THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 67. A Fruit-less Fig Tree and Its Patient Owner Luke 13:6-9 We are back in Luke s gospel for the first time since thanksgiving. We find ourselves in about the middle of the book, Luke 13:6 9. Luke introduced this teaching moment by placing it in a specific category of teaching style Luke 13:6 6 And he told this parable: PARABLE Literally: a throwing beside or placing of one thing by the side of another. Jesus loved to use parables. Jesus wanted men and women young and old to know the truth about Himself and the truth about His Kingdom; to know the truth about their own hearts their own spiritual condition. So, He would take something observable something commonly understood in everyday life and throw it alongside the truth He was desiring to teach. They were as short as one verse and as long as twenty-two verses. Depending upon how scholars technically define parables, Jesus taught by way of parable between thirty-five and sixty-seven times. In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, (the Synoptic Gospels), roughly 35 percent of Jesus teaching is in parable form. In fact, two-thirds of all the parables of Jesus are recorded in Luke. Eighteen parables of Jesus are unique to Luke. If the Holy Spirit hadn t inspired Luke to write this account of the life and mission of Jesus and then preserve it for us we d be missing these life-changing, heart revealing parables. And most of the parables happen between chapters 10 and 20 in Luke s gospel which is where we find ourselves this morning. Here in Luke 13, Jesus once again wants to get the human heart illustrate a very specific truth in a way that would expose the spiritual condition of the nation so that hearts would change. Just a few more things about parables. 1. We don t use parables to form doctrine parables are used to illustrate doctrine. 2. The point of a parable is not just information it s personal transformation. So when we come across a parable it s important that we insert ourselves into the story. We should ask Which
character in the story am I? 3. We don t want to assign our own meaning to the parable. Jesus is the one who assigns the meaning of the parable. Our job is to apply the meaning Jesus gives to the parable into our lives. That begs the question: How do we come to the meaning Jesus intends us to apply to our lives from a parable? We need to consider any Biblical references to the images used by Jesus. We need to consider the original audience because Jesus was using things they understood. We need to understand the original context the time and place He told the parable. What was happening leading up to the parable what prompted the parable. We need to ask questions about the parable. 1. What does this parable teach about God and his kingdom? Jesus is the King of an everlasting Kingdom where there is no more death, no more sin, no more sorrow. He came into history on a rescue mission to rescue us rebels from our doomed little Kingdoms of one. He lived without sin. He died for our sin. He rose as our savior. He s ascended into heaven. He s going to return and establish His Kingdom on the earth and then ultimately usher in a new heaven and a new earth where we will live in His presence forever. That s a big chunk to chew! So Jesus uses little parables to explain the massive truth about life under His rule in His forever Kingdom. 2. What question does the parable ask and answer? Twenty-two of Jesus parables begin with or include a question then Jesus uses the parable to answer the question. So, to understand a parable we have to determine what question is either stated or inferred through the story itself. 3. How does the parable end? What s the punch line? Some of the parables (like the one we re looking at this morning) are left wide open. When that happens as we insert ourselves into the story we say, Well, I guess the story of my life could go good or bad. The way I respond to this truth is going to have an impact on the ending of my story. What am I going to do? How will I respond? 4. What did Jesus want the original hearers to learn? You can t drop the parable into our time and culture. Remember the parable we re looking at this morning had a very real context. Jesus was walking from one town to another on His way to Jerusalem a trip that would take months. People were traveling with him others came out to see and hear Him along the way. In that collection of hearers many were illiterate. Some of them were children. A handful
were educated, religious people. He was speaking to a diverse audience in an ancient culture. What would they have originally and initially understood Jesus parable to mean? When we understand that we can make application to our lives in the 21 st century. THE LAST QUESTION is tied to the fact that the parable is not just about information, it s about transformation. It s not just about what we believe, it s about how we behave. Every parable is a call to action! 5. What action does Jesus expect from us? Jesus what do you want me to do? Jesus What do you want us to do? So here we go Luke 13:6-9 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. REPENTANCE AND FRUIT The Parable has a context. The Parable answers questions. The Parable teaches us about our King and His Kingdom. CONTEXT It was preceded by Jesus speaking about the urgent need to discern! The urgent need to reconcile! The urgent need repent! In fact, the last words of Jesus we looked at Luke s Gospel back in November were these: Luke 13:5 I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. On the heels of those words Jesus tells the parable of the fruitless fig tree! Jesus used familiar earthly images to illustrate heavenly truth relative to His urgent plea for repentance. A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.
Vineyards were a common, everyday sight in Israel. They also knew that a fig tree in a vineyard was not an uncommon thing. It was common knowledge that the owner of the vineyard would plant other fruit trees in his vineyard knowing they would provide a subtle addition of flavor to the wine. The people listening to this parable also knew that God used the metaphor of vineyards and fig trees to describe His relationship with Israel Isaiah 5:7 For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting; Hosea 9:10 Like grapes in the wilderness, I found Israel. Like the first fruit on the fig tree in its first season, I saw your fathers. Jesus carefully chose the image of the vineyard and the fig tree so that everyone understood that He was talking about the spiritual condition of the men and women who were descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as a nation and as individuals. A man had a fig tree The tree in the story was possessed by someone and planted. In that culture, you didn t own fruit trees for ornamental purposes. You purchased them for fruit and you planted them in soil that would support, nourish and enable growth and fruitfulness. The tree was exposed to the owner it stood out in his vineyard and the absence of fruit was obvious. Israel as a nation and every individual in it belonged to God. He had rescued them from bondage and death in Egypt and planted them in the land He had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He planted them to in the land to flourish in the relationship with God and shine as a light to the nations. But the absence of fruit was obvious to God. God had become man and was walking in His vineyard and saw the nation as a fruitless He saw individuals as fruitless. He made it very clear unless you repent you will all likewise perish. QUESTIONS ANSWERED The context of this parable implied the question of the parable: What does repentance look like? What is God looking for in my life? Repentance produces fruit! There is no such thing as repentance without fruit! If fruit does not show in one s life, judgment will come. Matthew 3:7-10 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the
wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father, for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. True repentance turning from idols to God results in a visible change. Follow me here. Paul tells us Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. It is faith in Jesus alone that saves, that reconciles us to God, who IS life. Repentance is an essential part of genuine faith. True faith in Jesus involves turning from idols. I must turn from whatever I ve gave been trusting in. cling to and relying upon to save me and instead trust in, cling to, rely upon Jesus to save me. When that happens, I m reconciled to God and brought into a living relationship with Jesus who IS life! I m united to the King of the Kingdom. Jesus, the King of the Kingdom, is the vine, and we, repenting rebels become citizens, are branches in the vine. Even as the life of the vine is in the branches, the life of our King is in us. So we re not saved by trying to change trying to produce good fruit. We re saved to a life of fruitfulness by faith in Jesus. Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Once you meet Jesus you become fruitful because the life of Jesus is in you producing fruit (the love of Jesus, the grace of Jesus, the mercy of Jesus, the compassion of Jesus). You become increasingly fruitful as you grow deeper in your abiding relationship with Jesus. That fruit bearing relationship with Jesus was so important that He spoke about to His dearest friends just hours before He would die on the cross to save (John 15). If there is no visible change that person is like this fig-less fig tree.
6 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 REMEMBER verse 5 I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. The parable not only tells us that repentance produces the fruit of a changed life it tells us why Jesus was so urgent in pleading for them to repent! The alternative is certain and inevitable judgment! 6 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? Write this down: FRUITLESS and USELESS God created us to bear His image and reflect His glory in this world. Rather than finding our identity in our relationship with God we tried to find life and ultimate meaning by living for our own kingdom and our own glory over and against His kingdom and His glory. Jesus is the true King who came to rescue the very ones who rebelled against Him. The true King came to die for the traitors! The true King pressed upon us the urgency to repent abdicate the throne of our lives that belong to Jesus by right of creation and redemption. UNTIL we repent of our betrayal repent of being the self-appointed sovereign of our lives we are USELESS. Not only USELESS we re exhausting the soil we suck the life out of the world around us. Am I bearing fruit, or just taking up space exhausting the soil around me? Warren Wiersbe put it like this Is it worth it to God for me to be alive? REMEMBER Parables teach us about the Kingdom of God. This parable is so rich in what it tells us about Jesus the True and Forever King! AGAIN They understood planting and growing and they understood harvesting of grapes and figs. They knew that according to Leviticus 19:23 25, fruit from newly planted trees was not to be eaten the first three years. Then the fruit of year four belonged to the Lord. They knew that the farmer would not get any figs for himself until the fifth year so the farmer in the story had now been waiting for this tree to produce figs for seven years! He had waited a LONG time for that tree to produce fruit! No wonder he wanted to cut down it down.
The Parable of the fruitless fig tree teaches us that there is hope for the fruitless because Jesus is so good patient! In the parable the keeper of the vineyard said Sir, let it alone this year also In the parable, the gardener asks to have the tree spared but Jesus pleads; not with His mouth but with his pierced hands and feet, and side! Father, let him/her have one more sickness; one more conviction on the conscience, one more failure, one more breakdown so they will turn and live 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. There s a guy I know who pastors in Murrieta (I met him while I was a high school pastor and his high school group joined us in our camps) He came across this graphic little fable. A bird froze in flight and dropped with a thud to the ground. A cow came along and dumped (what cows dump) right on the bird. The warmth of what the cow dumped thawed the bird out. The bird started to whistle and a cat heard him dug him out of the dung and promptly ate him. He said he learned two lessons from the fable 1. Not everyone that dumps on you is your enemy! 2. Not everyone that digs you out of manure is your friend. So while you re in manure, keep your mouth shut! Some of us have a lot of manure lot of manure in our life: suffering, hardship, chronic pain, loss, failure, trials. It just stinks. OUR DEFAULT is to say God, how come you don t love me? How come you re not good to me? How come you don t care about me? How come you re not helping me? God loves you so much that He is actually doing what the caretaker did He s digging around the roots of your life and putting manure on your roots because He wants you to be fruitful He doesn t want you to perish. He has a whole lot of figs in your future. Some might say, You have no idea how much manure I have. Well then you have no idea how many figs are going to come. God has a big harvest of fruitfulness and righteousness and ministry and testimony and service for you.
The manure means that He s going to cut you down right now. It means that He s at work in you to see you repent and bear fruit. AGAIN the question is not What happened to the tree? but What will happen to me? God is gracious and long-suffering toward people. He does more than enough to encourage us to repent and bear fruit. He has had every right to cut us down, but in His mercy, He has spared us. 2 Peter 3:9 NLT The Lord isn t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. Jeremiah 3:21-22 NKJV This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. 22 Through the Lord s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. God IS longsuffering He does suffer long with us but we must never presume upon the kindness and long-suffering of the Lord, for the day of judgment will finally come. Romans 2:4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? Romans 2:5 The Message You re not getting by with anything. Every refusal and avoidance of God adds fuel to the fire. The day is coming when it s going to blaze hot and high, God s fiery and righteous judgment. I believe this parable is especially relevant to the churchgoer. Remember the people listening to this parable went to synagogue, went up to the Temple for the appointed feasts, the men would have been circumcised when they were eight days old and had their bar-mitzvah when they were 12. There are so many men and women who are attached to Christian culture but they re not attached to Jesus. They have had so much Gospel influence they re in soil conducive to faith and fruit. But they have never really believed it because they ve never really repented.
REMEMBER This parable is not just about information, it s about transformation. It s not just about what we believe, it s about how we behave. Every parable is a call to action! What action does Jesus expect from us? Jesus what do you want me to do? It is significant that the parable was open-ended, so that the listeners had to supply the conclusion. Did the tree bear fruit? Did the special care accomplish anything? Was the tree spared or cut down? We have no way to know the answers to these questions, but we can answer as far as our own lives are concerned! QUOTE: John Owen Future time is here specified, but it is left indefinite. It might be that the tree would be cut down the very next year, or it might be possibly spared still longer. But one thing was certain, if unproductive, it was to be cut down. 1 This morning Jesus is pleading with the Father for you. Repent while there is opportunity! You don t want to fit the words of Jeremiah as he sat and wept over the ruins of the city of Jerusalem Jeremiah 8:20 The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. 1 Owen, J. J. (1859). Commentary on Luke (p. 195). New York: John F. Trow.