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Parables Series
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Parable of
the Barren Fig Tree
Luke
13:6-9
I. THE PARABLE
IN ITS ORIGINAL SETTING
A. JESUS
WAS RESPONDING TO NEWS ABOUT A CALAMITY - Lk 13:1-5
1. He
was told of how Pilate (the Roman governor) had...
a.
Killed some Galileans (Jews from Galilee, the same region
Jesus was
from)
b.
Mingled their blood along with their sacrifices
2. He
anticipated the thinking of those who brought Him this news...
a.
Were those who suffered such atrocities worse sinners than other Galileans?
b.
No, and unless they repented they would likewise perish!
3. He
reinforces His point with a reference to a similar calamity
a. In
which a tower in Siloam (in Jerusalem) collapsed and killed eighteen people
b.
Those victims were no worse sinners than others in Jerusalem
4. He
then repeats His warning that unless they repent, they will all likewise
perish!
a.
Some understand this to be a reference to the destruction of Jerusalem in
A.D. 70
b.
Whether or not, it still called for individual repentance
B. THE
PARABLE OF THE BARREN FIG TREE - Lk 13:6-9
1. The
basic elements of the parable...
a. A
man is disappointed that a fig tree in his vineyard is unfruitful
b. He
wants to cut it down, but is persuaded by the keeper of the vineyard to give
it one more year
c. If
no fruit is borne, then the tree is to be cut down
2. The
basic point of the parable...
a.
The central lessons of verses 1-5 are clear: "Repent!"
b.
The parable in verses 6-9 takes the call to repentance one step further:
"Repent NOW!"
c.
Fruitlessness will not be endured forever!
Those who
heard Jesus would appreciate the point, for what farmer desires to put up
with a tree that won't bear fruit? But do we today appreciate the point?
There is application to us as well in our fruitfulness. God left us here to
be fruitful…that is the purpose…so why not cut us down and take us on home
if we don’t bear fruit?
To help make
it even clearer, consider what we can glean from this parable...
II. LESSONS
FOR US TODAY
A. WHERE
GOD HAS EXTENDED PRIVILEGES, HE EXPECTS RETURNS...
1. The
owner of the vineyard expected the fig tree to bear fruit
a. He
had given it good soil
b.
For three years it had been provided care
c. He
was giving it an extra year, but only for the purpose of bearing fruit
2. God
blessed Israel, and He was disappointed when they did not bear fruit- Read
Isa 5:1-7
3. So He
has blessed us through His Son Jesus, and we are to glorify God by bearing
fruit - Jn 15:8
-- Have
you utilized the privileges God has given you...? We want privilege, but
are we willing to accept responsibility that leads to privilege?
B. THE LORD
IS LONGSUFFERING, BUT IT DOESN'T LAST FOREVER...
1. We
see the longsuffering of the owner of the vineyard
a. He
had given the fig tree three years to produce fruit
b. He
was persuaded to give it another year with special care
c.
But that last year was the final opportunity the tree would be given
2. We
see the longsuffering of the Lord in His dealing with the nation of Israel
a.
His longsuffering in the wilderness
b.
His longsuffering in the times of the judges
c.
His longsuffering during the reigns of the kings
d.
And yet, He did take the "kingdom of God" away from them and give it to a
nation bearing the fruits of it - cf. Mt 21:43
Matthew 21:43
Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and
given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
3. So
the Lord has been longsuffering to us...
a.
For He does not want anyone to be lost - 2 Pe 3:9 […not willing that any
should perish…]
b.
His longsuffering has been for our salvation - 2 Pe 3:15
2 Peter 3:15
And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation;
even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him
hath written unto you;
c.
But the longsuffering will one day end, and the "day of the Lord" will come
- 2 Pe 3:7,10
2 Peter 3:7
But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in
store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of
ungodly men.
2 Peter 3:10
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the
heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with
fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned
up.
C. THOSE
WHO ARE UNFRUITFUL WILL BE CUT OFF...
1. The
barren fig tree, if it remained so, was to be cut down
2. So
Jesus warned His disciples that such would happen to them if they did not
bear fruit...
a.
"Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He taketh away;" - Jn 15:2a
b. "
If a man abide
not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather
them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. " - Jn 15:6
3. Paul
warned the Gentile Christians that they would be cut off if they did not
remain faithful (which implies fruitfulness)
Romans 11:19-23
19 Thou wilt say then, The
branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
20 Well; because of unbelief they
were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
21 For if God spared not the
natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
22 Behold therefore the goodness and
severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if
thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
23 And they also, if they abide
not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in
again.
4. Heb
6:1-8 talks of some who fall away because they are not fruitful…they bear
thorns and thistles instead of herbs. This is not suggesting they lose
their salvation by the way, it rather says if they could they could not be
renewed again…but Jesus’ teaching on this is clear, He is patient and
longsuffering, and wants to give us space to turn around and be fruitful.
But we know not how much of a grace period we have!
The basic
lesson of the parable of "The Barren Fig Tree": repent.
- Lk 13:6-9
1) For
the Lord has been longsuffering already
2) And
what time you have left may be short!
2. Don't think
that people who die tragic deaths are any worse sinners than yourself...
a. For all
have sinned and come short of the glory of God - Rom 3:23
b. Even
just one sin makes one guilty of all - Ja 2:10
James 2:10
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point,
he is guilty of all.
c. And the
wages of sin is death (eternal separation from God) – Rom 6:23; cf. Rev 21:8
[death and hell cast into lake of fire]
-- So if we
do not repent, our end will be no less tragic than the worst calamity ever
to befall mankind!
3. But the
good news of the gospel is that God offers us the gift of eternal life! -
Rom 6:23
a. However,
remember the warning for those who do not repent –
Romans 2:4-11
4 Or despisest thou the riches
of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the
goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 5
But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto
thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous
judgment of God; 6 Who will
render to every man according to his deeds: 7
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory
and honour and immortality, eternal life: 8
But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth,
but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every
soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
10 But glory, honour, and peace, to
every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
11 For there is no respect of persons
with God.
b. And,
unlike the barren fig tree, you may have less than a year to repent and bear
fruit!
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