Parable of the Barren Fig Tree
Luke 13:6-9, “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. 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.’
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. 9 If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’”
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What, on earth, does this parable mean?
Why do you think Jesus didn’t explain it?
First, let’s read the context.
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Luke 13:1-5, “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.”
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When we search for things on the internet, there are some non-negotiables you have to remember:
The Bible is true.
Jesus is the perfect son of God.
God is good.
Search:
“garden and vineyard symbolism in the Bible”
“fig symbolism in the Bible”
“the gardener in the Bible”
“the law regarding first fruits, Leviticus 19:23-25
Candace’s notes:
I think we need to focus on the grace of this passage, rather than the “punishment”. This parable reflects Jesus offering a chance for repentance and forgiveness of sin, showing his grace toward his believers. The fig tree was also given the chance to be IN the vineyard, or garden, where it otherwise would not have been. Fig trees were typically off to the wayside, along roads, not really cultivated and planned out.
The church of God his his vineyard, distinguished from the common, with a fence around it. We are fig-trees planted in this vineyard by our baptism; we have a place and a name in the visible church, and this is our privilege and happiness. To be placed in GOOD SOIL!
The law of first fruits forbids eating fruit from a tree in its first three years. The gardener may have disposed of the fruit, either by plucking it at an early stage or dropping it for compost, to prevent anyone from inadvertently eating the forbidden fruit. He could be an observant Jew and the owner is not, unfamiliar with the laws of first fruits. Now that the tree is entering its productive period, the gardener has saved it from the ax, without letting the master know what happened to the earlier fruit. (another surprise coming though, because in the 4th year, all fruit goes to God)
I also think the fact that the owner checks fruit himself is significant. I think God is the owner, in this parable, and Jesus is the gardener. He doesn’t send someone else, he go himself to find the fruit. The God of heaven requires and expects fruit from those that have a place in his vineyard. He has his eye upon those that enjoy the Gospel, to see whether they live up to it; he seeks evidences of their getting good by the means of grace they enjoy. Leaves will not serve, crying Lord, Lord; blossoms will not serve, beginning well and promising fair; there must be fruit.
When disappointed though, the owners reaction is severe. He found none, none at all, not one fig. It is sad to think how many enjoy the privileges of the Gospel, and yet do nothing at all to the honor of God, not to answer the end of his entrusting them with those privileges; and it is a disappointment to him and a grief to the Spirit of his grace.
He only expected fruit—not MUCH fruit, and he wasn’t hasty! THREE YEARS! Year after year he came. If you apply this to the Jews of Jesus’ day, he came one space of time before the captivity, another after that, and another in the preaching Joh the Baptist, and of Christ Himself. OR—it could allude to the three years of Christ’s public ministry, which were now coming to an end. God is LONG-suffering, and patient. His patience is abused.
Lack of fruit in a tree means taking up space that a fruit-bearing tree COULD be taking. So, it not only didn’t bring fruit, but it hurt the overall fruit-bearing of the entire garden. Those who do not do good, do hurt, by the influence of their bad example; they grieve and discourage those that are good; they harden and encourage those that are bad. And the mischief is the greater, and the ground more cumbered, if it be a high, large spreading tree, and if it be an old tree of long standing.
What else could you do to a tree that has been tended, watered, pruned, and waited upon, but to cut it down? It doesn’t seem so harsh when you put it that way. There is nothing more to be done, except continue to wait. And waiting is hurting the rest of the garden. But Jesus, our gardener, still asks for more grace for us.
Ultimately, I think Jesus was issuing a warning to the Jewish people—God’s people. They would be given more time to produce fruit—only because Jesus was interceding for them…but God’s patience wouldn’t last forever. Our takeaway can be the same. We must produce fruit, because God cares deeply about fruitfulness, but we don’t have to do it alone.
So, now application.
What would producing fruit have looked like to the audience Jesus was speaking to?
What does producing fruit mean to us today?
Spend some time in prayer asking God how you can produce fruit in your life right now.
Google “fruit in the Bible” and read the passages that come up.