Time Is Short - Luke 13-14

Luke 13:6-9 (ESV Strong's)
The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree
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. 7 And 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?’ 8 And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”

Time Is Short

The above parable needs to be connected to Luke 13:1-5 ...

1 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

Jesus was asked about an apparent recent devastation of death.  His response was to use it to emphasize the shortness of life and the judgment that follows.  He does not attempt to explain the reason for the disaster. Instead, He gives us these truths, between the statement and the parable:

1. Disasters happen ... to everyone. No one can escape them.  We live in a fallen world and that puts everyone in sin’s harmful way.  The question is not, “Why do bad things happen to good people (there are NO good people)?”   The question is, “Why do good things happen to bad people?”

2.  Repentance is necessary for all.  He tells them in 1-5 that they must repent, or they will all perish.  Jesus, like always, is speaking spiritually ... He means that without repentance from sin, man will perish in spiritual death.

3. Repentance, however, must lead to fruit, which is the connection between the statements of Jesus and His parable.   The fig tree represents mankind (Israel in specific, but mankind in general).  Man has been given great opportunity.   To be planted in the vineyard, the fig tree would have every opportunity for growth.    Since the fig tree was planted in the vineyard it would have all the watering fertilizer and attention it needed to grow. However in our story the fig tree did not grow. Therefore it meets certain judgments.  The vinedresser wanted another opportunity for it to grow before it was judged worthy to have the opportunity that was given. The application is is that mankind has been giving opportunity after opportunity to grow and produce spiritual fruit. Time is running out however.

4.  The last point is, judgment is coming. The vinedresser in our story, is God. God is giving a certain fix time for men to repent and produce fruit. Mere words, as the Pharisees were doing in their interactions with Jesus, is not enough. There must be fruit worthy of repentance.

Jesus uses this disaster to teach a valuable lesson. Repentance is necessary for all men and that repentance mass produce fruit. Absent repentance and fruit, judgment will come.