It Bore No Fruit Series

This evening’s message is entitled “It Bore No Fruit,” and it’s taken from what is commonly called “The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree.” “Die when I may,” said Abraham Lincoln, “I want it said of me that I plucked a weed and planted a flower wherever I thought a flower would grow.”(1) Lincoln wanted it said of him that during his life he bore fruit; that he made a positive impact in his time on this earth. This parable and sermon addresses the topic of bearing fruit; of how important it is, and how God despises fruitlessness.

A Vineyard and Fig Tree (v. 6)

6 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.”

Before this parable can be understood, we must interpret the symbolism behind the objects that Jesus mentioned here. The first item of symbolism is the man who planted the tree. This man is representative of the God of Israel. We also see that Jesus mentioned a fig tree growing in a vineyard. So, what have we discovered from some other parables about the identity of the vineyard? The vineyard is symbolic of the Lord’s followers here on earth. It often refers to His group of chosen people, the Jews.

What does the fig tree symbolize? Jesus mentioned the fig tree on few occasions, and each time He did it was in reference to its destruction. The Harper’s Bible Dictionary says, “A fig tree that failed in its purpose of bearing figs was cursed by Jesus perhaps as a metaphor for the destruction of the Temple that similarly failed to bear proper religious fruit.”(2) The fig tree is symbolic of the Temple in Jerusalem. The fig tree, or Temple, arose high among the vineyard, and was in view of God’s people, Israel. If the fig tree is symbolic of the Temple, and Jesus was speaking of its destruction, then what is this all about? We will soon find out.

Notice that verse 6 mentions how the man came to the fig tree and found no fruit on it. When a tree is fruitful, it brings forth something that is useful to other creatures as sustenance. It is helpful and life-giving. In the Old Testament the fig tree represented security and life. Take for instance Micah 4:4, which says, “But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.”

Jesus’ parable here is addressing spiritual fruitfulness – or, just the opposite, fruitlessness. We will see as we go along that this parable is directed towards the people who are running or operating the temple – the religious leaders – but it’s directed toward “people.” Now, the Scripture compares people to trees on many occasions. People can become barren or fruitful. Those who are fruitful bring life to the people around them. Christians are fruitful whenever they direct someone to eternal life in Christ Jesus, and bring them the sustenance of God’s Word, which is the Bread of Life.

Psalm 1:1-4 says, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.”

In order to become fruitful we must remain close to the Lord and keep His Word, or the Scripture, close to our heart. If we do this, then we will become fruitful. When the Word of God abides in our heart we will be obedient to it, and we will do as commanded in Matthew 28:19-20 which tells us, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” Only when we are faithful and obedient to the Word will we become fruitful.

The Temple was supposed to bring forth life to God’s people, namely spiritual life; but something happened which made it unfruitful. If meditating on God’s law and being obedient to the law will make someone fruitful, then did the Temple leaders fail to abide in the Word of God?

No Fruit in Three Years (v. 7)

7 “Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’”