At just about every level of society in our country, there is a crisis. It is a crisis of leadership and authority. There is a breakdown of authority in this generation like no other generation.
Family… Government… Politics… Business… Church… Home… Education.
And the list can go on. Wherever you turn, there are difficulties and problems of enormous proportion.
This, of course, is not new. In the book of Judges, there is a phrase that dominates the book, “Everyone did that which was right in his own eyes.” This is where we have come to in our country.
Opinion is more important than fact or truth.
Where once we had journalists that kept us up to date on what was happening in the world, now we have opinionists who are telling us what to think.
I think of my grandfather. He really did not like to talk about politics. When he was around a Democrat, he talked like a Democrat. When he was around the Republican, he talked like a Republican. For the longest time I did not know if he was a Democrat or Republican. I once asked him about that.
He said, “Don’t get caught up in the minutia of politics. When you go into the voting booth and close the curtain, then you can be political.”
I think he was right.
When we come to this parable before us today, it is interesting along these lines. What are we to think about politics in our day? Better yet, what does the Bible have the say about it?
Isaiah 9:6-7 - “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”
The key phrase is “and the government shall be upon his shoulder.”
All authority comes from God whether government or religion. Everybody in authority will finally answer to God for how they used that authority. Many people will be surprised at the judgment that comes their way because of misusing God’s authority.
My focus today as we look at the parable of the barren fig tree is on religious authority. The fig tree here represents the religious authority, which rested upon mainly the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Spiritual leadership and authority is established by God to accomplish kingdom purposes. This is the key. “Kingdom purposes.”
Let’s look at this parable and break it down a little bit for our admonition today.
I. First, We Have the Symbol of the Figtree (13:6-9)
In this parable, the figtree symbolizes the religious leaders namely the Pharisees.
1. The figtree is positioned by the owner.
The owner here is of course none other than God. God is the one who sets up authority and puts this authority on people. This is not man, it is God. A bar old authority.
It is a deliberate act of God where he arranges his authority to accomplish his purpose.
One problem the Pharisees had was that they believed their authority came from themselves. They were the source of authority and power and wielded it over the people mercilessly.
The figtree does not plant itself and therefore does not make the decision of where or when it is to be planted. All of this rests in the heart of God. The Pharisees refused to acknowledge that they answer to anybody higher than themselves. The spiritual arrogance that they flaunted is almost unbelievable.
God purposefully positioned them where he wanted them to do what he wanted to be done. This power and authority was to accomplish kingdom purposes. It was not to be used for personal advancement or agenda.
2. The figtree represents God’s purpose.
As we get to understand God, we realize that he has never done anything just to do something. Everything he does he does for a purpose and everything he does harmonizes with everything else he does.
This is something that is beyond our comprehension I am sure.
The authority represented by the figtree, was God’s design and therefore fulfilled its function by doing God’s bidding.
If we could just realize God’s agenda, which never changes from generation to generation, we would begin to understand how God wants to use us today.
3. The figtree also represents God’s presumption.
Perhaps this is the hardest for us to truly understand. God planted the figtree and the presumption is that the tree would bear fruit. It seems like a silly assumption, but a figtree presumes fruit.
Matthew 7:16-20 – “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
A tree is judged by its fruit.
A leader is judged by its fruit.
A Christian is judged by its fruit.
Regardless of looks, a tree is no better than the fruit it bears.
There is an important consideration here. The fruit is always for the owner of the tree. No tree benefits from its fruit. A tree bears fruit for someone else.
The barren fig tree is a symbol of the barrenness of the Pharisees in Jesus day. They fell far short of God’s presumption about their life.
The overall purpose of the religious leadership was to nourish and refresh the people they were serving. They were to be servants, not lords lording over God’s people.
Their place of prominence was established by God to accomplish kingdom objectives. To do otherwise is to invite the judgment of God.
II. The Curse of Barrenness (13:10-17)
Jesus Gives an Example of This Barrenness.
Following the parable of the barren fig tree is an example of what Jesus is really trying to get across.
Instead of rejoicing in the woman’s healing, they were complaining because Jesus did not follow their protocol.
Listen to their objective, “There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day” (13:14).
Jesus was violating their schedule.
Their emphasis was at the wrong place. They were more concerned about the letter of the law than the law having any kind of benefit to the people. Their emphasis was in the wrong place.
Too often, when we have an exterior emphasis it directs the people away from the inner work of God in our hearts.
2 Timothy 3:5 “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
Notice how Jesus addresses them.
“You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it?” (13:15).
They were so obsessed with exterior excellence, their definition of excellence, that they lost sight of the real purpose of the law. The law was to bring people to God not keep them from God. This the Pharisees did not understand.
The curse of barrenness is the curse of religion today. They use religion as a platform for self-promotion.
III. The Application.
Some things from this can be applied to our lives today.
Matthew 7:21-23 “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
It is not what we do that makes any difference as far as God is concerned. It is who we are, not on the outside, but on the inside.
Titus 3:5-8 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.”
What God is looking for in my life is the fruit of my relationship with Jesus Christ. Fruit that will bless other people.
I can get all caught up with religion and do things thinking I am pleasing God. God is not so much pleased with what we do; rather, he is looking for that fruit.
That fruit in my life is a result of the inner working of the Holy Spirit bringing to the surface of my life that which is embedded in my soul by conversion.
