Continuing with our experience in learning about the Kingdom of Heaven with Jesus, this week we get a bit more bazaar parable, that of a Barren Fig Tree. Sometime there are some strange readings in the Bible and we just continue on reading looking for something to grab on to. We must realize that Jesus was not just some babbling guy that randomly threw things out to show his intellect. As we learn more we begin to realize that “his thoughts are not our thoughts”. This week, when we learn about this interaction, we get so much more of life with Jesus. It
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. 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.’ ” – Luke 13:6-9 NLT
What is your take on the parable? What can we learn from a dead tree and a talk in the garden?
As we have learned over the years, just taking a story such as this can be shallow and possibly misinterpreted. It was not like Jesus had 90 seconds and gave this story. It had to do with interactions in community and dialog through life. For this exact reason we need to put this quick parable into context. Let us remember the difference between a parable and an allegory.
Allegories are meant to provide specific details about a variety of things, each having significance, and detail. Parables are more of a grey/fuzzy representation of an overall concept. One should not focus on the details and lose the focus of the moral to the story.
For this week, we need to back up and put this parable into context to understand what brought about Jesus quick training. Let’s rewind to the beginning of the chapter.
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.” – Luke 13:1-5 NLT
Does this provide any assistance when referring to a barren tree?
There are two incidents captured in this section, the murder of some people in a church and some others killed by a tower falling on them. Almost like a couple quick stories we might catch on the evening news.
In both of the news stories there is on commonality. People died. In the first case, there were some pilgrims who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover had been butchered by Roman troops in the temple while they were slaying their sacrifices. In the second case, some people were accidentally crushed to death by falling masonry.
Jesus was using the real-life news they had heard to ask his disciples about their own behavior and to make it clear that all people will be facing death, some inflicted by others and some by accident. In both cases, the people were Jewish, thought to be set apart, but both groups died.
Two brief pieces of teaching stress the need for response to the crisis brought about by the coming of Jesus. The Jewish nation as a whole was sinful in God’s sight, and its members would all suffer the fate of sinners if they did not repent. Some people can miss Jesus point that our physical life in this world is not his focus, it is our life in Christ that is being referenced, because we are all mortal and will die a physical death because of Adam.
Now looking at the fig tree, Jesus continues on with the same topic. As a parable, not an allegory. He wants to bring the moral to the story into light.
The situation of the nation was like that of a tree that produced no fruit. It was fit only for destruction, and the ground which it occupied could then be used for a healthy tree.
There are 3 symbolic entities in the story of the barren fig tree. Can you capture them and describe their meaning/significance?
The Who…
The three entities 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, us.
But just as the owner was prepared to feed it and give it another chance, so God was prepared to allow Israel an opportunity for repentance. If the people failed to respond, their fate would be their own responsibility.
Timing in the Details
As the story unfolds, we see the vineyard owner, God, 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 opposed and renounced their belief. 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.
The Intercessor
However, we see the gardener, Jesus, 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.
The Lesson
The lesson for the individual is that borrowed time is not permanent. God’s patience has a limit. In the parable, the vineyard owner, Jesus, 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,
6Seek the LORD while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. 7Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. – Isaiah 55:6-7
Next week we continue with more teaching from Jesus with a similar topic of “The Good Fig Tree”.
Marshall, I. H. (1994). Luke. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 1002). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press.
Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Lk 13:6–9). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.