Luke 13:6-9 KJV
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.
The Word of God only has one interpretation, but it has many applications. The one interpretation of this passage has to do with the Jewish nation and their lack of repentance toward God. God had been gracious and patient with them. God's kindness toward Israel cannot be over stated. But there came a day when that patience was through and judgment came upon them.
Barnes makes this application; "We may also remark that God treats sinners in this manner now; that he spares them long; that he gives them opportunities of repentance; that many live but to cumber the ground; that they are not only useless to the church, but pernicious to the world; that in due time, when they are fairly tried, they shall be cut down; and that the universe will bow to the awful decree of God, and say that their damnation is just."[1]
So the interpretation is toward the Jews. An application may be made toward the lost, and I would like to suggest that another application may be made toward the believer.
Who can deny God's kindness and grace toward us in sending His Son to die for us? We, who are born again, recognize the goodness of God in Christ, to say nothing of the other kindnesses the Lord places in our lives. Yet we too can be guilty of producing no fruit to the glory of the Lord. God has been so gracious to us, is it not true that God should expect that we would produce the fruit of
Good works,
A Christ honoring lifestyle and
Souls led to the Saviour through us?
The Lord expects fruit. This is the gist of the parable no matter to whom we apply it.
[1] E-Sword 7.8.5, Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible, Albert Barnes (1798-1870)
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.
The Word of God only has one interpretation, but it has many applications. The one interpretation of this passage has to do with the Jewish nation and their lack of repentance toward God. God had been gracious and patient with them. God's kindness toward Israel cannot be over stated. But there came a day when that patience was through and judgment came upon them.
Barnes makes this application; "We may also remark that God treats sinners in this manner now; that he spares them long; that he gives them opportunities of repentance; that many live but to cumber the ground; that they are not only useless to the church, but pernicious to the world; that in due time, when they are fairly tried, they shall be cut down; and that the universe will bow to the awful decree of God, and say that their damnation is just."[1]
So the interpretation is toward the Jews. An application may be made toward the lost, and I would like to suggest that another application may be made toward the believer.
Who can deny God's kindness and grace toward us in sending His Son to die for us? We, who are born again, recognize the goodness of God in Christ, to say nothing of the other kindnesses the Lord places in our lives. Yet we too can be guilty of producing no fruit to the glory of the Lord. God has been so gracious to us, is it not true that God should expect that we would produce the fruit of
Good works,
A Christ honoring lifestyle and
Souls led to the Saviour through us?
The Lord expects fruit. This is the gist of the parable no matter to whom we apply it.
[1] E-Sword 7.8.5, Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible, Albert Barnes (1798-1870)
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