for other fruit trees to be planted within a vineyard too. It conserved space, soil.

The mention of the Galileans and the victims of tower of Siloam both are called sinners, the people were thinking one was greater than the others and Jesus is pointing out sin is sin and sin is accounted for, maybe referring back to (Lk12:59) no one gets out til last penny is paid.

Jesus describes what the owner of the vineyard thought, (Lk13:7) and why does it even take up any soil if not doing what it would produce after the 3-years of waiting. He calls it useless, fruitless.

Useless, fruitless in taking nutrients from the ground

Useless, fruitless take it out and plant something else there, make better use of the ground

Womack in his commentary says” Is this not the same thing if we are fruitless for the kingdom? We use up energy that could be spent on others who are more valuable to the kingdom; and we are taking up space that could be more appropriately used by someone who is serious about serving God.” - - - - ouch, glad it does not stop there, I am sure you are too, that this parable does not stop on that note.

Purpose and application:

Owner asked for the tree to be cut down because it was useless

Trees cut down often because they do not fulfill their purpose. - for the fruit tree it was not producing fruit; was it providing shade yes, but it’s primary purpose was to produce fruit and it was not fulfilling it’s primary purpose

Trees cut down to meet a need - Lumber

Third, Womack states in summary trees are cut down because the space is needed for something else.

The owner wanted the tree removed because if hindered the land from being productive, the tree was fruitless, useless.

It is true the tree took nutrients from the ground that could be used for other plants, trees.

Maybe the same is true with inactive Christians too. Womack is pretty harsh in his comments.

They are more harmful than good. They take up time of church leaders and deprive others of the needed attention that the shepherds would provide to the hurting and the hungry

Second, they are often a reflection of the church because the non-believers look to them as examples of what Christians should be.

“We should not allow inactivity or unfruitfulness of Christians to sap the very energy out of the church.The owner in this parable, as well as his vinedresser, were disappointed with the tree because it had not done what it should.” - Womack

The master’s patience was worn out

He waited the 3-year period for it to be productive, and it was not

God has in past thought Israel was unproductive, unfruitful and was looking to give up, yet people like Abraham, Moses interceded pleading for another chance.

While all the above are true, God is still merciful to us and will give us another chance.

The vinedresser begged for another year to work on the tree.

Now the story does not show a response from the master, but from other passages we know God is longsuffering (insert 2Pt3:9).

Are we patient with others, helping to cultivate them to be fruitful for the kingdom?

Learning to live the parable:

OK, now I do not know about you, this parable is not as straight forward as many of the others with two illustrations that do not seem directly connected. It is clear about sin, faithfulness and fruitfulness. And, of course, we can all learn from that can’t we?

Lessons, we as the church can learn from this parable

Even God’s people can become useless. Remember the tree was planted, the tree grew, but the tree did not fulfill its intended purpose. Remember God saved us for a purpose (Turn to Eph2:10; and then Tit2:14)

Even as God’s children we need to be diligent, make an effort in exercising what God has given, what God has entrusted to us. His word, His gifts so to build His kingdom. We do not want to become fruitless or useless. We loose spiritual strength when we do not use it.

We can be lost even when we associate, are around, surrounded even other Christians.

Being in a garage does not make you a car

Though what we can do is associate ourselves with others that have the same aim, goal, energy, direction that we have to so encourage one another and strengthen one another.

If you are not diligent in protecting your faith you can slide back into the flesh, back into the world. So be diligent

There are lost among the church who need love, grace, mercy and yes, correction with love and respect to get them so they can be rooted in the truth and be fruitful for the kingdom and useful not useless.

Increase patience, understanding, longsuffering, mercy, forgiveness for the weak and the wayward, so to help them to cultivate a relationship with the Father through the Son

The vinedresser implored for more time, may we be ones who step in for others to help others to have the chance to respond to the gospel message and be saved

The vinedresser was already dealing with a tree planted with purpose and everything it needed to produce fruit, but it was not, the vinedresser was going to spend time cultivating the tree so it would fulfill its purpose

Finally, we all have a season of fruitfulness.

Each of us have the ability to be fruitful for the kingdom. It may be hard at times, discouraging that you do not see the fruit right away, but stay the course, do not give up.

Womack said “If we will cultivate and fertilize our lives with the word of God and the exercise of Christian living, we may be given a fertile future in serving God.”

May we be a fruit bearing tree, rooted in the truth, watered by God’s word and producing the fruit of love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, helping to lead others to come to know the Master.