This post is Day 15 in a series of studies about “The Fig Tree”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

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The Fig Tree – Day 15

Much is said in the Bible about repentance, and it has to be an ongoing thing for all of us who want to make it to Heaven. To repent means to change our way of thinking. So changing our thinking to the way Jesus thinks will change us.

Luke 13:6

Then Jesus used this illustration: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard. He went to look for fruit on the tree but didn’t find any.”

The Thought

This short unexplained parable (Luke 13:6-9) follows several statements by Jesus talking of repentance. The preceding verse ends with “if you don’t turn to God and change the way you think and act, then you, too, will all die.”

The man in this story is not poor. He has his own vineyard and a fig tree to provide fruit and shade (symbols of wealth as we learned early in this study). So we can imagine he is fairly self sufficient and comfortable. But he became irritated at the lack of fruit from his fig tree. His gardener was confident he could save the tree and promised to care for it for 3 years. Jesus doesn’t tell the end of the story, so we don’t know if the gardener succeeded in his care of the tree.

Is it possible that the man with the fig tree is an allegory for God and His children, and He is expecting fruit from us? Could the gardener be Jesus who came to care for the world during 3 years? Because the preceding verses are all about repentance, that seems to me to be a possible explanation. A few chapters later Jesus asks the question “When the Son of Man comes will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8).

Much is said in the Bible about repentance, and it has to be an ongoing thing for all of us who want to make it to Heaven. To repent means to change our way of thinking. Most of our actions come from our thoughts, so changing our thinking to the way Jesus thinks will change us, and consequently those around us.

Action

Ask Jesus to show you where you are not bearing fruit for Him but could be. Repent and ask Him to help you to be fruitful. Thank Him for His patience with you.