Fig tree parable Luke 13

[fin]

biblehub.com/niv/luke/13.htm

I’m referring to this parable. I know it’s about repentance, but I’m asking about the second part. I saw that this was the Gospel for last Saturday.

The way I understood it, it’s about giving up, that is, removing or stopping something that has no ‘fruits’. The owner wanted to cut down the fig tree since there’s no fruit. It’s just using up resources for nothing.

Caretaker says he’ll try to work on it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit, good. If it doesn’t, then I’ll cut it down.

Doesn’t it refer to knowing when to give up? If what you’re doing isn’t working, maybe stop it?

Or, if you’ve been working on something, try to change some things a bit. If it’s successful, good. If it still doesn’t, then stop it.

I know that when we petition for something, we should pray persistently like the old widow parable and the man who woke up his friend in the middle of the night. But doesn’t this fig tree parable say something about giving up? Am I interpreting this correctly?

 

[jcrichton]

biblehub.com/niv/luke/13.htm

I’m referring to this parable. I know it’s about repentance, but I’m asking about the second part. I saw that this was the Gospel for last Saturday.

The way I understood it, it’s about giving up, that is, removing or stopping something that has no ‘fruits’. The owner wanted to cut down the fig tree since there’s no fruit. It’s just using up resources for nothing.

Caretaker says he’ll try to work on it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit, good. If it doesn’t, then I’ll cut it down.

Doesn’t it refer to knowing when to give up? If what you’re doing isn’t working, maybe stop it?

Or, if you’ve been working on something, try to change some things a bit. If it’s successful, good. If it still doesn’t, then stop it.

I know that when we petition for something, we should pray persistently like the old widow parable and the man who woke up his friend in the middle of the night. But doesn’t this fig tree parable say something about giving up? Am I interpreting this correctly?

Hi!
…I rather understand this parable with that of the weeds (St. Matthew 13:24-30); the Kingdom of God is set in a world that contains both good things and bad things (Jesus prays to the Father not to remove His Disciples from the world but to keep them safe); by prodding, and adding fertilizer the tree is given additional time to become productive–how many of us are not a “work-in-progress?”

God’s Mercy and Patience abounds–though Jesus warns: “be alert, watch and pray for you do not know when the time is…”

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[the_phoenix]

I have a friend, Carlos Caso-Rosendi, who writes a blog. He just so happens to have written about the fig tree, how it relates to Lazarus, etc. Yes, Carlos Caso-Rosendi quotes Mark instead of Luke, but I believe this commentary still applies.

Here is a quote, after which I’ll link to Mr. Caso-Rosendi’s blog post:

"A friend of Jesus, Lazarus of Bethany is ill. The name of the village is made of two words beth, meaning “house” and te’enah meaning “fig” בֵּית־תְּאֵנָה (beit-te’enah) literally “house of figs.” Just before the cleansing of the Temple, when Jesus expelled the moneychangers violently, we find the brief story of Jesus and the fig tree:

Mark 11:12-14 — On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see whether perhaps he would find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. He said to it, ‘May no one ever eat fruit from you again.’ And his disciples heard it.

“According to this passage of Mark, Jesus was coming from the house of figs, that is from Bethany and found a fig tree in leaf, that is giving the external appearance of bearing fruit. On inspection the tree was devoid of figs and Jesus cursed it. Many of the early Fathers see in that episode a condemnation of those who have all the appearance of following Jesus but bear no real faith. “Produce fruits of repentance” is a phrase we find in many parts of the Gospel but not one time we read, “act as if you had faith and faith will be given to you,” a saying than many sincerely believe to be in the Bible. I can assure you it is not, Jesus never asked us to produce the appearance of fruitfulness but actual, real fruits of repentance. That day Jesus was coming from Bethany, perhaps he had visited Lazarus and his sisters. We have reason to believe Lazarus’ family had shown fruits of repentance from a previous life of sin. Having that in mind let us enter in John’s story about the death and resurrection of Lazarus of Bethany.”

casorosendi.wordpress.com/2016/10/22/a-hidden-parable/

…
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[Tomdstone]

Mark 11:12-14 — On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see whether perhaps he would find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. He said to it, ‘May no one ever eat fruit from you again.’ And his disciples heard it.
.

It seems wrong to me to curse a fig tree because it doesn’t have fruit at the time you find it. Perhaps it was not getting enough water or enough fertilizer. Why would it not be better to try to work with the tree and get it back to a healthy condition instead of cursing it?

 

[Reuben_J]

It seems wrong to me to curse a fig tree because it doesn’t have fruit at the time you find it. Perhaps it was not getting enough water or enough fertilizer. Why would it not be better to try to work with the tree and get it back to a healthy condition instead of cursing it?

Yes, from a human point of view, many would agree with you. It is hard to understand that Jesus was very unreasonable here, at least from how human sees it and from human understanding. It was not the season, so why curse it? Did he expect it to have fruit at that time of the year? Was he upset that the fig tree showed an appearance of having to be fruiting, with all the leaves and all that, only to find that it did not?

This is the message of the Gospel - the message of contradiction… You are expected to bear fruit all year round. In the Gospel, fruits are occasionally associated with God and His characteristic - the fruits of the Holy Spirit, for example. It also talks about the vine that bears fruit and without fruit, it is being cut off too.

Here the blogger mentioned about the fruits of repentance.

There is no compromise on this; if the tree does not bear fruit, it will be cut down and to be burnt in fire. The gardener has an uncompromising standard on this.

So to read the Bible with our human thought and standard would be a sure way to read it wrong. As in Isaiah, it says, His thought is not our thought and His ways different from our ways (paraphrased).

 

[Tomdstone]

There is no compromise on this; if the tree does not bear fruit, it will be cut down and to be burnt in fire. The gardener has an uncompromising standard on this.

there was a tree in our backyard that was not doing well. I dug up some of the dirt around it and put in some rich soil with fertilizer. Within a few weeks, it was doing well. It is now a beautiful tree and I am happy that I did not cut it down and burn it.

 

[PNEUMA]

Luke 13:6–9 is the same as John: 15:1-6 you will get cut of if you do not bear fruit.

Hebrews 13:15 “Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.”

 

[Reuben_J]

there was a tree in our backyard that was not doing well. I dug up some of the dirt around it and put in some rich soil with fertilizer. Within a few weeks, it was doing well. It is now a beautiful tree and I am happy that I did not cut it down and burn it.

You are so right. I would do that too.

But following Jesus leaves nothing to chance, no second thought; it is decisive. This is the difference, and at first I too, find this hard to understand.

Thus Jesus would say, do not bury your dead; do not turn back, do not even look back. And if we follow him, we would be bound to fight against our brothers and fathers and mothers and father-in-law or mother-in-laws, who don’t.

And who would do that? It is just mind boggling. Thus understandably, many do not follow him because it is going into a blind alley.

And even if we want to, would it be possible for us humans to give everything; hundred percents, without giving it a chance? We can’t.

But Jesus said, yes, we really cannot. We cannot do it on our own because it will be a difficult narrow road rather than the easy and wide one.

Then he gave a stunner - yes, he said, we can! Not on our own but with God, we can. It is not impossible.

The message of the Bible truly has to be heard and understood through the ears of ones who submit to this incredible, unreasonable word.

**
Edit: **
Nevertheless, there were people who were crazy enough just to do that, to follow Him. With no second thought, they left everything behind, depended only on their faith, to follow him. Today we can only remember them as the apostles, who left their fishing nets or the tax table, to follow him.

 

[mikekle]

When I think about the fruit tree analogy, its not really that good of an example, most fruit trees only give fruit or flower if its the right season, and ‘seasons’ are the different times in our lives, so it really could show that we are only expected to be ‘fruitful’ during the right ‘seasons’ in our lives, and other times, fruit should not even be expected…right?

 

[Nita]

biblehub.com/niv/luke/13.htm

I’m referring to this parable. I know it’s about repentance, but I’m asking about the second part. I saw that this was the Gospel for last Saturday.
…

Luke 13:6-9 And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Lo, these three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down; why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Let it alone, sir, this year also, till I dig about it and put on manure. And if it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”The parable shows:

1. We will be judged on whether or not we have produced fruit
2. The power of intercessory prayer.
   In this parable the intercessor was able to get the owner to postpone judgement and grant an extension of time to produce fruit.

**Here is a short (20 min.) video of Fr. Steven Scheier, a Catholic priest who “died” in an accident and appeared before the Lord for judgment, and was condemned. Then Our Lady intervened and pleaded with her Son to give Fr. Scheier another chance. ** Fr. Scheier’s testimony is powerful. It’s a true life occurence of what Jesus was proclaiming through the parable. youtube.com/watch?v=QqiqO5BzH74

 

[jcrichton]

It seems wrong to me to curse a fig tree because it doesn’t have fruit at the time you find it. Perhaps it was not getting enough water or enough fertilizer. Why would it not be better to try to work with the tree and get it back to a healthy condition instead of cursing it?

Hi!
…did you read the passage? There’s something else going on… the passage clearly states that it was its season…

Following this event we find Jesus correcting the errors that had crept into the Temple’s outskirts (money exchange, vending, haggling…); the tree that does not produce good fruit is cut-off!

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[jcrichton]

there was a tree in our backyard that was not doing well. I dug up some of the dirt around it and put in some rich soil with fertilizer. Within a few weeks, it was doing well. It is now a beautiful tree and I am happy that I did not cut it down and burn it.

…what would you have done if year after year after year… the tree would still not yield any good fruit, consign it to your grandchildren so that they would continue to prod and fertilize it?

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[jcrichton]

When I think about the fruit tree analogy, its not really that good of an example, most fruit trees only give fruit or flower if its the right season, and ‘seasons’ are the different times in our lives, so it really could show that we are only expected to be ‘fruitful’ during the right ‘seasons’ in our lives, and other times, fruit should not even be expected…right?

Hi, Mike!
…could that not be the learning curve? Jesus expects us to yield good fruit… not when we think we should… not when we reach the apex of “x” or “y…” not when we feel we better make amends… not when we find ourselves amongst “our” kind of people…

…as St. Paul said:

21 For to me, to live is Christ; and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21)

…and Christ puts it this way:

3 Jesus answered, and said to him: Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (St. John 3:3)

So we are called into a different existence:

17 If then any be in Christ a new creature, the old things are passed away, behold all things are made new. 18 But all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Christ; and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. 19 For God indeed was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing to them their sins; and he hath placed in us the word of reconciliation. 20 For Christ therefore we are ambassadors, God as it were exhorting by us. For Christ, we beseech you, be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:17-20)

…and the Apostles take this to mean that we are to produce good fruits all year long:

2 Preach the word: be instant in season, out of season: reprove, entreat, rebuke in all patience and doctrine. (2 Timothy 4:2)

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[BobCatholic]

I see it differently.

God wants us to be his friend, but in order for that to happen we must do things. Bear fruit.

No fruit? No friendship. His friendship is conditional on our fruit. Unfortunately, I struggle with the idea of him loving unconditionally but acting like this.

 

[Reuben_J]

I see it differently.

God wants us to be his friend, but in order for that to happen we must do things. Bear fruit.

No fruit? No friendship. His friendship is conditional on our fruit. Unfortunately, I struggle with the idea of him loving unconditionally but acting like this.

If we mean about repentance, it’s about changing one’s life. It should start when we make a decision to really want to change. I guess that should be the start of bearing fruit.

The following him is uncompromising but there is caveat and mercy to it. It begins with us and God will help us as He’d be with us in our journey. He knows our limitation; it’s therefore not a matter of us unable to do it but rather He wants our hearts.

Similarly with faith, He wants us to trust Him; to have little faith is all it takes. The rest will be the work of His grace.

 

[BobCatholic]

The following him is uncompromising but there is caveat and mercy to it. It begins with us and God will help us as He’d be with us in our journey. He knows our limitation; it’s therefore not a matter of us unable to do it but rather He wants our hearts.

I don’t want to go to hell because I hate the devil. I don’t want to go to heaven because I don’t love God enough. I want to love God more. I have no ability to grow in my current state of life. I have no ability to grow closer to God. Every attempt I made to get closer to God has failed, and God doesn’t want to get closer to me. Stalemate. Game over. My life is completely useless.

Similarly with faith, He wants us to trust Him; to have little faith is all it takes. The rest will be the work of His grace.

Faith is a free gift from God. Not an action we take. If it was an action we take, this is pelagianism. The only way to please God is through faith, and if it is something we do, we are saved by our own works instead of grace, faith, works- contrary to the Catholic faith.

 

[Reuben_J]

I don’t want to go to hell because I hate the devil. I don’t want to go to heaven because I don’t love God enough. I want to love God more. I have no ability to grow in my current state of life. I have no ability to grow closer to God. Every attempt I made to get closer to God has failed, and God doesn’t want to get closer to me. Stalemate. Game over. My life is completely useless.

Faith is a free gift from God. Not an action we take. If it was an action we take, this is pelagianism. The only way to please God is through faith, and if it is something we do, we are saved by our own works instead of grace, faith, works- contrary to the Catholic faith.

Interesting thought.

Good day.

 

[jcrichton]

I see it differently.

God wants us to be his friend, but in order for that to happen we must do things. Bear fruit.

No fruit? No friendship. His friendship is conditional on our fruit. Unfortunately, I struggle with the idea of him loving unconditionally but acting like this.

Hi, Bob!
…consider this… we meet; we chat for a while; you invite me to you home… since we are “friends” you trust me; while in your home I spot a beautiful old book; before I leave I take possession of the book.

Did I behave as a friend or as an enemy?

…say, that it is a car instead–I see where you placed the keys and I grab them; on the next day you find your car right where you’d parked it–it does not work… the night before I took the battery and placed it in my car–did I act as your friend?

A friend is someone who extends him/herself to the other; a person who, as Jesus explained, would give his/her life for the other…

How do we demonstrate to God that we are His friends when we continue to refuse to produce good fruit?

In His Love God is Willing to Give His Life for us; in His Love God is Willing to help us become holy; in His Love God Will not allow us to embrace unrighteousness; in His Friendship with us God wants us to Be More than creatures… He wants us to be His children, His Beloved, His Friends.

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[BobCatholic]

Hi, Bob!
…consider this… we meet; we chat for a while; you invite me to you home… since we are “friends” you trust me; while in your home I spot a beautiful old book; before I leave I take possession of the book.

Did I behave as a friend or as an enemy?

As an ememy.

…say, that it is a car instead–I see where you placed the keys and I grab them; on the next day you find your car right where you’d parked it–it does not work… the night before I took the battery and placed it in my car–did I act as your friend?

No.

So let’s take your examples which don’t fit my life, and give you better examples.

Imagine you and I are walking down the street. A gang of thugs approach you and start beating you up. I have a concealed weapon and can easily draw it to save your life (and you know about it) You ask me for help and I refuse.

Am I a friend?

When I ask God to protect me from evil, and he refuses, is that acting like a friend? or is my request for something horrifically evil?

Imagine I am a hiring manager and have a job opening. You are a great fit for the role. You apply for the job. Clearly you are above the others and the best candidate for the job. I hire someone else.

Am I a friend?

So when I ask God to help me find a stable career, and he refuses, is he a friend? Or is my request for a stable career something horrifically evil?

 

[the_phoenix]

Imagine I am a hiring manager and have a job opening. You are a great fit for the role. You apply for the job. Clearly you are above the others and the best candidate for the job. I hire someone else.

Am I a friend?

So when I ask God to help me find a stable career, and he refuses, is he a friend? Or is my request for a stable career something horrifically evil?

Pardon me for butting in, but I resemble that remark.

In fact, I just recently applied for a job, did well enough on the interview that it appeared I would be offered the job (via feedback from a third party) … and then, at the last minute, for unknown reasons, it all fell through.

Do I blame God? No. Do I blame myself? No, I tried my best. Do I blame the hiring manager? While I might question the hiring manager, I don’t know all the background details. Was I a great fit for the job? I think so. Regardless, it was the hiring manager’s decision to make.

Meanwhile, another area of my life is going well. Is it a stable career? No. Can it lead to a stable career? Certainly not a guarantee. Do I feel like this other path is worth pursuing? … As a matter of fact, yes.

Why would God choose to bless me in an area that many might consider frivolous, while I’m seeking a stable career? Good question.

Meanwhile, the prudent thing to do seems to be to continue looking for stable employment, even as I follow this other pursuit … and who knows, this other pursuit might somehow lead me to stable employment that otherwise would not be possible.

Maybe, BobCatholic, there is another path for you to consider taking a look at? Maybe God is slamming shut the door to a dead end, so you will be able to open a new door to a better possibility.

Nobody ever said trusting God would be easy …