PARABLE 10 - Unfruitful Fig Tree

PARABLE 10 — LUKE 13:6-9 — UNFRUITFUL FIG TREE

                  

6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: 9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

Discussion Questions – Parable 10

PARABLE 10 – LUKE 13:6-9 – UNFRUITFUL FIG TREE 

1. What is the context in which Jesus tells the parable of the barren fig tree?

What we are given for today is the parable from Jesus about a fig tree planted in a vineyard. It sounds unnatural for a fig tree to be planted in a vineyard, but it seems that it wasn’t all that strange after all. Figs, along with grapes, have been altogether quite familiar in Israel from of old; they have been used as tree stands letting the grape vines be entwined upon them. Well, because [this one in our story] was planted in the good earth of the vineyard, it was expected to be fruitful. But yet, there stood the fig tree fruitless for years. Jesus began to speak as follows: “A certain man planted a fig tree in a vineyard, but when he came to look for its fruit, he didn’t find any,” (verse six). So, finally, the owner of the vineyard ordered the garden keeper to chop that tree down. Better Chop It Down! 

First, let’s listen to the words of the owner of the vineyard. He says, “Even though already for three years I have been coming to search for fruit on this fig tree, I have never found any at all. So, chop it down. Why let the ground be plugged up for this?” (vs. 7). 

Just before this parable the following words are found. “Unless you all repent, you will perish the same way,” (vs. 5). In other words, this parable is given in the context of “the judgment of God.” 

2. In this parable, who are the characters represented by the fig tree, the owner, and the gardener? What do the figs (or fruit) represent? 

The three characters represented in the story all have clear symbolic significance. The vineyard owner represents God, the one who rightly expects to see fruit on His tree and who justly decides to destroy it when He finds none. The gardener, or vineyard keeper who cares for the trees, watering and fertilizing them to bring them to their peak of fruitfulness, represents Jesus, who feeds His people and gives them living water. The tree itself has two symbolic meanings: the nation of Israel and the individual.

3. What eventually happens? Is the tree cut down? Does the owner give it another year? If so, does it bear fruit? 

As the story unfolds, we see the vineyard owner expressing his disappointment at the fruitless tree. He has looked for fruit for three years from this tree, but has found none. The three-year period is significant because for three years John the Baptist and Jesus had been preaching the message of repentance throughout Israel. But the fruits of repentance were not forthcoming. John the Baptist warned the people about the Messiah coming and told them to bring forth fruits fit for repentance because the ax was already laid at the root of the tree (Luke 3:8-9). But the Jews were offended by the idea they needed to repent, and they rejected their Messiah because He demanded repentance from them. After all, they had the revelation of God, the prophets, the Scriptures, the covenants, and the adoption (Romans 9:4-5). They had it all, but they were already defected. They had departed from the true faith and the true and living God and created a system of works-righteousness that was an abomination to God. He, as the vineyard owner, was perfectly justified in tearing down the tree that had no fruit. The Lord’s ax was already poised over the root of the tree, and it was ready to fall. 

However, we see the gardener pleading here for a little more time. There were a few months before the crucifixion, and more miracles to come, especially the incredible miracle of the raising of Lazarus from the dead, which would astound many and perhaps cause the Jews to repent. As it turned out, Israel as a nation still did not believe, but individuals certainly did (John 12:10-11). The compassionate gardener intercedes for more time to water and fertilize the fruitless tree, and the gracious Lord of the vineyard responds in patience.

Jesus is still interceding for us, “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one – for Christ died, yea rather, was raised to life, who is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us (Romans 8:33-34).

4. What is the message of this parable? 

The lesson for the individual is that borrowed time is not permanent. God's patience has a limit. In the parable, the vineyard owner grants another year of life to the tree. In the same way, God in His mercy grants us another day, another hour, another breath. Christ stands at the door of each man’s heart knocking and seeking to gain entrance and requiring repentance from sin. But if there is no fruit, no repentance, His patience will come to an end, and the fruitless, unrepentant individual will be cut down. We all live on borrowed time; judgment is near. 

That is why the prophet Isaiah wrote, "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon" (Isaiah 55:6-7).

As mentioned at the beginning, this parable is given in the context of “God’s judgment.” When we think of how it is on God’s judgment, our thoughts inevitably turn to whether we will be chopped down or saved on “the last day.” However, the parable of Jesus draws our eyes so apt to turn to “the last day” back to “now, this hour.” For, the main thing is not “the last day, but “now, this hour” in which we stand under the intercession of Christ and are shown God’s mercy and patience. It is always the “now, this hour” that has do to with repentance. We must respond with gravity to this hour given to us as a gift of grace for now, for the very present moment. Paul had something to say on this, “Right now is the hour of grace; right now is the day of salvation,” (2 Corinthians 6:2). 

Read John 15:1-10

To know more about repentance - see my blog "What is Repentance?"