The Barren Tree

Luke 13:6-10 (KJV):

⁶ He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

⁷ Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

⁸ And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

⁹ And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

¹⁰ And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.

Coming off the heels of a swift rebuke in verses one through five, Jesus begins to tell this parable to the people in the synagogue. It must be understood that in context Jesus is speaking to the Jewish nation. He came for His people first and this parable was directed to them. But being a wild olive branch grafted in, we must also believe that this parable applies to our generation, as well whether we are Jew or Gentile. Jesus spoke of three years waiting for the tree to bear fruit, and one year to show it mercy because it reflected His time in ministry here on earth. He had been preaching and teaching going on for three years at this point. He had done miracles no man could do, taught things even the law givers could not comprehend, and trained His disciples personally. But the majority of Israel still refused to believe in Him. We know that John the Baptist spoke of the axe being laid unto the root of the trees and the tree which doesn’t bear good fruit would be cut down and cast into the fire (Luke 3:9). In this parable Jesus speaks of the Father as being the owner of the fig tree and of Himself as the vinedresser.

The certain man, being our Father in Heaven, created this tree to produce figs and nothing else. He placed it in the vineyard of His choosing at a time He desired to place it there. We are no different as His creation. He has made us for a purpose to bring Him glory in the calling He has placed on us at this specific time. And whether you know your specific calling or not, we are all called to bear the fruit of the Spirit. Now we cannot say the Master isn’t patient because He has given this tree three years, much like Jesus gave His disciples. He gave it all the sunlight it needed, fertile soil, and the best vinedresser to tend to it. Jesus is our Vinedresser. The Vinedresser does everything to tend to the plant. He does so by:

1. Pruning the plant so that it bears more fruit. He takes off the right number of leaves so that sun can get to it.

2. Tying up the weak branches that could break until they become strong.

3. Keeping  the tree protected from harmful insects and diseases.

4. Picking the right fruit off the tree that is sweet and discarding the bitter ones.

Yet after all this, the Owner finds no fruit on this tree. Of course, if you own a vineyard, you don’t have room for a dead tree that produces no fruit and takes up nutrients that other trees could use. So, like any Owner would, He tells the vinedresser to cut it down and replace it. But the compassion of the vinedresser compels Him to defend the tree and plead its case for one more year. Why would He do this and why does He think He can plead for this tree to the Owner? The Israelites knew nothing but the law. Only the blood of Jesus and His sacrifice could not only atone for their sins, but also give them the gift of the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, no man can bear fruit worthy of the Father. In essence, Jesus is saying, “I will pay the cost for their sin by becoming sin itself for the law says, ‘cursed is anything hung on a tree’. And if they reject Me after I offer My life for them, then their condemnation will be because they rejected Me.”

All the Lord’s children who are born again have been given the same Christ and the same Holy Spirit. We will be left without excuse on that day why we did not deny ourselves and submit our lives to the pruning of the Vinedresser, Jesus Christ. But understand, you are only expected to bear the fruit you are called to. A tree with five branches cannot bear the same fruit as one with ten. And a tree one year old cannot always produce the way a mature tree of three years or more can. But rest assured that you do not have to bear this fruit in your own power. Listen to what Jesus states in John 15:5 (AMP):

⁵ I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.

Stay in relationship with Jesus Christ and protect at all costs your time with Him. Follow the Father’s commandments and seek His will for your life. The Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth, bringing forth fruit you did not know you could produce. I plead with you, brothers and sisters, not to let the affairs, fears, or even pleasures of this life choke out the seed that is within you. I know in my heart every one of you has a desire to give your life over to your Lord. Please do not put it off today, but run to your Father and let Him tend to you. Shalom.