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Copyright © 2012 J. Neely. All rights reserved.
Chapter 1 - Barren Fig Tree
Barren Fig Tree
Luke 13:6
6 He spake [lego] also [de] this [taute] parable [parabole] ; A certain [tis] man had [echo] a fig tree [suke] planted [phuteuo] in [en] his [autos] vineyard [ampelon] ; and [kai] he came [erchomai] and sought [zeteo] fruit [karpos] thereon [en] [autos] , and [kai] found [heurisko] none [ou] . KJV-Interlinear
6 And He began telling this parable: 'A certain man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it, and did not find any. NASB
Thus far we have covered in the first four parables, the fact that we as human beings bear a debt which we cannot escape from. It requires someone else of greater capacity to redeem our debt, and all that we are asked in return in order to receive forgiveness of that debt is to acknowledge the redeemer, who is Jesus Christ of course. That is the basic concept of salvation.
Then we studied the rich fool who prized the things of the world, things of limited and temporary value, over things of permanent and eternal value. Greed and selfishness is the concept taught in this parable.
Then there is the wedding feast parable where Christ, the master, is away, and while away He leaves his possessions in the hands of His slaves. Those possessions consisting of time, His Word and our volition. Those three things we all possess and over which we have been given the responsibility to invest properly within our soul so as to be spiritually alert and prepared.
In return we have a promise (the next parable) of special promotion for being obedient to His will. But there are requirements in order to receive these blessings. For those who are disobedient, there is discipline. God is fair. Some folks have greater opportunities and therefore greater expectations. With greater opportunities then there is the potential of greater discipline for greater infractions. For those who do not have such wonderful opportunities there is still discipline, but they are less, because their infraction is of a lessor nature.
Now we move on to the individual who just does not care. In the preceding verses (to our current passage) Jesus warned of the repercussions for failing to repent (failing to change ones mind or attitude). In the first five verses of this chapter there were those who perished for some form of infraction. Were they greater sinners? No. Sin is sin. Anyone and everyone who maintains a life style of living under the control of their sin nature is subject to punishment.
There are but two spheres within which you can live in this life. You can live within the sphere of your sin nature, or you can choose to live within the sphere of fellowship and thus placing yourself (through your voluntary confession of your sins to God the Father) under the control of the Holy Spirit. There is no third choice. These are the only two environments within which you can live your life. Note that the determining factor as to where you will live is your own volition.
So choose to confess or choose to not confess. Choose to believe or choose to not believe in Christ. Is there a pattern here?
To resist is to be defiant to God and His will for a better life for you. So in effect you are denying yourself a better life just by being defiant or rigid in your attitude, or as the Israelites were described - stiff necked. They were so stiff necked that they walked around in the desert for forty years even though they could look across the Jordan River and see their promised land which they could never enter. And all because they were stubborn and refused to change. The promised land represents spiritual maturity. It's right over there. We can all see it, or know of it. The desert represents living under the control of the sin nature. Why would anyone want to live in the desert when the milk and honey is just within reach?
Now we have a tree, a fig tree. Fig trees are supposed to produce fruit. When they do not produce fruit, of what use are they to their owner? None.
So we have a person, a fig tree, who is rigid in its attitude toward producing fruit. God comes around looking for fruit on the tree from time to time. God actually looks into our soul every minute of the day, and He is always watching for some indication that there will be a glimmer of light within your soul sooner or later.
The fig tree was planted in a vineyard, in better soil, and where it had more care taken of it and more pains taken with it. This fig tree represents those who are chosen and are members of Gods family, the vineyard. Christians are in view here. Christians who have the opportunities of growing up and producing fruit within their lives. That is, they have the opportunity of functioning within their spiritual life.
Some respond to the care which God gives them, most unfortunately refuse to respond. All of it comes down to the volition of the individual. God provides all of the necessary ingredients, the believer only has to respond properly to them.
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Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth.
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