The parable of the fig tree from Luke 13 is summarized. In the parable, a vineyard owner finds a fig tree without fruit for three years and wants to cut it down, but the gardener pleads for one more year to care for it. The vineyard owner represents God, the gardener represents Jesus, and the fruitless tree represents Israel and individuals who have not borne spiritual fruit despite opportunities. The lesson is that God's patience has limits and individuals live on borrowed time, so they must repent of sin and bear fruit before judgment comes.

1. The Parable of the Fig Tree – 28th August 2016
“Ifit bears fruit next year, fine!If not, then cut it down”(Luke13:9).
Jesustoldthe Parable of the FigTree whichwe findin Luke 13:6-9, “Thenhe toldthis parable: “Aman
had a figtree growingin hisvineyard,and he went to look for fruiton it but didnot findany. 7
So he
saidto the manwho took care of the vineyard, ‘Forthree years now I’ve been comingto look for fruit
on thisfig tree andhaven’t foundany.Cut it down!Whyshouldit use up the soil?’8
“‘Sir,’theman
replied,‘leave it alonefor one more year, andI’ll dig aroundit and fertilizeit. 9
If it bears fruitnext
year, fine!If not, then cut it down”.The moral of that story isfoundin Luke 13:3: “I tell you,no! But
unlessyou repent, you too will all perish..” In orderto reiterate the above stated moral,Jesustellsthe
parable of the figtree,the vineyardowner,andthe gardenerwhotookcare of the vineyard.
The three entitiesinthe storyall have clearsymbolicsignificance.The vineyardownerrepresentsGod,
the one who rightlyexpectstosee fruitonHistree andwho justlydecidestodestroyitwhenHe finds it
had notproducedany.The gardener,orvineyardkeeperwhocaresforthe trees,wateringandfertilizing
themto bringthemto theirpeakof fruitfulness, representsJesus,whofeedsHispeopleandgivesthem
livingwater. Inorderforpeople toknowmore aboutGod, Jesusbroughtthe worldthe GoodNewsof
salvation. The tree itselfhastwosymbolicmeanings: Firstitcandefine the figtree as the nationof Israel
where ithas notproducedany quantifiable resultsinadvancingthe awarenessof JesusChristand
Christianity. Seconditcan alsobe definedas the individual whohasnotdone anythingorproduced
resultsinadvancingawarenessof name of JesusChrist.
As the storyunfolds,we see the vineyardownerexpressinghisdisappointmentatthe fruitlesstree.He
has lookedforfruitforthree yearsfromthistree,buthas foundnone.The three-yearperiodis
significantbecauseforthree yearsJohnthe BaptistandJesushadbeenpreachingthe message of
repentance throughoutIsrael.Butthe fruitsof repentance were notforthcoming.Johnthe Baptist
warnedthe people aboutthe Messiahcomingandtoldthemtobring forthfruitsfitforrepentance
because the ax was alreadylaidatthe rootof the tree as we can readfrom Luke 3:8-9, ” Producefruit in
keeping withrepentance. And do not beginto say to yourselves,‘We have Abrahamas our father.’For
I tell you that out ofthese stonesGodcan raise up childrenfor Abraham. 9
The ax is alreadyat the root
of the trees, andevery tree that does notproduce goodfruit will be cut downand throwninto the
fire.”.
But the Jewswere offendedbythe ideatheyneededtorepent,andtheyrejectedtheirMessiahbecause
He demandedrepentance fromthem.Afterall,theyhadthe revelationof God,the prophets,the
Scriptures,the covenants,andthe adoption aswe can learn fromRomans9:4-5, “…thepeople of Israel.
Theirs is the adoptionto sonship;theirsthe divine glory,the covenants,the receivingof the law, the
temple worshipand the promises. 5
Theirs are the patriarchs,andfrom them is traced the human
ancestry of the Messiah,who isGodover all,forever praised![a]
Amen. Israel hadit all,buttheywere
alreadyapostate whichmeansrenouncingordisassociating. Theyhad rejectedand departedfromthe
true faithand the true andlivingGodand createda systemof works-righteousnessthatwasan
abominationtoGod.He,as the vineyardowner,wasperfectlyjustifiedintearingdownthe tree thathad
no fruit.The Lord’sax was alreadypoisedoverthe rootof the tree,andit wasready to fall.
However,we see the gardener thatrepresentsJesusChrist,pleadinghere foralittle more time.There
were a fewmonthsbefore the crucifixion,andmore miraclestocome,especiallythe incrediblemiracle

2. of the raisingof Lazarus fromthe dead,whichwouldastoundmanyandperhapscause the Jewsto
repent.Asitturnedout,Israel as a nationstill didnotbelieve.Butonthe contrary many individuals
certainlydid andpeople begantofollow Him.Somuchsothat the Jewishleadersevenwantedtokill
Lazarus: “Sothe chief priests made plansto kill Lazarusas well, 11
foron accountof himmany of the
Jews were goingover to Jesus and believinginhim:. (John12:10-11). But inthe Parable we can learn
that JesusChristdepictedhere asthe compassionategardener,intercedes askingformore time to
waterand fertilizethe fruitlesstree, hopingthatitmay produce as expected…andthe graciousLordof
the vineyardrespondsinpatience.
The lessonforus as individual isthatborrowedtime isnotpermanent.God'spatience hasalimit.Inthe
parable,the vineyardownergrants ‘anotheryear’ of life tothe tree.Inthe same way,God inHis mercy
grants usanotherday, anotherhour,anotherbreath.Christstandsat the door of each man’sheart
knockingandseekingtogainentrance andrequiringrepentance fromsin.Butif there isnofruit,no
repentance,Hispatience will come toanend,andthe fruitless,unrepentantindividual will be cut
down…foraneternity inhell! We all live onborrowedtime;judgmentisnear.Thatis whythe prophet
Isaiahwrote, "Seekthe LORD whilehe may be found;call onhim whilehe isnear. Let the wicked
forsake hisway and the evil man his thoughts.Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on
him,and to our God,for he will freely pardon" (Isaiah55:6-7).