Israel And The Fig Tree

Q

We were studying Luke 13 in Sunday School last week. In your opinion, what’s the meaning of the parable in verses 6-9?

 

A

Luke 13: 6-9 says:

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.  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?’

 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it.  If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

As it often does, the fig tree is meant to represent Israel In Luke 13:6-9. It’s owner is God, and the caretaker is Jesus. Simply stated, Israel hadn’t born fruit for God before the Lord came, and didn’t respond to His ministry when He was here. Therefore the nation was destroyed.