The Parable of the Unfruitful Fig Tree

We are continuing our series of parables of Jesus. Whenever Jesus wanted to bring clarity to the truths of the Kingdom of God he used word pictures or illustrations called parables. The word parable means literally “to cast alongside.” In other words, the stories of the parables are not the truths in of themselves, but rather they are cast alongside truth to bring clarity and illuminate the truth in a way that you would not be able to recognize without the truth and the parable side by side. As I said before, parables are not morals. In fact, they're not meant to teach morals. They are meant to show you what the Kingdom of God is like.

As I always say, the parables Jesus taught were taught in context of something. This parable is no different. The parable that we're going to study is found in Luke chapter 13 verses 6 through 9. However, the 1st 5 verses of Luke give us some context of why Jesus taught this parable.

Luke 13:1–5 ESV

1 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 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? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

The Parable of the Unfruitful Fig Tree

What Jesus is explaining here is two tragedies near the Temple and The Pool of Siloam where several people were killed. We don't have a secular or gospel references to what Jesus is referring to, but obviously his disciples knew. It appears there was some kind of disturbance between some Galileans and Pontius Pilate. The result was a massacre, probably ensued by the Romans.

Jesus is making two points by referencing these the events. First, Jesus wants his disciples to get away from the performance-trap mindset when it comes to the things of God. It is tempting to explain away tragedy to the judgment of God. Jesus tells his disciples not to make that quick and hasty assumption. In other words, events like these do not make the victims sinners who deserve to die more than everyone else.

The Parable of the Unfruitful Fig Tree

The second point that Jesus is making is what leads him to tell the parable. And the point is with the issue of repentance. Repentance is a change of mind that results in a change of action. It literally means to turn around. And Jesus is highlighting the importance of repentance. Life is fleeting and can quickly be taken away. Whether you’re from Galilee or Jerusalem, a Pharisee or a Zealot, whether you are from Maryland or California, a Baptist or a Brethren. It doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor, young or old; whether you think of yourself as a sinner or a saint or even if you don’t want to believe there is a God; you are under God’s judgment unless you repent and have faith in Jesus.

Now we come to the Parable of the Unfruitful Fig Tree:

Luke 13:6–9 ESV

6 And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 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?’ 8 And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’ ”

Living on Borrowed Time

There is an idiom that goes, “he is living on borrowed time.” It means that someone is continuing to survive against expectations. For instance, doctors may tell you, because of heart disease or a certain diagnosis that death is imminent so make the best of the life you have left. You are living on borrowed time. For someone living a life apart from the redemption of Jesus Christ, they are essentially dead men walking, or they are living on borrowed time.

Romans 3:23 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Living on Borrowed Time

Death is universal. It can come in all stages of life and at all ages. We do not know when will be our last moment here on earth. We are living essentially on borrowed time. We could die suddenly from a heart attack. We could die slowly from a disease. We could face some sort of unforeseen calamity to come and take us. We never know when we might be the victim of some outrageous violence. Just like the situations that Jesus talked about in the first 5 verses.

The question we often ask when something like that happens, is why did God allow it to happen? The real question we need to ask is why does God allow us to continue to live? And the response to that question goes deep into the heart of God Because we're all living on borrowed time. Because the reality is we should all be in hell, but God desires for us to repent. This is the urgency that Jesus is trying to convey. He is preaching evangelistically.

Living on Borrowed Time

Jesus is saying that forgiveness is before you and in order to receive that forgiveness you're going to have to abandon false religion in the false hope and sin. You're going to have to fear God and not man. You're going to need to confess him as Lord and receive the Holy Spirit. You're need to turn away from loving the world and the material things of this world and set your heart on the Kingdom of God. And the urgency today is even greater than the day Jesus preached this parable. Because Jesus could call his church home at any minute and the opportunity will be over.

So Jesus is telling his disciples, the tragedy isn't in the tower falling over or being killed by Pilate’s soldiers. The tragedy is leaving this world without putting your faith in God and repenting. It's all borrowed time. Why does God allow us to live? The answer is because God is gracious and he's merciful. God is compassionate towards sinners and he holds back from us what we do deserve. We call that common grace. It's a universal blessing to give us time to repent.

Psalm 86:15 ESV

15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

Psalm 103:17–18 ESV

17 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, 18 to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.

Evidence of Repentence

The evidence Of repentance is fruitfulness and faithfulness. The evidence of Christ working in you is godly fruit; The Fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is a desire to please the Master who saved you and redeemed you.

But there is also a limit to God’s patience. God also said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” (Genesis 6:3).

Hosea 4:7 ESV

7 The more they increased, the more they sinned against me; I will change their glory into shame.

Amos 4:12 ESV

12 “Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel!”

Romans 2:4–5 ESV

4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

Romans 1:24–28 ESV

24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. 28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

God's patience Toward Man

So Jesus tells us the parable of the unfruitful fig tree. It is a parable of God's patience towards man. Fig trees grew to a height of 25 feet. They were full and dense and their leafing, growing fruit about the size of a small plum. Fig trees grew really well in Israel and were a great source of food. When cultivated properly they would produce a large quantity of fruit. The farmers would need to care for the soil, make sure it was receiving proper water, and fertilizing around the tree.

So when the owner of a vineyard sees a grand fig tree not producing any fruit, there is great disappointment.

Luke 13:7 ESV

7 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?’

To the farmer a fruitless fig tree is useless. All it is doing is taking up ground. So he tells the gardener just to cut the tree down. But the gardener asks for mercy on the tree.

Luke 13:8 ESV

8 And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure.

“Don't cut it down now give me some time. Let me fertilize it and cultivate it and care for it.” In other words, give it one more chance. Just another shot. Now this isn't a request to do something that hasn't been done before. The gardener would have been caring for this tree since it was planted. He's not asking the owner to allow him to do something that's never been done to the tree before. He's only asking for more time. In other words, the tree is on borrowed time.

Luke 13:9 ESV

9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’ ”

That's the end of the parable. The grammar here is very dramatic. It is an if-then phrase. We have no idea in the parable what happens to the tree. We are left with a condition that remains unresolved. It is the condition that we must decide for ourselves because the parable is about a solitary tree. The ball has been tossed into your court. Will you be fruitful or fruitless.

The Parable also has national implications in reference to Israel. Either way the whole thing is pointing to God's patience. God is being patient with the individual and God is being patient with his nation Israel.

Amos 9:11–15 ESV

11 “In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old, 12 that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations who are called by my name,” declares the Lord who does this. 13 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when the plowman shall overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed; the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it. 14 I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit. 15 I will plant them on their land, and they shall never again be uprooted out of the land that I have given them,” says the Lord your God.

Romans 9:4–5 ESV

4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

Fruitlessness Will be Judged

Secondly those who have no spiritual fruit will face certain judgment. If there's no spiritual life in you that comes through the life of Jesus in you then you will face eternal judgment for that. Those who bear no spiritual fruit will be cut down and cast into the fire.

Matthew 7:19 ESV

19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

John 15:6 ESV

6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

Time is Shorter Than You Think

Third, time is much shorter than you think. Judgment is near. In other words, you are getting your ‘one more chance’ at this moment. The sand is running fast out of the hourglass. The timer is almost completed. The tree had its whole life and for the last three years it has produced nothing. I'm going to give it a little more time. God's given you a little more time

God’s Patience is Limited

Lastly, borrowed time is not permanent. God's patience is not permanent. This parable clearly underscores these points. In fact, it's unmistakable. Every day you're alive is a merciful act from God. But, his patience is not permanent. We can look around in the world to day and we can clearly see the signs of the times. We clearly know the season we are in.

Isaiah 55:6–7 ESV

6 “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; 7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

2 Corinthians 6:2 ESV

2 For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

John 7:33 ESV

33 Jesus then said, “I will be with you a little longer, and then I am going to him who sent me.

John 8:21 ESV

21 So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.”

ABC’s of Salvation