“The Usefulness of a Fig-less Fig Tree?”
Luke 13:1-21
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.” – Luke 13:6
A fig-less fig tree, what’s the use? It’s no use at all! That would certainly be a disappointment.
Now, I know it takes a while for a fig tree to bear fruit; but after three, four, or even five years? After that amount of time, it must be determined whether the tree will ever bear fruit. And there lies the question, a great dilemma. How long do we wait? When is it time to dig up the tree and plant another? “Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?” [Lk 13:7].
The illustration in our parable this morning is striking, especially since it was applied to Israel. But the principle also extends to us in this time of the church as we will see in the parables of the Mustard Seed and Leaven.
Three powerful parables of warning, and they apply to us, one’s professing to follow Christ. Remember the question from a few weeks ago: “Spiritual or Spirit Filled?” It referred to the warning of hypocrisy [ref. Luke 12:1-12]. It is worth noting again that, “Beware of Hypocrisy,” was [and is] directed at religious people, and Jesus directed them at the Scribes and Pharisees of His day. The message and warning, however, is also for us.
The three parables in our passage have wide application for all piety. And while the Fig-less Fig Tree certainly points to Israel, the underlying message is on bearing fruit; spiritual fruit; the kind that Paul described in Gal 5:22-23. And that warning goes out to every religious person.
Might we take heed to the message of these parables and receive it as our own. What good is a fig-less fig tree? It has the look but no fruit. It is a façade, a fake, a deception.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”
Unless we allow the Lord to cultivate this spiritual fruit in our lives, we are a spiritual façade and useless in the Kingdom. Spiritual or Spirit-filled? Let’s all hope and pray for the latter.
