Fruitless

Intro

There is a common refrain throughout the Scripture: both testaments record the story arc of God’s people being fruitless. You see it with Israel as prophet after prophet decries the immoral behavior of God’s chosen nation. Isaiah tells of a vineyard planted and given every advantage by the Vine-dresser, yet it still did not produce good grapes. Amos laments the poor produce of a people who would rather oppress the poor and downtrodden than live justly before God.

And the New Testament church is not immune, either. The congregation at Corinth, for example, has major problems. The Ephesian church is doing great, except for that whole “you have left your first love” part, and the church at Laodicea is so far off track, that Jesus has nothing good to say to them!

Simply put, God calls us as his people to bear fruit. This morning, we’ll see two things that are barren: a fig tree and a group of people. Neither should be. Both serve as a warning to us against the sin of fruitlessness. Read with me in Luke 13:1-9.

This is God’s Word, and if you let it, it will change your life.

Luke 13:1–9 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.” 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.’ ”

Pray

Last week, we saw Jesus teaching about being ready. He is coming back, and we need to be ready for his return. Immediately after the parables about being ready, he addresses some related topics. He tells them that he did not come to bring peace (the holding hands and singing “Kumbaya” type), but division. Families would be divided because of Christ’s character - either you follow him whole-heartedly, or you deny him vehemently. There is no “straddling the line” or “sitting on the fence” with Christ.

This is an important point of it’s own. We like things to be mix-and-match. I like some of this, and some of that, that kind of thing. Just yesterday we got the kids snow cones, and all of them got a mix of flavors. We want to pick and choose what we like. That often happens spiritually, too. We want a little bit of this belief and little bit of that - some works here, but some faith when it’s too hard. But Christ will have none of that. He is all-or-nothing.

You cannot mix-and-match when it comes to Christ. You must be fully devoted to him, fully trusting in his righteousness instead of your own. Fully obedient to his Words. All, or nothing. That’s how it goes with Christ. You cannot be the master of that relationship - either he is Lord or he is not. That’s how Christ divides - some will give him all, but some withhold from him - and he will accept nothing less than everything. Are you holding anything back from Jesus?

Then, after talking about how he brings division, Christ questions why the crowd can tell what the weather will be like, but can’t read the “weather” of current events. They know when rain or heat is coming, but they are oblivious to the signs of the times, that the Messiah is standing in front of them. They are experts in the minors, and completely blinded to the most important event in human history, unfolding right in front of them!

There’s another sermon here, too! How can we get such details down to a science and yet be so clueless? I say we, but I have to confess I’m bad about this one. I get so nit-picky that I miss the most important things. I see the needles on the pine tree, and miss the tree itself! God help me not focus so close on the miniscule that I miss the big things you’re doing! Help us all, Lord!

Jesus continues, pointing out that it’s just foolish to let someone take you to court when you can settle along the way. Don’t be so willing to keep your pride in tact that you face the full brunt of judgment - judgment that you desire by the way. Admit your wrong and settle with the accuser and it will be much better for you.

All of this brings us to chapter 13, where this same line - getting yourself ready for his return - dominates the conversation. The crowd interrupts his teaching:

Luke 13:1 ESV

1 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

In all of the prior verses, the crowd begins to get a feeling of justification. “After all,” they might have thought, “I’m not that bad. I’m better than...” That is a dangerous game to play in the face of God’s wrath. To claim that you are righteous because you are not “as bad as” someone else is to put yourself directly into harm’s way.

We don’t know the details of the incident with these Galileans. Perhaps they were participating in the Passover sacrifices, and Roman guards killed them on the spot. Perhaps they were making some other offering as they were killed. What we do know is that, as they were offering some sacrifices, Pilate had them executed.

What also seems sure is that Jesus’ audience felt like these Galileans got what they deserved. I know this because of Jesus’ response:

Luke 13:2 ESV

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?

These people had a misconception about the judgment of God. They believed that God had to judge men based on their works here on earth. In other words, when these Galileans died such horrible, ignoble deaths, they were receiving judgment for the sins they had committed. If they had only been better people, these men would argue, then they would not have been killed so cruelly.

That logic has a major flaw, and Jesus addresses it in verse 3:

Luke 13:3 ESV

3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

Their flaw was in their self-justification. They thought that the others deserved judgment, but they failed to realize that they deserve judgment too. They saw the sins and faults of those Galileans, or those Samaritans, or those other lame, or those others, but missed their own sins and faults. They stood condemned by God, and yet were self-righteous to the point that they were blinded to their own errors. And those errors, those sins, must be punished.

The call of Jesus is clear here - repent, or perish. It’s not, “Repent or you’ll be sorry.” It’s not, “Repent so I don’t have to punish you.” It’s not, “Please repent…pleeee-ase!” It’s the simple choice between repentance over their sins or the judgment of God that they deserve. Period.

And that judgment is visible even among Jerusalemites:

Luke 13:4–5 ESV

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.”

It’s not just those who suffer in this life that are in need of repentance. ALL of us need to repent. Every single one of us needs to repent of sin before God.

Psalm 53:1–3 ESV

1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good. 2 God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. 3 They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.

Paul, after quoting several Psalms and other passages saying this same thing, concludes:

Romans 3:20 ESV

20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

How much more true is that of those who know God’s law and are unable to fulfill it! How much more true is it, that those who are “closest” to God, who know him well and who have heard his voice, and yet still refuse to obey, how much more condemned are we who claim to know him yet deny him by our fruitless works of flesh?

I use that word “fruitless” because the idea of a tree bearing fruit drives the point home. Jesus makes this analogy to show us what we are like:

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.’ ”

The fig tree has had time to grow. The ground is good. It seems that the man is a capable vinedresser, and the owner of the vineyard has every reason to expect that this tree will bear fruit. But it doesn’t, and but for the vinedresser’s intervention, that tree would be chopped down.

You see, a fig tree that doesn’t bear figs is worthless. It might be a strong tree, it might be tall and have nice leaves, and even be good for some shade, but that’s not the purpose of this tree - it’s purpose is to bear fruit.

Your purpose is to bear fruit.

John 15:1–2 ESV

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

John 15:8 ESV

8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

John 15:16 ESV

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

Colossians 1:9–10 ESV

9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Jeremiah 17:7–8 ESV

7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. 8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

When we trust in the Lord, when we do the works of righteousness, when we are obedient to him and his commands, we will bear fruit. But when we don’t - when we trust in our own righteousness (which Isaiah reminds us is like dirty rags), when we do the works of sin, when we disobey his commands and seek our own desires, we are fruitless and are destined for destruction. We are the fruitless fig tree that is threatened. We are the “people of God” who are really condemned by the very sins which we decry in others and are blind to their presence in us.

We must repent of our fruitlessness before the judgment of God renders us fruitless for all eternity!