by Throughout the Bible, God uses “fruit” to illustrate truths to us:
- Our soul being saved is pictured as “fruit” (Romans 1:13)
- Our spirit being filled life is pictured as “fruit” (Galatians 5:22-23)
- Our sacrifice being praise is pictured as “fruit” (Hebrews 13:15)
READ LUKE 13:6-9 — Why would a gardener spend time with a “fig tree” and “dig about it, and dung it” if it will never “bear fruit?” The purpose of being planted is to bear fruit, and fruit bearing trees take time to get established. In Luke 13, the fig tree does not produce until after three years. Until then, it is not expected to bear fruit. After that, however, it is required to bear fruit.
CONTEXT OF 13:6-9 — In 13:1-5, Pilate had just killed a group of Galilaeans, and in another incident eighteen men were killed when a tower collapsed in Siloam. The people asked Jesus a sensible question for each incident, “WHY?” Jesus answers each question exactly the same in 13:3 and 13:5, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
Jesus used these two events to emphasize one word leading into the parable in 13:6-9. Studying this parable in light of context, our thought must be focused on this one word, Repentance. If a fig tree does not bear fruit when it is required to, it is removed to allow room for the tree that is willing and ready. The fig tree represents the born-again believer. Repentance, then, is the answer to being willing and ready to allow the Spirit to work in us to produce the exact fruit in the exact time that He expects in our Christian lives.
At salvation, we were immediately “planted in his vineyard” (13:6). God expects us to bear fruit (13:6-7). Yet, He knows we “are but flesh” (Psalm 78:9), and it takes time for us to mature in order to bear fruit. So, He is longsuffering with us (13:8). However, we will be judged if we do not bear fruit (13:9).
As a believer, we should continuously evaluate the fruit we are bearing. To do this, we don’t compare ourselves with other believers, but with “the fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23). As the “fig tree,” we are to allow the Spirit to “dig about it, and dung it” to produce His fruit in us, that ultimately souls will be saved!
