CONTEXT IS KEY:
THE PARABLE OF THE BARREN FIG TREE
Luke 13:6-9 6And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ 8And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”
THE CONTEXT OF THIS PARABLE IS REPENTANCE.
Luke 13:5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
Matthew 3:8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
1. GOD EXPECTS FRUIT THAT MATCHES THE TREE.
Luke 13:6 And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.”
Matthew 7:15-20 15Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
WORLDLY, BAD FRUIT
Galatians 5:19 -21 19Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
GODLY, GOOD FRUIT
Galatians 5:22-24 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
2. GOD IS PATIENT.
Luke 13:7 And he said to the vinedresser, “Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree…”
James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
James 2:17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
WHILE WE DO SERVE A PATIENT GOD, HE IS ALSO A JUST GOD WITH EXPECTATIONS OF PEOPLE WHO TAKE ON THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST.
3. FERTILIZED TREES BEAR FRUIT.
Luke 13:8 And he answered him, “Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure.”
WHAT IS THE FERTILIZER?
John 15:4-5 4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
But this only happens when our eyes are focused on Jesus. Keeping our eyes on Jesus and pursuing godly relationships are the fertilizer that we need to bear godly fruit.
CLOSING THOUGHTS:
QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS IN LIFE GROUPS OR WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS:
Passages to consider: Luke 13:1-9; Galatians 5:1,16-26