Luke 13:6-9
(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.
The fig tree is symbolic of Israel throughout the old and new testament.
Hos 9:10 I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved.
Joel 1:7 He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white.
The Lord speaks of the fig tree as being barren and when the Father finds it as such desires to pull it up but Jesus intercedes for Israel and asks for more time to allow fruit and if not then cut it down.
Mat 21:18-20
(18) Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.
(19) And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
(20) And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!
“During the six months thence ensuing, the Savior was more active than ever, according to His promise to the master of the vineyard. But that trial, also, ended in fruitlessness, And that Jesus showed, when on one of the last days of His ministry He went up to the fig tree of the wayside, seeking for figs, and finding nothing but leaves, He cursed it, and it withered.”
Robert Govett; The Prophecy on Olivet. Pg 81
Mat 24:32-35
(32) Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
(33) So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
(34) Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
(35) Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
“But what is the meaning of “the leaves”? By them, as I judge, are intended the rites and ordinances given by Moses. When Israel repents, it will return to its well-known ordinances. Each tree has a peculiar leaf, which is contained virtually within it, even during the winter. Thus it was foretold that it would be the case with Israel.”
Robert Govett; The Prophecy on Olivet. Pg 83
Hos 3:4 For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:
Hos 3:5 Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.
So the leaves, of the fig tree, represent the law and ordinances. The nation of Israel was certainly not without ordinances and sacrifices during the Lord’s ministry.
The Pharisees kept the letter of the law. But missed the spirit of the law.
Luk_11:42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. (Matt 23 refers to the “weightier matters of the law”)
Luk 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
Luk 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Thus the law had the mercy and the love of God scattered throughout that were to be practiced by the nation.
Mat 12:7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
Let’s hear the testimony of a “ex” Pharisee:
Php 3:5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
Php 3:6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
The Pharisees were teachers of the law.
Mat 23:2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:
Mat 23:3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
The Pharisees trusted in the law
Joh 5:45-47
(45) Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
(46) For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
(47) But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
The Pharisees added their own commandments and taught men so.
Mat 15:7-9
(7) Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
(8) This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
(9) But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
The first time that a fig tree is mentioned in scripture it is in the garden of Eden. But is wasn’t the fruit that was spoken of but the leaves.
Gen 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
They tried to cover their shame and nakedness by their own means. It wasn’t sufficient by God’s standard because He had to make them coats of skins.
Gen 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
Thus the leaves of the fig tree that were insufficient at the time is a type of man’s own righteousness: whereas the killing of the animal, required to make the coats of skin, is a type of the Lord Jesus’ sacrifice for mankind. It is man’s righteousness vs God’s righteousness that is under consideration.
Man seeks wisdom and knowledge from the source forbidden by God and them endeavors to provide his own righteousness to cover for his sin.The law handed down to Israel through the mediator Moses was to be the people’s righteousness. No other nation on earth could claim this.
Deu 6:
(5) And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
(6) And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
(24) And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day.
(25) And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.
Israel is God’s fig tree whereas the new testament church is a vine.
Joh 15:1-8
(1) I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
(2) Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
(3) Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
(4) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
(5) I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
(6) If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
(7) If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
(8) Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
Both Israel and the church are to bring forth fruit. Though Israel is in a time of winter until the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled, the NT Church is to thrive in the Sun of righteousness bringing forth fruit for the husbandman.The Lord does not mention “bad fruit” which would be works of the flesh. Nor does he mention leaves.The Father is looking for fruit and leaves are not sufficient.
A fruitless fig tree represented a nation seeking their own righteousness, which they thought, would come by keeping ordinances and laws.
A fruitless vine is in my opinion no different.”Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away”
“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” Phil. 3:9
How to be a fruit bearing Christian?
1. Recognize that you are free from the evil works of darkness:
Rom 6:6-14
(6) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
(7) For he that is dead is freed from sin.
(8) Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
(9) Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
(10) For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
(11) Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(12) Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
(13) Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
(14) For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
a) The absence of the works of the flesh does not guarantee the presence of the fruits of the Spirit.
It is not enough to just live a moral life. To deny oneself the pleasures of the world does not promote a life that is fruitful unto God. Ordinance and rules and reformation is not the means to an end. It is not enough to “sweep the house” and garnish with rules “taste not touch not”
2. Understand that there is a promise of resurrection and a kingdom coming.
Col 1:3-6
(3) We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
(4) Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
(5) For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
(6) Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
3. Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfil the lusts of the former. Putting love first.
Gal 5:18-26
(18) But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
(19) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
(20) Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
(21) Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
(22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
(23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
(24) And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
(25) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
(26) Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
In Summary:
- Love is the first fruit mentioned. Not faith, even though without faith it is impossible to please God
- We understand that the greatest commandment is to love God. Matt.22:37-40.
- Love must proceed and is a requirement for the other fruit to manifest themselves in our lives.
- 1Co 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up (longsuffering,gentleness,meekness)
- Eph. 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love
- It is not sufficient to just do good works. Love must be the focus and main objective.
- Heb. 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
- 1Co 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
How can we know if we are fruitful Christians? How can I know that it will go well with me in this present life and at the judgment seat of Christ?
If we put our sights on the first fruit of God’s love everything we do thereafter, we can be assured that:
- The rest of the fruits of the Spirit will begin to manifest themselves in our lives.
- The manifestation of love fruit in our lives will give great confidence on the day of judgment.
1Jn 4:7-18
(7) Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
(8) He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
(9) In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
(10) Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
(11) Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
(12) No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
(13) Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
(14) And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
(15) Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
(16) And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
(17) Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
(18) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.