Weekend Sermon -- The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

       Thank you for stopping by to read the Weekend Sermon this week.  I hope that everyone is having a very good week.
     I am thankful that we haven't had any bad storms in my area.  I've been working hard to keep the house up and work on writing.  My job is going a little bit better.  I will just have to see how things go.  I am still looking for the right opportunity.  I would appreciate your prayers on this matter.
     In prayer this week, let us continue to remember to pray for the families affected by the fire in London.  Pray for those who mourn, and pray that those without homes will quickly find accommodation.  Also, pray for those affected by the fires in Portugal.  I know from the blog statistics page that there are a couple of people who read the blog in Portugal, and I pray that everyone is safe.
     Let us continue to pray for peace in this world.  Syria is a mess and needs prayer desperately.  Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, South Sudan and Ukraine also need prayers for peace.
     For our prayer focus countries this week, please be in prayer for Bosnia and Gambia.  Pray that people in these nations will hear the message of Jesus' love.
     Today, we are continuing with our series of messages on the parables of Jesus.  The parable that we will examine today is not controversial, but there are two distinct ways in which this parable is interpreted.  I would like to explore these two interpretations and then explain why I believe one interpretation is more correct than the other.
     The parable of the barren fig tree goes like this.  A man who owned an orchard planted a fig tree.  One day, he came to look for figs on the tree, but the tree had not produced.  The owner said to the gardener.  I've had this tree for three years.  This tree has yet to produce any fruit.  Cut down this tree so that it quits just taking up space.  At this point, the gardener said to the owner that they should give the tree one more year.  The gardener said that he would fertilize the tree and tend it.  If there was no fruit the next year, then they would cut it down.
     Now, when I was in Bible college and seminary, the interpretation of this parable I learned went something like this.  The fig tree represented the nation of Israel.  Israel had been chosen by God to be a light to the nations.  Israel was to follow God and His laws.  By doing this, Israel would draw people to the True and Living God.
     Unfortunately, Israel often was not an influence, but it was influenced by the godless nations around it.  Often, the people of Israel would turn to idols and turn away from the Lord.
     In Jesus day, Jesus did not think that the nation and its religious leaders were living up to the truth.  Jesus said that if the people did not repent, judgment would come.  Jesus predicted the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple which occurred in 70 AD.
     Jesus' earthly ministry was the last chance for the people to repent.  By accepting the Messiah, they would truly fulfill their mission from God.  If they rejected the Messiah, their role would be taken by the church which would take the message of the Lord to the world.
     Now, there is a different interpretation for this parable that I've heard in sermons and read in some commentaries recently.  This interpretation goes something like this.  The owner of the vineyard is God.  Those who are in sin are represented by the barren fig tree.  The gardener who asks for more time for the fig tree is Jesus.
     In this interpretation, Jesus as our advocate works with us through His lovingkindness to bring people to repentance and faith.  He will never give up on anyone.  Jesus desires everyone to be saved and produce fruit.
     I find the second interpretation of this parable to be interesting.  I certainly don't think that there is anything wrong with this view.  However, within the context of Luke 13, I believe that the first interpretation is the correct one.
     Just before Jesus told this parable, the people had asked Jesus opinion about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.  Jesus said that unless the people repented, they too would likewise perish.  Then, Jesus told the parable of the barren fig tree.  It seems that the parable was mostly directed to those living in Jesus' time.
     There is one lesson that we need to learn that is common to both of these interpretations.  The Lord is merciful.  He does not want one sinner to perish, but He desires that all should come to repentance and faith.  The Father wants us to come to Him so much that He sent His only begotten Son into the world so that whoever believes in Him might have eternal life.
     No matter who you are, you can turn your life over to Jesus Christ right now.  You can repent and make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life.  He will forgive you, and through Him, you can have fellowship with the Father who is in Heaven.
     Some people wonder why the Lord has delayed His Second Coming for so long.  I believe that it might have something to do with the fact that the Lord wants as many people as possible to come into His kingdom.  He is patient and longsuffering.
     I think that there is another lesson that we can draw from this parable that applies to the people of God.  Just as the people of Israel were called to be a light to the nations, so too are we called to be light in a dark place.  When we fail to produce fruit for the Lord, we do not let our light shine.  We are not living up to our responsibility.  The Lord wants us who are His followers to be fruit producing Christians.
    To produce spiritual fruit, we need to abide in Jesus who is the vine.  Jesus speaks about this extensively in John 15.  We need to be communicating with Jesus every day through prayer and meditation.  We need to be in the word reading the words of Jesus and putting His teachings and commandments into practice.
     Both of these views on this parable are interesting.  I don't know which view you will find most accurate, but I do encourage you to study more about it.
     Next week, I will post the verses on Monday, and I will have a review of dog book on Wednesday.  On Friday, I will post the sermon.  It will be about a passage that some consider a parable while others think that it is something that will actually take place.  May God bless you all. Amen.