Parable #10

One of the most prominent features of the four canonical gospels in the New Testament is the parables attributed to Jesus. Estimates usually place the number of parables somewhere between thirty and eighty, though if the definition of “parable” is expanded to include any simile or proverb, then just about every statement attributed to Jesus can qualify.…It’ clear, then, that the idea of parables is critical to understanding the gospel texts. Interpreting them has become a popular industry in Christiantheology, though less time seems to be spent on understanding the nature of parables generally than in trying to discover true Christian meanings behind the stories.

Most of Jesus’ parables appear to be based upon behaviour and traditions from everyday life in first century Palestine — something that is used to argue that at least the parables themselves can be traced back to that time and region, regardless of who was their original author. If the gospel authors were not from that place, then they must have gotten the parables from someone who was, and that “someone” was Jesus, according to Christian theologians.

At the same time, though, the parables also typically include something very extra-ordinary in the story. An everyday situation is contrasted with rather unusual events and the result is a tale which is conceptually strong, has interpretive depth, and which can remain with a person for a long period of time. All of this means that they were supremely suited to illustrate abstract concepts like forgiveness, love, faith, salvation, judgement and duty. The great interpretive depth of the parables, though, may offer another reason for their repeated use: in Mark 4:10-12, Jesus is depicted as informing his disciples that he taught in parables in order to conceal his true meaning and teachings from the masses. They, his inner circle, could be privy to the truth but everyone else would have to be satisfied with whatever superficial interpretations they might come up with. A further Christian tradition about why Jesus relied so heavily on parables is that stories like this allow one communicate a particular message without appearing aggressively preachy. When a person perceives that they are about to hear a sermon, they adopt a particular attitude towards what they are hearing, even if unconsciously. This can be especially problematic if one is not inclined to be receptive to the message being promoted.

If one is about to be told a story, however, then a very different attitude is likely to be adopted one that can make a person more receptive to the underlying message without them entirely realizing it.

  We continue this morning with the tenth parable and we find that in:

Luke 13:6-9

Unfruitful Fig Tree

Parable of the Barren Fig Tree…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.’”

Parable #10

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

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?

3. Which is most surprising to you: that the owner wants to cut down the tree? Orthat the gardener wants to give it another year?

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

5. What is the message of this parable?

 

Jesus told the Parable of the Fig Tree—Luke 13:6-9—immediately after reminding His listeners of a tower over the pool of Siloam (John 9:7) which unexpectedly fell and killed eighteen people.

The moral of that story is found inLuke 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.”

To reiterate this moral, Jesus tells the story of the fig tree, the vineyard owner, and the gardener who took care of the vineyard.…The three entities in the story all have clear symbolic significance.

1.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.

2.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.

3.The tree itself has two symbolic meanings: the nation of Israel and the individual.……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

8 Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. 9 Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to cutand separate the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.”

But the Jews were offended by the idea that 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

4 They are the people of Israel, chosen to be God’s adopted children.(Greek chosen for sonship) God revealed his glory to them. He made covenants with them and gave them his law. He gave them the privilege of worshiping him and receiving his wonderful promises. 5 Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are their ancestors, and Christ himself was an Israelite as far as his human nature is concerned. And he is God, the one who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise!

They had it all, but they were already departing from the true faith, and the true and living God and created a system of works-righteousness that was a disgrace 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.

Jesus told this parable a few months before the crucifixion, and there were 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 12:1010 Then the leading priests decided to kill Jesus for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them(Or had deserted their traditions) and believed in Him.

The compassionate gardener intercedes for more time to water and fertilize the fruitless tree, and the gracious Lord of the vineyard responds in patience.……Lets look at two actual account a few months later after Jesus told this parable. Ithappened about a week before the crucifixionthat was when Jesus actually cursed a fig tree?…Why did he do that? Was it to remind His disciples and us of the parable and the importantmessage that we can learn from Jesus cursing the fig tree?

We find two different gospel accounts of Jesus cursing a fig tree, first, in:…Matthew 21:18-22,and then inMark 11:12-14,20-25.

There are slight differences between the two accounts, but they are easily reconciled by studying the passages.

A close look at these accounts provides insights regarding why Jesus chose to curse this fig tree.

In both accounts, it is clear that the timing of this cursing is of critical relevance.

Like all Scripture, the key to understanding this passage comes from understanding the context in which it happened.

We must first look at the chronological and geographical setting.

For example:…When did this occur?

What was the setting?

Where did it happen?

Also, in order to fully understand this passage, we need to have an understanding of the importance of the fig tree as it relates to the nation of Israel and understand how the fig tree is often used in the Scriptures to symbolically represent Israel.

 

The relevance of the cursing of the fig tree is closely related with the other events taking place at that time.

Jesus had arrived in Jerusalem during the time of the Passover.

And we must have a basic understanding of the fig tree itself, its growing seasons, etc.……First,in looking at the general chronological setting of the passage, we see that it happened during the week before His crucifixion. …It appears that Jesus cursed the fig tree the day after His triumphal entry, orPalm Sunday, when the people praised Him as the Messiah-King who was going to deliver them from Roman occupationMatthew 21:1-11Mark 11:1-11).

As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. 2 “Go into the village over there,” he said. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.”4 This took place to fulfil the prophecy that said,

5 “Tell the people of Jerusalem, ‘Look, your King is coming to you.…He is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt.’”(Zechariah 9:9) Can you see they knew exactly who this Jesus was because it matched up with the prophecy of the prophet Zachariah…6 The two disciples did as Jesus commanded. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it.

8 Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Jesus was in the centre of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting,

“Praise God(Greek Hosanna) for the Son of David!…Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!…Praise God in highest heaven!”(Ps 118:25-26 ,148:1)

10 The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked.11 And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

 

He was to be received as King and His followers were to bear much fruit. …Yet Jesus knew He would soon be rejected by His own people.

Now, the next day, Jesus is again on His way to Jerusalem from where He was staying in Bethany.

On His way, both Matthew and Mark record that He was hungry and saw a fig tree in the distance that had leaves on it

Mark 11:12-13

12 The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. 

 

Upon coming to the tree expecting to find something to eat,and Jesus discovered that the fig tree had no fruit on it and cursed the tree saying,Mark 11:14 and Matthew 21:19

 

14 Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it.And immediately the fig tree withered up.

Matthew records the cursing and the withering of the fig tree all in one account and includes it after the account of Jesus cleansing the Temple of the moneychangers.

Mark explains that it actually took place over two days, with Jesus cursing the fig tree the first day on the way to cleanse the Temple, and the disciples seeing the tree withered on the second day when they were again going to Jerusalem from Bethany…Mark 11:19-20

19 That evening Jesus and the disciples left[a] the city.20 The next morning as they passed by the fig tree he had cursed, the disciples noticed it had withered from the roots up.…a surprising contrast.…Of course, upon seeing the tree “withered from the roots up,” the disciples were amazed, as that would have normally taken several weeks.……Having reviewed the general chronological setting of the story, we can begin to answer some of many questions that are often asked of it.

First of all the question,

Why did Jesus curse the fig tree if it was not the right season for figs?

The answer to this question can be determined by studying the characteristics of fig trees. The fruit of the fig tree generally appears before the leaves, and, because the fruit is green it blends in with the leaves right up until it is almost ripe. Therefore, when Jesus and His disciples saw from a distance that the tree had leaves, they would have expected it to also have fruit on it even though it was earlier in the season than what would be normal for a fig tree to be bearing fruit.

Also, each tree would often produce two to three crops of figs each season.

There would be an early crop in the spring followed by one or two later crops.

In some parts of Israel, depending on the climate and conditions, it was possible that a tree might produce fruit ten out of twelve months.

This also explains why Jesus and His disciples would be looking for fruit on the fig tree even if it was not in the main growing season.

The fact that the tree already had leaves on it even though it was at a higher elevation around Jerusalem, and therefore would have been outside the normal season for figs, would have seemed to be a good indication that there would also be fruit on it.……As to the significance of this passage and what it means, the answer to that is again found in the chronological setting and in understanding how a fig tree is often used symbolically to represent Israel in the Scriptures.

Again, chronologically, Jesus had just arrived at Jerusalem amid great fanfare and great expectations, but then proceeds to cleanse the Temple and curse the barren fig tree.

Both had significance as to the spiritual condition of Israel.

With His cleansing of the Temple and His criticism of the worship that was going on there (Matthew 21:13Mark 11:17), Jesus was effectively denouncing Israel’s worship of God.

With the cursing of the fig tree, He was symbolically denouncing Israel as a nation and, in a sense, even denouncing unfruitful “Christians” (that is, people who profess to be Christian but have no evidence of a relationship with Christ).……The presence of a fruitful fig tree was considered to be a symbol of blessing and prosperity for the nation of Israel. Likewise, the absence or death of a fig tree would symbolize judgment and rejection.

Symbolically, the fig tree represented the spiritual deadness of Israel, who while very religious outwardly with all the sacrifices and ceremonies, was spiritually barren because of their sins. …By cleansing the Temple and cursing the fig tree, causing it to wither and die, Jesus was pronouncing His coming judgment of Israel and demonstrating His power to carry it out.

It also teaches the principle that religious profession and observance are not enough to guarantee salvation, unless there is the fruit of genuine salvation evidenced in the life of the person.

James, the half-brother of Jesus, expressed this idea saying,

James 2:14-17

“14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?…17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

James would again later echo this truth

James 2:26

“26 Just as the body is dead without breath,[a] so also is faith dead without good works.”

The lesson of the fig tree is that we should bear spiritual fruitnot just give an appearance of religiosity.(Excessively or sentimentally religious)

Galatians 5:22-23

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

God judges fruitlessness, and expects that those who have a relationship with Him will “bear much fruit”…Jesus said in:John 15:5-8

5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

Mark notes that “it was not the season for figs,“but the tree was “in leaf,” a sign that figs should have been on it. It is true for us today. You one should be bearing fruit after accepting Jesus.

The people appeared to accept Jesus and the religious leaders claimed to follow God; but they failed to bear fruit and instead Jesus was crucified. …Many see Jesus’ cursing of the fig tree and cleansing of the temple as symbolic of God’s denouncing Israel as a nation, and in many ways His denouncing those who claim Christ but do not actually follow Him…(such as inMatthew 7:15-23).

15 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.…True Disciples21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

The concept of fruitful living as God’s people is relevant today

It is not enough to be religious; rather, we are called to have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ

John 1:12…12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.…John 3:16…16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave[a] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. Acts 4:12 12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”…Ephesians 2:8-10

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. …He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Those who are in Christ are made new creations and we are expected to live a fruitful life, the life that God intended for us and what He created us for …2 Corinthians 5:17…17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!…We are called into an active relationship with God a relationship that bears fruit. Followers of Jesus are expected to live a life of faith that is revealed through godly living.…John 15also focuses on the concept of living as a fruitful follower of the Lord.

And bare the fruit of the Spirit…The curse of the fig tree stood for God’s judgment upon those who were unfruitful to the Lord.

Still today, God calls His people to live fruitful lives, enabled by relationship with Him, for His glory

 

The lesson that we can take from the unfruitful fig tree for us as individualare that we are living on borrowed time it 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,

Isaiah 55:6-7

6 Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.7 Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong.Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them.…Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.

 

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