Barren Fig Tree

From Feb 11th, 2020

Luke 13: Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

6 Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. 7 Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’

8 “The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. 9 If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’”

*** We see that Israel is the Lords Vineyard and Judah is His garden in that vineyard (Is 5). Jesus tells us that within that garden a fig tree was planted. The one who owned the garden and planted that tree came to examine the tree for 3 years looking for fruit and found none. His desire was to cut the tree down because it wasn’t doing anything but taking up space. Jesus is the rightful heir to the vineyard, the garden and the fig tree. He spent 3 full years with the nation of Israel looking for fruit and never found any. I find that fascinating.

Matthew 23 (NLT) Jesus Grieves over Jerusalem

37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. 38 And now, look, your house is abandoned and desolate. 39 For I tell you this, you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD!

Luke 19: Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem

41 But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. 42 “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. 43 Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. 44 They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you.

*** Jesus has come to Jerusalem for His last week before His Passion. On his way into the city we have 2 records from the gospels of Him weeping and lamenting over the city. Their time is up. Their master has come to evaluate their fruit and found them to be barren. As a result, they will be removed from His garden. They didn’t realize how close they were to their time of evaluation and they totally missed it.

Matt 21 Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

18 In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry, 19 and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” And immediately the fig tree withered up.
20 The disciples were amazed when they saw this and asked, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?”

*** From the moment Jesus spoke the tree dried up and the leaves withered. Obviously, this is a judgement and the evidence is immediate.

Mark 11:

11 So Jesus came to Jerusalem and went into the Temple. After looking around carefully at everything, he left because it was late in the afternoon. Then he returned to Bethany with the twelve disciples.

12 The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. 14 Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it.
Jesus Clears the Temple

15 When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people buying and selling animals for sacrifices. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, 16 and he stopped everyone from using the Temple as a marketplace. 17 He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.”

18 When the leading priests and teachers of religious law heard what Jesus had done, they began planning how to kill him. But they were afraid of him because the people were so amazed at his teaching.

19 That evening Jesus and the disciples left the city. 20 The next morning as they passed by the fig tree he had cursed, the disciples noticed it had withered from the roots up. 21 Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day and exclaimed, “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree you cursed has withered and died!

*** This account goes a little deeper. The master came to His temple and watched all that was going on there. He did not interact from what is recorded, he simply watched. Taking inventory of His tree. From this we are told about Him being drawn to the fig tree by the promise of fruit because of the visible leaves. Finding no fruit, he curses the tree which dies from the root. This is a picture of the judgement that is coming upon His fig Tree.

Luke 21

20 “And when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you will know that the time of its destruction has arrived. 21 Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. Those in Jerusalem must get out, and those out in the country should not return to the city. 22 For those will be days of God’s vengeance, and the prophetic words of the Scriptures will be fulfilled. 23 How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days. For there will be disaster in the land and great anger against this people. 24 They will be killed by the sword or sent away as captives to all the nations of the world. And Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the period of the Gentiles comes to an end.

*** Here we have the definitive word of what is to happen to Israel and Jerusalem. The city will be surrounded and the city totally torn down. The words Jesus spoke about the temple being thrown down so that not one stone stands upon another will come to pass. The Jews will be taken captive and dispersed throughout the entire earth and the beloved city will be over run by the gentile nations until the time set for them ends. We have clear records of the destruction of Jerusalem and the dispersion of the Jews throughout the entire world. We have seen in recent history the restoration of Jerusalem in the land ruled by the Jews in 1967. The time of the gentiles has ended.