Luke 13:6-9 The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree
“He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’ ”
Unless you understand the context in which Jesus tells this story, it might make much sense. Here are the verses in Luke 13 that precede this parable: Luke 13:1-5 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”
The general view the crowd around Jesus has is that those who suffer must be horrible sinners and therefore worthy of punishment or even death. “Those who suffer must really deserve such horrible fates!” is the thinking of the crowd. Jesus turns that idea on its head, avowing that the victims of two recent tragedies are simply that, victims and not particularly terrible sinners. But Jesus also warns the crowd to repent. By this point, some people are probably thinking, “REPENT? HOW? I feel stuck with what I am!” That’s when Jesus tells the story of the barren fig tree.
The first question we need to ask is this: How soon after a fig tree is planted will it bear fruit? HGTV gives us the answer: “Most fig trees take three to five years to start ripening fruit. Prior to that, figs may form along stems where each leaf attaches, but they won’t ripen.” The owner of the vineyard is impatient and has been expecting fruit from a recently-planted fig tree, refusing to allow it time to develop. At this point, many of Jesus’ listeners are probably standing there thinking, “This guy knows nothing about fig trees! What does he expect?”
The keeper of the vineyard is much smarter and advises his master to allow him time to dig around the tree, breaking up the soil, thereby softening the soil, allowing the roots to expand for moisture to better reach the roots and to fertilize the tree as well. The crowd thinks, “Well, OK. Great story, Jesus, but what’s the point?”
Jesus links the tragedies of the martyred worshipers and those crushed by a falling tower with his story of a barren fig tree to advise the crowd to examine their lives. When the leaves appear on fig trees, fruit should also appear. But some fig trees will bear leaves but no fruit, promising something they cannot deliver. Jesus is warning his listeners not to be barren fig trees full of leaves without fruit.
What’s the point of mentioning the actions of the gardener? Ah, that’s the main part of the story. Despite our best efforts, we are all barren fig trees promising righteousness without being able to deliver it. But God is a faithful and patient Gardener who refuses to give up on any of us. Just as the gardener in the story plans to carefully tend the tree to give it the best chance to bear, so God persistently continues to bring things into our lives to cause us to repent and turn to Him. God breaks up the hard soil of our prejudices and preconceived notions. God may strip us of anything that will keep us from coming to Him while we stand and wail about how harshly God is dealing with us.
Chuck Colson was a top lawyer for President Nixon until he wound up in prison over the Watergate affair that drove Nixon out of office. At that point, it appeared that Colson’s career was over and in a shambles. But while in prison, Colson had time to read and to reflect. Not only did Colson accept Christ while in prison, but when he came out, he founded Prison Fellowship International. Prison Fellowship describes itself this way: “Prison Fellowship International is the world’s largest, most extensive network of Christian ministries working in the criminal justice field. Through compelling programs and practices, we pursue restoration and healing in response to crime so that offenders are transformed, relationships are reconciled and communities are restored….Prison Fellowship International’s work is accomplished in more than 120 countries on six continents through multi-denominational, indigenous and autonomous National Ministries – powered by more than 60,000 local volunteers. This grassroots presence enables ministry to prisoners, their families and victims in culturally relevant ways.”
All this ministry has happened because an arrogant Washington, D.C. lawyer, a barren fig tree, went to prison and God the Celestial Gardener, began digging around his roots and fertilizing his soul.
When the gardener in the story began digging around the fig tree’s roots, the fig tree was undoubtedly disturbed! “What’s this guy doing? Why won’t he just let me alone?” But the gardener knew that unless he dug around those roots and spread smelly fertilizer, the fig tree was doomed. The very actions that were disturbing the fig tree were the actions that would save it from destruction.
What about us? Have we repented and are we bearing fruit, or are we leafy fig trees, making a good show but producing nothing? The amazing thing about God is that He will never give up on you. You can pray right now, asking God for forgiveness for your sins and for help to follow Him.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, we confess that we are sinners and nothing we do is enough to cancel out those sins. We want to turn away from our sins, but we are stuck. Please deliver us from our sins and help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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