“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 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,'” (Luke 13:6-9).

I believe that this parable is about Israel. The nation was running out of time it needed to start producing fruit which was acceptable to God. Consider the context: (1) Jesus rebuked the multitude for their being great forecasters of the weather, but unable to see the coming judgment (Luke 12:54-56). He urged them to get right before judgment came upon them (Luke 12:57-59). (2) He warned them “unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3, 5).

Have you ever noticed how many times Jesus teaches against people not doing what they should? One does not have to do some great evil to be condemned. According to Jesus, the failure to do what one should do is also condemned in his teachings. Consider: (1) The priest and the Levite did not actively do evil. However, they passed by on the other side. We are not to follow their example. We are to be like the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37). The barren fig tree did not produce bad tasting or harmful fruit. It was to be cut down because it produced not fruit (Luke 13:6-9). (3) The one talent man did not commit fraud or embezzle from his lord. However, he did not properly use what had been entrusted to him (Matthew 25:14-30). (4) Those who heard “Depart from me…” are not said to have directly harmed anyone. However, they had not helped those in need (Matthew 25:31-46). (5) The branches taken away were branches which bore no fruit (John 15:1-8). There was no great production of evil mentioned.

Application For Us

1. Christianity is not all “don’ts.” It is filled with “dos.”
2. It is not enough to avoid doing evil (e.g., don’t steal, don’t kill). We need to do good (e.g., Matthew 5:16; Romans 12:20-21; Philippians 2:14-16; Titus 2:14; 3:8; 3:14; Hebrews 12:12-14; 1 Peter 2:11-12). Remember that Jesus “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38).