The Curse of the Barren Fig Tree

THE CURSE OF THE BARREN FIG TREE
TEXT - Luke 13: 1-9

INTRO. - There is a message to everyone in this great parable
of Jesus. God extends mercy and grace to all. He provides and
meets needs. He loves and cares. But God has his limits. He
looks to see what we will do with what he has given us. There
are those who reject and resist the love and mercy of God as
well as those who take from God but do not care about ever
giving to God. This message is to these.

I. NOTICE THE BARREN FRUIT TREE - Luke 13: 6

A man had a fruit tree and he came again and again looking
for fruit but found none. The man here is symbolic of God.
See John 15:16
The tree is symbolic of man. God put us here. We are his. He
planted us therefore we are not children of chance. God has a
plan for our lives. Other passages in the Bible use trees to
symbolize people.
See Psalm 1 and Psa.37:35

II. GOD HAS A RIGHT TO EXPECT FRUIT FROM OUR LIVES - 13:6

The man expected fruit and he came looking for it. He did all
he could for the tree so as to help it bear fruit. He planted
it in a vineyard. He had a caretaker. He selected a place for
it. He had it watered, dressed, and fertilized. No labor was
spared on this fruit tree. The man had a right to demand
fruit from this tree.

God has a right to demand fruit from our lives. God made us.
He has been good to us. He has put each of us into the place
where we can best serve him. He has worked with each of us
over the years of our lives. He has spared no labor on us and
has done everything possible for us to become what he would
have us to be.

God expects the fruit of repentance from the unsaved. See
Luke 3:8

God expects fruit from the Christian too. God wants to see
the fruit of service and character. Gal.6 tells us of the
fruits of the Spirit which ought to be in the lives of God’s
children. Fruit suggests reproduction - Gen. 1: 28 - 29. God
expects Christians to be fruitful and multiply and produce
other Christians.

III. GOD SOUGHT FOR FRUIT BUT FOUND ONLY LEAVES - Mark 11:13

Leaves and fruit both take strength from the tree but fruit
helps all while leaves help nothing but the tree. Leaves at
times do not even help the tree. The leaves of the tree were
purged or pruned in John 15 so as to give strength to the
fruit.

Many of us have leaves in our lives that are sapping our
strength so as to keep us barren. The leaves of sin, bad
habits, worldliness, laziness, and unconcern are among a few.
We put too much of our energy into leaves and not enough into
fruit. Too many unsaved have no fruit of repentance because
of the leaves of sin.

IV. NOTICE THE LONG-SUFFERING OF GOD - Luke 13: 7a

For three years the man has been patient with the tree. From
the context we see that this was too long to wait for the
this type of tree to bear fruit. God has been long-suffering
with most of us. God has waited years for us to get saved and
serve him. Some have turned to Christ and God has waited
years to see the fruit of service. It seems many hope to give
their lives to the devil and then one day give their souls to
God. How foolish.

The long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah. He
waited in the days of Lot. He waited in the days of Israel’s
wanderings. The long-suffering of God waits today. How long
has God been waiting for you?

V. NOTICE THE MERCY OF GOD