Parables, The Barren Fig Tree
Scripture: 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, `Lo, these three years 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, `Let it alone, sir, this year also, till I dig about it and put on manure. 9 And if it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.
Why study this parable? There is an expectation that is brought fourth with every new birth. This tree gave no indication that it would bear fruit. That was a disappointment to the owner. What is there about the lack of promise that cannot be tolerated for very long? It’s just that isn’t it. The promise of nothing but the using of time and space. God loves us and wants to see us respond to him. Learn that and you will know what God expects.
'Meditation: Fig trees were a common and important source of food for the Jews. Bad figs or a decaying fig tree was linked with evil deeds and spiritual decay. The unfruitful fig tree symbolized the outcome of Israel's unresponsiveness to the word of God. The prophets depicted the languishing fig tree as signifying the desolation and calamity of Israel due to her unfaithfulness to God (see Joel 1:7,12; Habakuk 3:17; and Jeremiah 8:13). Jeremiah said that evil people are like rotten figs (Jeremiah 24:2-8). This parable of Jesus depicts the patience of God, but it also contains a warning that we should not presume upon it. God gives us time to get right with him, but that time is now. We must not assume that there is no hurry. A sudden and unexpected death leaves one no time to prepare to settle one's accounts when he or she must stand before the Lord on the Day of Judgment. Jesus warns us that we must be ready at all times. Tolerating sinful habits and excusing unrepentant sin will result in bad fruit and eventual destruction. The Lord in his mercy gives us both grace and time to turn away from sin and from worldliness, but that time is right now. If we delay, even for a day, we may discover that grace has passed us by and our time is up. The barren fig tree represents the people of the world; and it’s being "barren" represents sin. This idea of the fig tree being barren, and the fact that it is expected to produce fruit, reinforces the idea of repentance being a real change in actions and thoughts (no longer sinning).In this story, the barren fig tree is given more time so it can have the opportunity to produce fruit. However, if the fig tree continues to bear no fruit, it eventually will be cut down. Essentially, we are fig trees, if we remain barren then we will face the consequences. (Luke 13:3; 5)
Questions:
It is easy to grasp the meaning of this parable, if one is not contributing to the cause then one is ___________?
How do we view our position in this parable? As a nation? As a partner in a marriage? As a teenager in a family? As a person in God’s kingdom?
Will the patience of God last indefinitely? Do you have patience with unresponsive people? Are you patient with your own Christianity?
What is the promise by the vinedresser? Do you feel that is a just decision? What about unresponsive Christians? What about unresponsive congregations?
What about the soil? If the tree is non responsive, is the soil ok?
What is the context in which Jesus tells the parable ? difficult times?
In this parable, who are the characters represented by the fig tree, the owner, and the gardener? What do the figs (or fruit) represent?
Which is most surprising to you: that the owner wants to cut down the tree? Or that the gardener wants to give it another year?
What eventually happens? Is the tree cut down? Does the owner give it another year? If so, does it bear fruit?
10. What is the message of this parable?
11. Why did they have fig trees in that day? The fig fruit is included in the list of food found in the Promised Land, according to the Torah (Deut. 8). The fig tree was sacred in ancient Cyprus where it was a symbol of fertility.
12. What was missing from the tree?_ _ _ _ What would that have represented?
Scripture: Luke 13:6-9
And he told this parable:
1.)
6 "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard;
Who is the man Jesus is speaking of?
2.) and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.
Do you suppose he came at the right time or why else? What did the fig tree represent?
3.) 7 And he said to the vinedresser,` Lo, these three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none.
Who is the vinedresser? And why has the tree not borne fruit? What has 3 years to do with anything?
4.) Cut it down; why should it use up the ground?
Would you have done that to this tree? Isn’t there ground enough to go around, shouldn’t we share, The tree isn’t dead so why cut it down?
If such fig trees do not bring forth ripe fruit in three years time, there is little reason to expect any from them: and thus it was time after time with the Jewish nation; and so it is with carnal professors ( teachers): hence it follows, It must be cut down?
5.) 8 And he answered him, `Let it alone, sir, this year also, till I dig about it and put on fertilizer.
What is the vinedresser asking? Is he hopeful and expectant? What is he going to do about it?
6.) 9 And if it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.
The vinedresser is giving it another chance.: why would he be so concerned?
7.) So what does it mean to us today?
also for his enemies, for profane sinners, and for formal professors; for the sake of his own people among them, and for their preservation, and for the averting of divine judgments from them, at least as yet
8.) Who is the owner of the vineyard?
God setting forth his patience towards the Jewish nation, and might it be us today?
9. ) Who is the vinedresser? Would that be Jesus?
And what is his feeling? Does that represent his love for us?
10.) Who does the fig tree represent? The Jewish people whom God wished to save.
The common man, sinners, for whose sake the day of their probation is often lengthened.
11.)Why has the tree not borne fruit? It is in Satan’s grasp and will need special care and handling. What promise is then made?
1. The man is God Almighty.
2. Had a fig tree, the Jewish Church.
3. Planted in his vineyard - established in the land of Judea.
4. He came seeking fruit - he required that the Jewish people should walk in righteousness, in proportion to the spiritual culture he bestowed on them.
5. The vine-dresser - the Lord Jesus, for God hath committed all judgment to the Son, Joh_5:22.
6. Cut it down - let the Roman sword be unsheathed against it.
7. Let it alone - Christ is represented as intercessor for sinners, for whose sake the day of their probation is often lengthened; during which time he is constantly employed in doing every thing that has a tendency to promote their salvation.
8. Thou shalt cut it down - a time will come, that those who have not turned at God’s invitations and reproofs shall be cut off, and numbered with the transgressors.
Scripture: 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, `Lo, these three years 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, `Let it alone, sir, this year also, till I dig about it and put on manure. 9 And if it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.
Why study this parable? There is an expectation that is brought fourth with every new birth. This tree gave no indication that it would bear fruit. That was a disappointment to the owner. What is there about the lack of promise that cannot be tolerated for very long? It’s just that isn’t it. The promise of nothing but the using of time and space. God loves us and wants to see us respond to him. Learn that and you will know what God expects.
'Meditation: Fig trees were a common and important source of food for the Jews. Bad figs or a decaying fig tree was linked with evil deeds and spiritual decay. The unfruitful fig tree symbolized the outcome of Israel's unresponsiveness to the word of God. The prophets depicted the languishing fig tree as signifying the desolation and calamity of Israel due to her unfaithfulness to God (see Joel 1:7,12; Habakuk 3:17; and Jeremiah 8:13). Jeremiah said that evil people are like rotten figs (Jeremiah 24:2-8). This parable of Jesus depicts the patience of God, but it also contains a warning that we should not presume upon it. God gives us time to get right with him, but that time is now. We must not assume that there is no hurry. A sudden and unexpected death leaves one no time to prepare to settle one's accounts when he or she must stand before the Lord on the Day of Judgment. Jesus warns us that we must be ready at all times. Tolerating sinful habits and excusing unrepentant sin will result in bad fruit and eventual destruction. The Lord in his mercy gives us both grace and time to turn away from sin and from worldliness, but that time is right now. If we delay, even for a day, we may discover that grace has passed us by and our time is up. The barren fig tree represents the people of the world; and it’s being "barren" represents sin. This idea of the fig tree being barren, and the fact that it is expected to produce fruit, reinforces the idea of repentance being a real change in actions and thoughts (no longer sinning).In this story, the barren fig tree is given more time so it can have the opportunity to produce fruit. However, if the fig tree continues to bear no fruit, it eventually will be cut down. Essentially, we are fig trees, if we remain barren then we will face the consequences. (Luke 13:3; 5)
Questions:
It is easy to grasp the meaning of this parable, if one is not contributing to the cause then one is ___________?
How do we view our position in this parable? As a nation? As a partner in a marriage? As a teenager in a family? As a person in God’s kingdom?
Will the patience of God last indefinitely? Do you have patience with unresponsive people? Are you patient with your own Christianity?
What is the promise by the vinedresser? Do you feel that is a just decision? What about unresponsive Christians? What about unresponsive congregations?
What about the soil? If the tree is non responsive, is the soil ok?
What is the context in which Jesus tells the parable ? difficult times?
In this parable, who are the characters represented by the fig tree, the owner, and the gardener? What do the figs (or fruit) represent?
Which is most surprising to you: that the owner wants to cut down the tree? Or that the gardener wants to give it another year?
What eventually happens? Is the tree cut down? Does the owner give it another year? If so, does it bear fruit?
10. What is the message of this parable?
11. Why did they have fig trees in that day? The fig fruit is included in the list of food found in the Promised Land, according to the Torah (Deut. 8). The fig tree was sacred in ancient Cyprus where it was a symbol of fertility.
12. What was missing from the tree?_ _ _ _ What would that have represented?
Scripture: Luke 13:6-9
And he told this parable:
1.)
6 "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard;
Who is the man Jesus is speaking of?
2.) and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.
Do you suppose he came at the right time or why else? What did the fig tree represent?
3.) 7 And he said to the vinedresser,` Lo, these three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none.
Who is the vinedresser? And why has the tree not borne fruit? What has 3 years to do with anything?
4.) Cut it down; why should it use up the ground?
Would you have done that to this tree? Isn’t there ground enough to go around, shouldn’t we share, The tree isn’t dead so why cut it down?
If such fig trees do not bring forth ripe fruit in three years time, there is little reason to expect any from them: and thus it was time after time with the Jewish nation; and so it is with carnal professors ( teachers): hence it follows, It must be cut down?
5.) 8 And he answered him, `Let it alone, sir, this year also, till I dig about it and put on fertilizer.
What is the vinedresser asking? Is he hopeful and expectant? What is he going to do about it?
6.) 9 And if it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.
The vinedresser is giving it another chance.: why would he be so concerned?
7.) So what does it mean to us today?
also for his enemies, for profane sinners, and for formal professors; for the sake of his own people among them, and for their preservation, and for the averting of divine judgments from them, at least as yet
8.) Who is the owner of the vineyard?
God setting forth his patience towards the Jewish nation, and might it be us today?
9. ) Who is the vinedresser? Would that be Jesus?
And what is his feeling? Does that represent his love for us?
10.) Who does the fig tree represent? The Jewish people whom God wished to save.
The common man, sinners, for whose sake the day of their probation is often lengthened.
11.)Why has the tree not borne fruit? It is in Satan’s grasp and will need special care and handling. What promise is then made?
1. The man is God Almighty.
2. Had a fig tree, the Jewish Church.
3. Planted in his vineyard - established in the land of Judea.
4. He came seeking fruit - he required that the Jewish people should walk in righteousness, in proportion to the spiritual culture he bestowed on them.
5. The vine-dresser - the Lord Jesus, for God hath committed all judgment to the Son, Joh_5:22.
6. Cut it down - let the Roman sword be unsheathed against it.
7. Let it alone - Christ is represented as intercessor for sinners, for whose sake the day of their probation is often lengthened; during which time he is constantly employed in doing every thing that has a tendency to promote their salvation.
8. Thou shalt cut it down - a time will come, that those who have not turned at God’s invitations and reproofs shall be cut off, and numbered with the transgressors.
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