The Barren Fig Tree

[H. Richard]

Luke 13:6-9
6 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.
7 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?'
8 But he answered and said to him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.
9 And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.'" NKJV

Jesus spent 3 years in His ministry to the nation of Israel (the fig tree) and they did not accept Him as their king. After His crucifixion His apostles had about 40 years (to dig around it). But it never happened so God concluded that all had sinned, destroyed the Jewish Temple, and now He offers salvation by grace to all who will place their faith in Him and what He did on the cross. Up until this time the only way a Gentile could be saved was through a saved Jew. Now everyone is on a level playing field.

 

[VictoryinJesus]

Luke 13:6-9
6 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.
7 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?'
8 But he answered and said to him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.
9 And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.'" NKJV

Jesus spent 3 years in His ministry to the nation of Israel (the fig tree) and they did not accept Him as their king. After His crucifixion His apostles had about 40 years (to dig around it). But it never happened so God concluded that all had sinned, destroyed the Jewish Temple, and now He offers salvation by grace to all who will place their faith in Him and what He did on the cross. Up until this time the only way a Gentile could be saved was through a saved Jew. Now everyone is on a level playing field.

Isaiah 54:1
[1] Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord .

Galatians 4:27
[27] For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

Proverbs 30:15-16
[15] The horseleach hath two daughters, crying , Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea , four things say not, It is enough: [16] The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.

He is enough. 1 Corinthians 15:54-55
[54] So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. [55] O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

 

[bbyrd009]

Luke 13:6-9
6 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.
7 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?'
8 But he answered and said to him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.
9 And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.'" NKJV

Jesus spent 3 years in His ministry to the nation of Israel (the fig tree) and they did not accept Him as their king. After His crucifixion His apostles had about 40 years (to dig around it). But it never happened so God concluded that all had sinned, destroyed the Jewish Temple, and now He offers salvation by grace to all who will place their faith in Him and what He did on the cross. Up until this time the only way a Gentile could be saved was through a saved Jew. Now everyone is on a level playing field.

you are strictly making this up as you go I guess, and I know you aren't too interested in having the glaring deficiencies pointed out to you so I won't, but it's a mess ok. The Good Samaritan did not have to become a Jew to be accepted, there is no 40 years of digging around, no 3 years of Jesus' ministry for that matter either, strictly speaking. Or I mean Quote it and let's see

 

[bbyrd009]

The Gospel of Luke (Luke 3:23) states that Jesus was "about 30 years of age" at the start of his ministry. A chronology of Jesus typically has the date of the start of his ministry estimated at around AD 27–29 and the end in the range AD 30–36.
Ministry of Jesus - Wikipedia
Wikipedia › wiki › Ministry_of_Jesus

 

[H. Richard]

What do these replies have to do with the opening post? It is a fact that God destroyed the Jewish Temple in 70 AD and scattered the Jews all over the world. The nation of Israel did not exist for almost 2,000 years. God had cut it down.

 

[bbyrd009]

What do these replies have to do with the opening post? It is a fact that God destroyed the Jewish Temple in 70 AD and scattered the Jews all over the world. The nation of Israel did not exist for almost 2,000 years. God had cut it down.

not all who are born Israel are Israel HR,
and wadr God did not destroy anything either imo, at least strictly speaking.

What the previous replies have to do with the op is self evident, isn't it? Or I mean if mine is not clear let me know, I know I'm bad about making leaps w/o bringing the reader along, but looks clear to me from here?

 

[Enoch111]

Up until this time the only way a Gentile could be saved was through a saved Jew. Now everyone is on a level playing field.

I am in agreement with what you have said about the barren fig tree. However, Gentiles did not need *saved Jews* to come to God. They simply needed to believe and trust God and His provision for salvation. We have several examples in the Bible of Gentiles being justified by grace through faith.

 

[bbyrd009]

you are strictly making this up as you go I guess, and I know you aren't too interested in having the glaring deficiencies pointed out to you so I won't, but it's a mess ok. The Good Samaritan did not have to become a Jew to be accepted, there is no 40 years of digging around, no 3 years of Jesus' ministry for that matter either, strictly speaking. Or I mean Quote it and let's see

so Q it and let's see, and I pass on the other

 

[Helen]

Luke 13:6-9
6 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.
7 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?'
8 But he answered and said to him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.
9 And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.'" NKJV

Jesus spent 3 years in His ministry to the nation of Israel (the fig tree) and they did not accept Him as their king. After His crucifixion His apostles had about 40 years (to dig around it). But it never happened so God concluded that all had sinned, destroyed the Jewish Temple, and now He offers salvation by grace to all who will place their faith in Him and what He did on the cross. Up until this time the only way a Gentile could be saved was through a saved Jew. Now everyone is on a level playing field.

Yes indeed. But I have no idea why this infuriates so many!!
'tis a great mystery to me.

We speak The Good News...but just like the old days ..they cry 'give us what the Jews had, let us prove our own worth.'

....H

 

[H. Richard]

I am in agreement with what you have said about the barren fig tree. However, Gentiles did not need *saved Jews* to come to God. They simply needed to believe and trust God and His provision for salvation. We have several examples in the Bible of Gentiles being justified by grace through faith.

What provision are you implying. Starting with Abraham up to the Preaching of grace by Paul there was no justification by grace. But you will try to find it. God only made a covenant with the the Jews. That covenant was set aside when the Jews refused to accept Jesus as their Messiah and King.

Eph 2:11-13
11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh — who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands —
12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
NKJV


As the OP shows the the 12 had about 40 years to try to get the nation of Israel to accept Jesus. They could not do it so God turned to the Gentiles with a gospel of grace as preached by Paul.

 

[Helen]

As the OP shows the the 12 had about 40 years to try to get the nation of Israel to accept Jesus. They could not do it so God turned to the Gentiles with a gospel of grace as preached by Paul.

Amen, agree...

 

[VictoryinJesus]

What do these replies have to do with the opening post? It is a fact that God destroyed the Jewish Temple in 70 AD and scattered the Jews all over the world. The nation of Israel did not exist for almost 2,000 years. God had cut it down.

I don’t know. Why does God choose the barren womb of Sara to display a miracle of promise. She was indeed barren but received ‘strength’ from on high to conceive seed. First that which was natural was born through the bondwoman. then the promise seed(Spiritual) to Abraham and Sara. Hebrews 11:11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

All flesh was cut off. Yes or no? But the miracle is that God, through His Spirit can cause that which is desolate to bear spiritual fruit. We also, barren and unfruitful can receive the promise of strength (Him) and bear life where there was once no life. I don’t know. The point was God told the “Barren” to rejoice and to sing...because of the promise of life.

Hebrews 11:17-18
[17] By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son , [18] Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

 

[Enoch111]

Starting with Abraham up to the Preaching of grace by Paul there was no justification by grace.

That is completely false. Starting with Abel and going forward until the first coming of Christ, the OT saints were all justified by grace through faith. Hebrews 11 explains that.

 

[H. Richard]

That is completely false. Starting with Abel and going forward until the first coming of Christ, the OT saints were all justified by grace through faith. Hebrews 11 explains that.

Justification means they are sinless. Show me how they could be sinless without the shed blood of Jesus on the cross?

Acts 17:30-31
30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,
31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead."
NKJV

 

[bbyrd009]

God only made a covenant with the the Jews.

HR no offense but you are strictly making this up as you go, and Scripture wil not support you in this, ok, "You were in Eden, the garden of God" go find that guy, and ask him about his covenant with God. The point being you have no idea whom God may have made covenants with. Note that your "chosen" bunch didn't do so good, and understand why, HR.

Don't you think I would much prefer to come here and agree with you? There are no Jew or Gentile, where it really matters HR. The awful truth is that "Chosen" was their perspective, at least largely, and I can Quote the "Chosen" eating their babies, ok. I can also Quote the Chosen being "whomever does God's will." So wadr get off this Special Jew thing. Or don't, but it is only you that will suffer I guess.

 

[bbyrd009]

So, I see you would prefer that I decline to comment in your threads, HR, so I am going to stop as of right now, ok, unless I am tagged, which I already know you won't be doing much. So hny and best of luck to you ok.

 

[Jay Ross]

Luke 13:6-9

6 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.

7 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?'

8 But he answered and said to him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.

9 And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.'"NKJV



Jesus spent 3 years in His ministry to the nation of Israel (the fig tree) and they did not accept Him as their king. After His crucifixion His apostles had about 40 years (to dig around it). But it never happened so God concluded that all had sinned, destroyed the Jewish Temple, and now He offers salvation by grace to all who will place their faith in Him and what He did on the cross. Up until this time the only way a Gentile could be saved was through a saved Jew. Now everyone is on a level playing field.

It seems to me many have assumed a timespan for this parable and are attempting to fit a theology around that timeframe. The above is just one such attempt.

Now, for me, the timespan is very clearly set out for us to follow. It goes something like this: -

The beginning of the four-season timeframe began with the birth of Isaac. The timeframe for this parable begins with God’s conformation of His Covenant with Abraham when Isaac is born, and God’s word that, all of Israel will be a blessing to all the nations of the earth, will come to pass.

The second season began after the birth of King David. This is when the first inspection for fruit on the fig tree was conducted. Shortly afterwards, Solomon built his temple in Jerusalem which on the day that Solomon dedicated the temple, God Presences filled the temple. The dedication of the Temple is the starting point for when the prophecy, found in Ez. 47:1-12, begins and the River of Salvation Life begins to flow towards the time when the restoration of the earth after the final judgement can begin.

The third season began with the birth of Christ. This was when the second inspection of the fig tree was conducted.

The fourth season began around the year 1000 AD when the third inspection for fruit on the fig tree was conducted. It is at this time that an extension for the fig tree was asked for and granted.

The beginning of fifth season is in our near future, when the judgement of the heathen nations at Armageddon occurs, and if the fig tree has no fruit on it at that time, then and only then, will it be destroyed. We are still waiting for Israel's to responded to God's acts of kindness towards them at this present time. At the time of the judgement of the heathen nations, Israel will be able to see Christ leading a heavenly army out against those nations that have come up, at the end of the prophesised 2,300 years, to once and for all destroy the city of Jerusalem, but when they are in sight of their objective, Christ will Judge them and they will be imprisoned in the pit, i.e. the Bottomless pit, for many days, i.e. for 1,000 years, before they are released for a little while period of mayhem upon the earth.

Another parable, the Parable of the Sower, also highlights this same timeframe for understanding the parable of the Barren Fig Tree. God, as prophesised in Ez. 34, when He goes searching for Israel, intends to plant Israel in Good Soil at that time, where they are living, scattered throughout the world, and teach them all that they need to know about the development of a healthy relationship with God, which, as God’s Kingdom of Priests, they will be able to Bless all the Nations of the earth with, after that time of learning directly from God.

May God’s words to the Saints come to Pass.


Shalom.

 

[H. Richard]

It seems to me many have assumed a timespan for this parable and are attempting to fit a theology around that timeframe. The above is just one such attempt.

Now, for me, the timespan is very clearly set out for us to follow. It goes something like this: -

snipe----

Shalom.

Your opinion is very complicated. I feel that my opinion is straight forward and easy to understand.

But that is what religion does. It make it complicated so as to discourage those that just read it for what it says.

Jesus was describing His own experience with the Jews and what would happen if the Jews rejected Him.

first of all He spent 3 years trying to get Israel to accept Him as their Messiah and King. --- the Jews did not accept Him. Then in 70 AD God destroyed the Jewish Temple.

Seems to me that it fits the events.

 

[Jay Ross]

Your opinion is very complicated. I feel that my opinion is straight forward and easy to understand.

But that is what religion does. It make it complicated so as to discourage those that just read it for what it says.

Jesus was describing His own experience with the Jews and what would happen if the Jews rejected Him.

first of all He spent 3 years trying to get Israel to accept Him as their Messiah and King. --- the Jews did not accept Him. Then in 70 AD God destroyed the Jewish Temple.

Seems to me that it fits the events.

Richard, can forge your own understanding of the parable. I just happen to disagree with your understanding and the fact that God rejected the Israelites because they did not respond to Jesus, and, as you are suggesting, if they had they would not be in the pickle they are in now.

Shalom