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 SEEN HERE - Luke 13: 8

The keeper of the garden asks for more time. He asks for one

more year. Maybe the dresser of the garden saw possibilities

not previously seen. Maybe he saw some little buds that

indicated possible fruit. Maybe he had worked with the tree

so long that he just had a love for it. Whatever the reason,

he interceded for the tree and was heard. Here we see

intercessory prayer in parable form.

God waits for many today. He has waited for a long time but

now the waiting is limited. God will wait just a little

longer for you to get saved, just a longer for you to bear

fruit. The owner gave it one more year. God in his mercy may

give you one more year. God may have already given you one