This is the manuscript of the third sermon in the "Responding to the Parables of Our Lord" series.
As followers of Christ, we need to look to him and listen to him. Jesus spoke powerfully to his contemporaries and to us through his parables. In using parables Jesus speaks in a pointed and powerful way about God, people, life, privileges, opportunities, and responsibilities. His parables also contain warnings and point out the various dangers we face. In the parable of the barren fig tree, which was in our scripture this morning, our Lord speaks about the penalty of being useless and fruitless.
When you rent an apartment, house, or business building, you acknowledge who the owner is by paying rent to that person. Both Israel and people today have refused to acknowledge the rights of the divine owner to receive an appropriate return on his investment.
Scripture Reading:
Luke 13:1-9 NIV[1] 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.” [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.’ ”
Introduction
I've been talking about Jesus’ parables the last couple of weeks. Specifically the one about God's Great Banquet. In using parables Jesus speaks in a pointed and powerful way about God, people, life, privileges, opportunities, and responsibilities. His parables also contain warnings and point out the various dangers we face.
In the parable of the barren fig tree, which was in our scripture this morning, our Lord speaks about the penalty of being useless and fruitless.
Text; Luke 13:7 NIV [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?’
There is both a national and a personal application in this parable.
Jesus was speaking to the nation of Israel in declaring that Israel had one more opportunity to bear fruit to the glory of God.
Exodus 19:3-6 NIV [3] Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: [4] ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. [5] Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, [6] you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
Deuteronomy 7:6 NIV [6] For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.
Israel was rejecting God’s Messiah and God’s purpose for them as a nation.
Matthew 21:42-44 NIV [42] Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “ ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’ ? [43] “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. [44] Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”
Less than 50 years after Jesus said this the nation of Israel disappeared as a national entity and remained that way until 1948.
We learned in Bible study just this past Wednesday
In A.D. 70, the Roman general,Titus, built large, wooden scaffolds around the walls of the Temple buildings, piled them high with wood and other flammable items, and set them ablaze. The fires were so intense that the stones of the Temple crumpled.
To retrieve the melted gold from the temple walls, Roman troops dismantled the Temple stone by stone, fulfilling exactly the prediction of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 24:1-3 NIV [1] Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. [2] “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
Jesus spoke to Isreal and he speaks to us in a powerful way through this parable of the unfruitful fig tree.
I. In this parable Jesus was alluding to God’s absolute ownership.
Isaiah 5:1-7 NIV [1] I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard: My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. [2] He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines. He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well. Then he looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit. [3] “Now you dwellers in Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. [4] What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it? When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad? [5] Now I will tell you what I am going to do to my vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be destroyed; I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled. [6] I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and briers and thorns will grow there. I will command the clouds not to rain on it.” [7] The vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the nation of Israel, and the people of Judah are the vines he delighted in. And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard cries
A. He had absolute ownership but God had and continues to not be acknowledged as our creator. Both the people of ancient Israel and the people of today, for all practical purposes, refused to acknowledge God as creator.
B. Israel did not see God as owner with a clear title and all of the rights that accrue to ownership. People today do not see the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ as the owner of the earth and all of those who dwell in it.
Psalms 24:1 NIV 1] The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;
Psalms 50:10-12 NIV [10] for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. [11] I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine. [12] If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
C. God continues to not be acknowledged as a sustainer.
For all practical purposes, contemporary people believe that everything just happens. They do not see God as the great engineer behind this fabulous universe.
By not acknowledging God as creator, owner, and sustainer, people have made practical atheists of themselves. We did a bible study a few years ago called Chistian Atheists which is someone who believes there is a God but acts like He doesn’t exist,
II. In this parable Jesus speaks of God’s right to expect an appropriate return.
Luke 13:6-7 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?’
When you rent an apartment, house, or business building, you acknowledge who the owner is by paying rent to that person. Both Israel and people today have refused to acknowledge the rights of the divine owner to receive an appropriate return on his investment.
God does not expect impossibilities from his people. God does not expect fig trees to produce grapefruit. God does not expect grapevines to produce watermelons. God does not expect corn stalks to produce cotton fiber. The fruit of the fig tree is figs.
The fruit of a redeemed human being is conduct worthy of the family of God. The fruit of a Christian is another Christian. The fruit of a child of God is another child of God.
Jesus was encouraging Isreal and encouraged us to recognize that the Father God is both pleased and glorified when we bring forth much fruit to his honor and glory.
John 15:5-8 NIV [5] “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. [6] If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. [7] If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. [8] This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
III. In this parable Jesus alludes to the fact that there is a limit on divine patience.
Luke 13:7 NIV [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?’
A. This may sound harsh but God is not in the business of encouraging parasites who use up space that could be occupied by productive plants.
B. God wants to replace parasites with those who will be productive. The national application for Isreal, in this parable is that God’s patience with a nation can be exhausted. The personal application is that God’s patience with a rebellious, unfruitful individual who has been blessed with his favor can reach the point of exhaustion. God is patient but that patience will run out we all like to quote
2 Peter 3:8-9 NIV [8] But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. [9] The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
But we forgot about verse
[10] But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
IV. But there’s still a chance to be fruitful
Luke 13:8-9 NIV [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.’ ”
When we look back and evaluate our lives as Christians, we must admit that there have been periods of time when we have not been very productive as fig trees in the vineyard of God. We have not brought forth fruit pleasing to God. While we can’t go back and have a do-over for those missed opportunities, we can rejoice that we do have the present and the future.
Let each of us decide today that we will respond to the working of God’s Spirit within our hearts and cooperate with God so that we might be productive rather than a figless fig tree.
A. Let us decide today not only to read God’s Word but to pay attention and do it.
2 Corinthians 5:20 NIV [20] We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
Matthew 28:19-20 NIV [19] Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
B. Let us see prayer as something more than a fire escape or a parachute. Let’s see if for what it really is, a relationship. It is interacting between you and God. It’s a dynamic conversation between two individuals who love, care for and enjoy one another.
Let us determine to listen that we might receive instructions, correction, and commissions to do what God wants us to do.
C. Let each of us recognize that the church is more than a place, a building. Let us see it as the body of Christ in the world today through which he carries on his work in the world. Let each of us rejoice that in and through the church we can serve our Lord.
1 Corinthians 12:14-19 NIV [14] Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. [15] Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. [16] And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. [17] If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? [18] But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. [19] If they were all one part, where would the body be?
D. Let us not neglect or ignore the Holy Spirit. Instead, let us respond to him positively as he creates within us a hunger for fellowship with God and as he lays on us the blessing of a burden of compassionate concern for those around us.
Ephesians 5:15-20 NIV [15] Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, [16] making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. [17] Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. [18] Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, [19] speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, [20] always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
E. Let us seize every opportunity for self-improvement through study and training.
Romans 12:2 NIV [2] Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
2 Timothy 2:15 KJV [15] Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Then we will become more competent in carrying the good news of God’s love to people in the community.
Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV [8] For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— [9] not by works, so that no one can boast. [10] For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
If you say that you are a Christian, and I’m including myself, and for some reason or another you have been asleep and inactive, it is time for us to wake up and become productive for God.
Prayer
"Oh Lord, how wonderful you are! Creator of all things, Gardener of our lives, We offer up ourselves to you today. Prune back the parts of us that do not bear fruit; We want to be fruit-bearers for you. Work in us and through us so that everyone may know your great love".
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