Barren?

Luke 13:6-9

Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’ ”

Judgment?

It is clear from the context of Luke 13 that the parable of the barren fig tree was pointed at the people of the day who were claiming to be God's people. Their hearts were not in line with a true belief and they had not appropriated God's gospel of the kingdom that was being fulfilled in Christ. Christ came and the expectation was repentance, belief and changed hearts. Instead most people sought to kill him.

Christ tells this parable which is a warning/prophetic message to the generation then living (cf. Matt. 24). Christ tells them that because of the lack of faith and belief in the promise of the Messiah, that judgment is just around the corner. This judgment, however, has been delayed for a season.

In the parable Jesus is challenging that generation to bear fruit in line with the gospel message, i.e. faith, repentance and good works stemming from salvation. Yet, a threat exists in this, and that is the judgment of God.

I can't help but think that the delay was the time from Jesus' ascension to the fall of Jerusalem. 30-40 years was plenty of time to bear fruit.

Appropriation

Irreligious

There is definitely a 2nd level appropriation to those who have not joined the kingdom of God and accepted the good news of the gospel of Christ. ...there is only a limited time to repent before the "axe is put to the root," meaning that life is over and judgment will follow.

Religious

Yet, I think there is a one-to-one correlation to those who are joined to the church but are not living gospel-changed lives. Those who are in the church but need the gospel. How long will they be allowed to stand hypocritically in the church, feeling good about themselves, but not having the gospel so radically change them that they abandon their own self-love, self-interest, and self-promotion. The "axe will be put to the root" at some point to stop wasting the preaching and prayers on stale, dead soil.

Gospel-minded

One more...for owe who have appropriated the gospel, but have been lulled to sleep for a few weeks, month, or years: it is time to wake up and bear the fruit of the gospel. It is time to start pouring out the love to these other two groups of people that are inside and outside the church. It is time to rekindle your prayer life. It is time to pick up your dusty bible. It is time to show the fruit of repentance, living for others and not yourself. Feed the hungry. Guide the blind. Visit the prisoner. Share the gospel at work, at school, at home! Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God working in you.

If this sounds like it is mean and nasty it is because the parable is not one of happiness and good feeling. Also, the church in the US has fallen asleep, lulled to sleep by money, power and physical pleasure. It is time to pray for God to shower the church with Holy Spirit. This is my prayer: Lord, fill your church with your glory. Let us see the beauty of the gospel of Jesus Christ and fill us with Holy Spirit. Fill us with a desire to pray for your kingdom to come, and let us live lives to match. Amen.