Luke 13:6-9, we find a parable about a fig tree planted in a vineyard, which, despite the care it received, failed to produce any fruit. Let’s dive into these verses to understand their significance and application:
The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree (Luke 13:6-9) “He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.”
Imagine a fig tree standing in a vineyard, distinct and yet taking up space and resources meant for vines. This tree, unlike the grapevines around it, has a specific expectation placed upon it: to bear fruit. However, it remains barren. The placement of a fig tree in a vineyard speaks to us about being in a place where we are surrounded by growth and fertility, yet failing to contribute our part – producing fruit.
Three Years of Grace
The fig tree has had three years to bear fruit, mirroring the duration of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Interestingly, fig trees typically take about three years to start bearing fruit. This period symbolizes a time of waiting and observing for signs of growth and productivity.
In the parable, these three years reflect Jesus’ time spent among the Jews, teaching, healing, and offering salvation, yet receiving a lackluster response from many, particularly from the children of Israel who rejected Him.
1. The Duration – A Grace Period is Granted
The vineyard owner agrees to a specific duration, an additional year, giving the fig tree a grace period to bear fruit. This extra time is symbolic of God’s patience and mercy, offering us another chance to grow and produce spiritual fruits in our lives.
2. The Digging – Cultivating for Growth
The vinedresser proposes to dig around the fig tree, a process of aerating the soil and removing any obstacles that hinder growth. This represents the spiritual work of removing sins, distractions, and anything that stifles our growth, making room for spiritual roots to deepen and strengthen.
3. The Dunging – Nourishing with Care
Following the digging, the next step is to dung it, which involves adding manure around the tree to enrich the soil. This signifies nourishing our spiritual lives with what is beneficial: practices such as prayer, studying God’s Word, and engaging in church, which fertilize our faith and promote spiritual fruitfulness.
4 The Decision: Shovel or Ax
Faced with the care and effort of the vinedresser (symbolized by the shovel) versus the finality of judgment (symbolized by the ax), we are called to make a choice. Will we respond to God’s patient cultivation and bear fruit, or remain unproductive and face the ax? The shovel represents our commitment to growth and transformation, while the ax warns of the consequences of stagnation.
Will we respond to God’s cultivation in our lives, embrace the grace given to us, and start producing fruit? Or will we remain barren, leading to the ax, symbolizing judgment?
The choice is stark and clear. This parable serves as a powerful reminder that God’s patience and care for us are profound, but there is an expectation of growth and productivity in our spiritual lives. Let’s embrace the cultivation process, respond to His grace, and bear the fruit that glorifies God.
