The Parable Of The Fig Tree

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Hidden In Him

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Decided to browse Worthy tonight and see what they were up to. Noticed a thread on the Parable of the Fig Tree, and in reading it suddenly the Lord revealed to me what I think it is actually about. So I thought I would post it here as posted there, and see what everyone thought of it.

Feel free to comment, and as always, blessings to all who respond.
Hidden In Him
____________________________________________________

"Greetings, Gandolf old friend. I know this thread is more than a month old now, but I was just passing by Worthy to see what everyone was up to and noticed it. About Jesus' words possibly relating what was going on in previous Chapters, there is a break at the beginning of Chapter 13, which seems to make what is mentioned in Ch.11 and Ch.12 too distant from the present context to be of much relevance.

But here is what I think it means, and I will quote the context again first:

13 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Luke 13:1-5 NIV)

6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ 8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’” (Luke 13:6-8 NIV)

Notice how He said, "But unless you repent, you too will all perish." He says this not once, but twice, making this is the thrust of what He is apparently warning them about; the point being that unless the entire nation repented, they would all likewise perish. The parable He gives then explains why they were all going to perish. It is essentially a prophecy of Israel's destruction, that will come in forty years. For the next thirty years (three in the parable), the gospel would be preached to the nation yet it would bear no fruit. Their destruction from God would be at hand because of it. But the Lord in His patience would give them ten more years (one in the parable) before finally making the determination to cut them down. This prophecy went forth around 30 A.D. and Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D, making three decades plus a final decade before Jerusalem was destroyed.

Thought I would see what you thought, and God bless. Great to see you are still around.
Hidden In Him
 

Philip James

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Hi Hidden,

Well you asked for my thoughts....

The tree is Israel, and the gardner is Jesus... He fertilized the tree with HIS own Blood... And the tree bore fruit,,,,

Our discussing it is proof that it did so.

Peace be with you!
 

GodsGrace

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Decided to browse Worthy tonight and see what they were up to. Noticed a thread on the Parable of the Fig Tree, and in reading it suddenly the Lord revealed to me what I think it is actually about. So I thought I would post it here as posted there, and see what everyone thought of it.

Feel free to comment, and as always, blessings to all who respond.
Hidden In Him
____________________________________________________

"Greetings, Gandolf old friend. I know this thread is more than a month old now, but I was just passing by Worthy to see what everyone was up to and noticed it. About Jesus' words possibly relating what was going on in previous Chapters, there is a break at the beginning of Chapter 13, which seems to make what is mentioned in Ch.11 and Ch.12 too distant from the present context to be of much relevance.

But here is what I think it means, and I will quote the context again first:

13 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Luke 13:1-5 NIV)

6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ 8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’” (Luke 13:6-8 NIV)

Notice how He said, "But unless you repent, you too will all perish." He says this not once, but twice, making this is the thrust of what He is apparently warning them about; the point being that unless the entire nation repented, they would all likewise perish. The parable He gives then explains why they were all going to perish. It is essentially a prophecy of Israel's destruction, that will come in forty years. For the next thirty years (three in the parable), the gospel would be preached to the nation yet it would bear no fruit. Their destruction from God would be at hand because of it. But the Lord in His patience would give them ten more years (one in the parable) before finally making the determination to cut them down. This prophecy went forth around 30 A.D. and Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D, making three decades plus a final decade before Jerusalem was destroyed.

Thought I would see what you thought, and God bless. Great to see you are still around.
Hidden In Him
Hi HIH,
I agree. I've always known it to mean this and nothing else.

Just want to say that it could be applied to us personally too.
God waits for us to become born from above...He is not slow.
2 Peter 3:8-9
8But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.
9The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
 

Hidden In Him

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Just want to say that it could be applied to us personally too.

This was traditionally my interpretation, in particular for the passage where He cursed the fig tree for bearing no fruit and it withered away. But this interpretation changes things. It is likely that He was alluding to the nation of Israel specifically in both instances.

That's my take on it now, anyway.
9The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

Good verse!
 
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Jay Ross

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Notice how He said, "But unless you repent, you too will all perish." He says this not once, but twice, making this is the thrust of what He is apparently warning them about; the point being that unless the entire nation repented, they would all likewise perish. The parable He gives then explains why they were all going to perish. It is essentially a prophecy of Israel's destruction, that will come in forty years. For the next thirty years (three in the parable), the gospel would be preached to the nation yet it would bear no fruit. Their destruction from God would be at hand because of it. But the Lord in His patience would give them ten more years (one in the parable) before finally making the determination to cut them down. This prophecy went forth around 30 A.D. and Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D, making three decades plus a final decade before Jerusalem was destroyed.

How about considering Hosea_6:1-3, it tells us that Israel will not be destroyed as you have suggested, but will be redeemed and live within the sight of God.

From the time that God's entered into a covenantal relationship with Abraham, God went and inspected the fig tree that He had planted in His vineyard after the passing of each age. After the end of the first age, God found no fruit to satisfy His desire and likewise after the end of the second and the third ages, God came an inspected the planted fig tree as was his custom from the beginning of time, and because on his third inspection He found no fruit to His satisfaction, God told the gardener to get rid of the tree, but the Gardener interceded on behalf of the fig tree and asked for one more age to pass before that decision was made and the Gardener undertook to care for the fig tree and if their was no worthwhile fruit to be found on the tree that it then be ripped out and destroyed.

This same warning had been repeated to the Israelites over the first two ages of the existence of the fig tree through the prophets.

The message that the Israelites can gain from this parable of Jesus is that if the Israelites, during the fourth age of their existence, repent of their idolatrous behaviour and the idolatrous behaviour of their fathers for three ages, then God will hear their cry and turn back to them and gather them to Himself once more and redeem them.

The secret to understanding this parable is to understand the length of a season, which is given in Daniel_7:11-12.

Daniel_7:11-12: - 11 "I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.​

Then if we consider Isaiah_24:21-22 and Revelation_20:1-3 we know that the season of their imprisonment, is for 1,000 years.

If we look for the wrong "sign" of the fulfilment of this parable, then the conclusion that we reach will be wrong. History can lead us down the wrong pathway into unbelief.

Shalom.

PS: - After the righteous Israelites are redeemed, God will make like new again his Kingdom of Priests, a Holy Nation, and His Possession among the Nations with the redeemed Nation of Israel.
 

Hidden In Him

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From the time that God's entered into a covenantal relationship with Abraham, God went and inspected the fig tree that He had planted in His vineyard after the passing of each age. After the end of the first age, God found no fruit to satisfy His desire and likewise after the end of the second and the third ages, God came an inspected the planted fig tree as was his custom from the beginning of time, and because on his third inspection He found no fruit to His satisfaction, God told the gardener to get rid of the tree, but the Gardener interceded on behalf of the fig tree and asked for one more age to pass before that decision was made and the Gardener undertook to care for the fig tree and if their was no worthwhile fruit to be found on the tree that it then be ripped out and destroyed.

This same warning had been repeated to the Israelites over the first two ages of the existence of the fig tree through the prophets.

The message that the Israelites can gain from this parable of Jesus is that if the Israelites, during the fourth age of their existence, repent of their idolatrous behaviour and the idolatrous behaviour of their fathers for three ages, then God will hear their cry and turn back to them and gather them to Himself once more and redeem them.

The secret to understanding this parable is to understand the length of a season, which is given in Daniel_7:11-12.

Daniel_7:11-12: - 11 "I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

Hmm... this part is interesting. Define the four ages for me. Are you referring to the four ages when the four beasts of Daniel reigned on earth, or no?
 

Jay Ross

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Hmm... this part is interesting. Define the four ages for me. Are you referring to the four ages when the four beasts of Daniel reigned on earth, or no?

Well actually, the recognition of the beasts mentioned in Daniel_7 only come into reality during the later part of the second Age. Rev_20 tells us that an age is a little longer than 1,000 years.

From my reading of the scriptures, I have come to the conclusion that a Day of the Lord and an Age are interchangeable and that they are both slightly longer than 1,000 years in duration. The verse, Ps_90:4, tells us that "A 1,000 years in your sight are like yesterday when it has passed." However, I question our understanding of the actual number that אֶ֪לֶף represents and whether or not is 1,000 as we understand it.

But the explanation of this concept may prove very difficult on this forum.

If we consider that Isaac was born at the beginning of the Third Age, then the length of the an age can be determined with great accuracy if the usual error of when Shem's son is born is accounted for.

Shalom
 

Hidden In Him

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Well actually, the recognition of the beasts mentioned in Daniel_7 only come into reality during the later part of the second Age. Rev_20 tells us that an age is a little longer than 1,000 years.

From my reading of the scriptures, I have come to the conclusion that a Day of the Lord and an Age are interchangeable and that they are both slightly longer than 1,000 years in duration. The verse, Ps_90:4, tells us that "A 1,000 years in your sight are like yesterday when it has passed." However, I question our understanding of the actual number that אֶ֪לֶף represents and whether or not is 1,000 as we understand it.

But the explanation of this concept may prove very difficult on this forum.

If we consider that Isaac was born at the beginning of the Third Age, then the length of the an age can be determined with great accuracy if the usual error of when Shem's son is born is accounted for.

Shalom

Ok. 1,000 years, or slightly longer...

I'd have to think that through, though I think my application fits the context better. The subject matter Jesus brought up in the parable was more immediate; i.e. the death of the Galileans and those upon whom the tower of Siloam fell. It seems then that the time frame is to things going on then that would happen to all of them in the future if they all repented; hence the four "years" representing the next four decades rather than three that had passed over the last 3,000 years, and one that had already passed 970 (-ish) years of its duration.
 
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Jay Ross

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Ok. 1,000 years, or slightly longer...

I'd have to think that through, though I think my application fits the context better. The subject matter Jesus brought up in the parable was more immediate; i.e. the death of the Galileans and those upon whom the tower of Siloam fell. It seems then that the time frame is to things going on then that would happen to all of them in the future if they all repented; hence the four "years" representing the next four decades rather than three that had passed over the last 3,000 years, and one that had already passed 970 (-ish) years of its duration.

You can make the context whatever you want it to be, but it should also fit the prophetic details of the OT concerning when Israel will be redeemed which is after the fourth season's inspection.

Shalom
 

Philip James

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After the righteous Israelites are redeemed, God will make like new again his Kingdom of Priests, a Holy Nation, and His Possession among the Nations with the redeemed Nation of Israel.

Hello Jay,
Has He not already done this?
Compare your statement here with
1 Pet 2:9

But you are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises" of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Peace be with you!

Christ IS risen!
Alleluia!
 

Jay Ross

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Hello Jay,
Has He not already done this?
Compare your statement here with
1 Pet 2:9

But you are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises" of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Peace be with you!

Christ IS risen!
Alleluia!

No.

Shalom

PS: - Does not verse 10 throw a different light on the context of the passage.
 

Lady Crosstalk

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Hello Jay,
Has He not already done this?
Compare your statement here with
1 Pet 2:9

But you are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises" of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Peace be with you!

Christ IS risen!
Alleluia!


If you read the entire letter, it is clear that Peter is writing to Messianic Jews who are scattered abroad (look at the salutation). The Apostle Paul tells us in Galatians 2:8 that Peter was the Apostle to the Jews while he (Paul) was the Apostle to the Gentiles. Israel was warned repeatedly by Jesus that their nation (represented by the fig tree) would be destroyed, if they did not repent and turn to God. But, throughout the OT, the prophets said that, at the time of the End, Israel would rise again--(Jesus said, when the fig tree puts forth leaves--). And so it has. Even though the people of Israel are largely in unbelief today, the number of Messianic Jews is growing rapidly.
 
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marks

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Notice how He said, "But unless you repent, you too will all perish." He says this not once, but twice, making this is the thrust of what He is apparently warning them about; the point being that unless the entire nation repented, they would all likewise perish. The parable He gives then explains why they were all going to perish. It is essentially a prophecy of Israel's destruction, that will come in forty years. For the next thirty years (three in the parable), the gospel would be preached to the nation yet it would bear no fruit. Their destruction from God would be at hand because of it. But the Lord in His patience would give them ten more years (one in the parable) before finally making the determination to cut them down. This prophecy went forth around 30 A.D. and Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D, making three decades plus a final decade before Jerusalem was destroyed.
This, and the fig tree Jesus went to looking for fruit, finding none, because it wasn't the time for figs. When the time was right, God sent His Son . . .

Muhc love!
 

Enoch111

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This, and the fig tree Jesus went to looking for fruit, finding none, because it wasn't the time for figs. When the time was right, God sent His Son . . .
This would be a misunderstanding of that parable.

It was time for the figs since John the Baptist was sent as the forerunner of Messiah -- to prepare the way for Him in Israel.

God expected every Israelite to repent and be baptized by John. But many refused to acknowledge their sins, therefore they refused to acknowledge their Savior. Eventually God brought divine judgment upon Israel.

LUKE 13

THE FIG TREE A TYPE OF ISRAEL IN GOD'S VINEYARD
6 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.

THE "DRESSER" A TYPE OF CHRIST IN ISRAEL FOR THREE YEARS
7 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?

GOD ALLOWED ANOTHER FRACTION OF A YEAR TO ISRAEL
8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

THEN GOD ALLOWED ANOTHER 40 YEARS TO ISRAEL
9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

Divine judgment came upon Israel through the Romans, who destroyed the temple, Jerusalem, and Judah, and scattered Israel to the four corners of the earth.