The Barren Fig Tree

Good morning and welcome to Our Daily Walk.

Audio version at http://tinyurl.com/3cm3qq

Several years ago my wife and I planted some fruit trees in our backyard in Georgia. They grew rather well, but I was disappointed to learn that they wouldn’t produce fruit the first year. But by the second year fruit began to appear and we were glad that we had planted those trees.

The fig tree was a very important tree in Palestine. The fruit was well suited for that climate and the tree had a very thick covering of leaves which provided much needed cool shade.

Jesus uses a fig tree to demonstrate the need for repentance. As some were with Jesus they began to ponder how sin might have played a part in the deaths of several people who were murdered while making their sacrifices. A common thought of the day was that tragedy and misfortune were always the result of sin. So their conclusion was that these people who were murdered somehow deserved their fate.

We find this passage in Luke 13:1-9.

There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

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 tree 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.’”

Jesus was using this fig tree to represent the Jews. They had great promise of producing fruit for the kingdom but they were coming up barren. They needed to repent, make a turn around for the Lord.

The tree that was barren was obviously useless for fruit. That was its intended purpose. The shade that it would give was a secondary benefit. The reason for its existence was to produce figs.

These fig trees would begin to put on figs in April and would produce two crops—one in early June and another one in August. For years the owner, God, has come expecting fruit, but is always sad to find none.

The barren tree is also hindering good from being done. It was taking up valuable space and drawing off nutrients from the soil as well. And what was the return to the owner? Nothing. Better to dig this one up and plant another one that will produce figs.

Jesus imparts this warning that if repentance is not forthcoming that destruction will follow. He says in Matthew 7:19, “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” And in John 15:6 in speaking of the vine and branches, every branch that does not bear fruit is cut off and burned.

God is very patient and in this parable God is patient to allow the tree another year to make good on bearing fruit. Perhaps more fertilizer will do the trick. But after so many years of empty branches hope is slim.

So it is also with many Christians today who take up space and nutrients but return nothing to God. They, like the barren fig tree, might be otherwise healthy. But without producing fruit they are barren and invite destruction upon themselves.

The good news is that God is patient with us. Extremely patient. Peter informs us of the patience of God when he said in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

Friends, God expects us to produce for Him. The one talent man in Matthew 25 was punished for not producing a profit. The unproductive vines of John 15 were cut off and burned for not bearing fruit. And the barren fig tree was soon to be dug up and replaced with another tree if it would not repent and begin to bear fruit.

Are we producing fruit for God today? If not, why not?

On Our Daily Walk today, may we each resolve to do what we can to produce fruit for God. May we do more, read more, pray more, teach more, encourage more and love more so that others may know that we are productive for our God.

Our thought for the day: “God holds us responsible not for what we have, but for what we could have; not for what we are, but for what we could be.”

May God bless you on your daily walk.

© Our Daily Walk, Mike Baker, 2007. Permission is granted to copy these articles provided they are not sold and the author's name and copyright are included.