The Fig Tree

Background: Call to Repentance

Luke 13:1–5 NLT

1 About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple. 2 “Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?” Jesus asked. “Is that why they suffered? 3 Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God. 4 And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem? 5 No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too.”

perish = G622 - hell

The Barren Fig Tree – 3 years, 3 opportunities

Luke 13:6 NLT

6 Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed.

Owner = God

Gardener = Jesus

Fig tree = Israel

Planted = Echo

(ESV = had) = G2192 = ECHO = “to be” (like Him)

Life Lesson: God wants us to sound like Him

Fig tree = Israel

· Adam and Eve sewed fig leaves to cover themselves after the fall

· valuable product – food, medicine

· sign of peace and prosperity

Garden = vineyard

“again and again to see if there was ANY” (fruit) = G2212

· seek for in order to find

· demand something from someone

· desire

· crave

Life Lesson: God expects positive results from our lives

· He’s seeking in order to find it – it should be easy to find and obvious

· We re to be a lamp on a stand, city on a hill, living epistles – read and known of all men…

· Even a single one…

Natural fruit symbolizes personal and national fruit (or church fruit)

· fig tree - Bears 3 times a year

o Early ripe fig – June – drops as soon as it ripens – Nahum 3:12

o Summer fig – August

o Winter fig – green fig - ripens in spring

Personal Fruit = results

· Fruit = G2590 result

o Natural = fruit of one’s property – trees, vines or fields – nature should respond, bring results

o Family = fruit of one’s relationships (loins) – children should respond, bring results

o Spiritual = fruit of one’s heart - praises due to God

§ God is rarely ever given the praise He is due from His investment in humanity

“he was always disappointed” = G3756 = ouch

· Like any father, God loves us as people but can be disappointed with our behavior at the same time.

Luke 13:7 NLT

7 Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’

· Finally He said = G3004 – command, direct

o Spiritual principle: Unfruitfulness changed the direction!

· Gardener = G289 = vinedresser = Jesus

o Husbandman—one whose business it is to cultivate the ground. It was one of the first occupations, and was esteemed most honourable (Gen. 9:20; 26:12, 14; 37:7, etc.). All the Hebrews, except those engaged in religious services, were husbandmen.

· Waited

o G2212 – seek in order to find

o G2064 – make one’s appearance – show itself

o G575 – separation until fellowship is destroyed

· 3 years – patient opportunities

o Prophetic number of completion

o 3 years = Length of Jesus’ ministry – enough time for Israel to recognize Him as Lord

Life Lesson: Grace does not guarantee infinite opportunities

· Hasn’t been a single fig = G3756 – OUCH

o No when yes was expected

o from a total of 9 possible harvests – WOW

· Cut it down = G1581 – cut off occasion

o sentence passed, time expired – the return as no longer worth the investment

o cut your losses – boundaries – line is drawn

o wisdom protects from perpetual failure

· Taking up space in the garden = G 2673 – unemployed, inactive, inoperative (out of order?)

o No more influence, no power

o Inefficient – like the 10 talents given more

o To do away with

Luke 13:8 NLT

8 “The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer.

Intercession – dealing, buying more time, mercy – similar to when Abraham convinced God from destroying the city of Sodom if there were 10 righteous people in the city.

Give it One more chance – leave it one more year = permission for 3 harvest opportunities

I’ll give it special attention

· G906 - to give over to one’s care uncertain about the result[1]

· Special attention = G4626 – Dig around

and plenty of fertilizer

· G2874 = manure

Life Lesson: God’s help should be appreciated, no matter the form.

Luke 13:9 NLT

9 If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’ ”

· If we get figs = G4160 – work, bear, fulfill, perform, produce, commit

· Grace – bonus time – 4th year

· delayed but not denied

· If = conditional – outcome is based on performance

· Apparent Agreement – “man” did not refuse the request of the gardener

End of the story = BAD – no figs

Israel rejected Jesus as Messiah after his 3-year ministry with them.

“tree” of Israel was “cut down” in AD 70 by the Roman empire – Temple destroyed, Jews driven into exile for 1900 years.

· Israel cut down, but not cut off – roots remain

· Church age –

o Gentile branches grafted in until the natural Jewish branches are grafted back in

· (Romans 11) All Israel saved in the end!

[1]Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.