THE PARABLES OF JESUS

 

Parable of the barren fig tree

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree  is a parable of Jesus which appears in only one of the Canonical gospels of the New Testament. According to Luke 13:6-9 the parable is about a fig tree which does not produce fruit.

 The parable is as follows:

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. 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? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down. Luke 13:6–9


In this parable, the owner is generally regarded as representing God, who had a fig tree planted in his vineyard (the earth) and came seeking fruit (faith and righteous works, which would be represented in part by repentance and baptism) and the gardener (vinedresser) Jesus. Fig trees were often planted in vineyards.

The favorable position in which the fig tree was placed

• The fig tree
• In a vineyard, not on some neglected waste ground
• Advantages of care, skills, etc.
• The church
• Called out of the world into the church
• Knowledge of the gospel
• Promises of the New Covenant
• Grace and influence of the Holy Spirit

The expectations of the proprietor

• The proprietor
• Seeking fruit
• Increase under cultivation
• God's expectations of the Jews
• More wise
• More holy
• More obedient
• God's expectations of the church
• Hearts yield the fruits of holy graces
• Lips yield the fruit of thanksgiving and praise
• Fruits of obedience in life



What the Gardener Expected

• Fruits of usefulness in service of God

 The proprietor's disappointment

• Had sought fruit year after year, to no avail
• A tree not yielding fruit for three years is considered barren
• It might be strong and green, but it was barren
• This applied to the Jewish nation
• This may apply to the church

The proprietor's decision "Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?" Not a hasty decision Three years of care, labor, and patience God was patient with the Jewish nation God is patient with the church Not an unreasonable decision It took up nutrients from the soil but produced nothing in return So it was with the Jewish nation So it is with some of the churches The vineyard keeper's request "Leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down." A suspended sentence Help given Fertilization Care Willingness to obey the proprietor -- Intercession Application of the parable Let the subject lead to serious self-examination In the vineyard of the Lord, am I a fruitful tree or a barren one? Let the legalists be awakened to a deep concern for his soul's salvation Let everyone remember the eventual end of life, glorify God and obtain eternal blessedness

 

Parable of the barren fig tree

 

THE PARABLES OF JESUS

Parable of  the Net

The Parable of Drawing in the Net appears in only one of the Canonical gospels of the New Testament. According to Gospel of Matthew 13:47–52 it refers to the final judgment.

"Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a dragnet, that was cast into the sea, and gathered some fish of every kind, which, when it was filled, they drew up on the beach. They sat down, and gathered the good into containers, but the bad they threw away. So will it be in the end of the world. 
 The angels will come forth, and separate the wicked from among the righteous, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth."
Jesus said to them, "Have you understood all these things?"
They answered him, "Yes, Lord."
He said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been made a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a householder, who brings out of his treasure new and old things." Matthew 13:47–52
 
Here, the imagery is drawn from the separation of edible from inedible fish caught by a net, probably a seine net. The passage says that "the angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous" in a similar way.

More explanation can be derived from the above scripture...

• The net is the gospel of Christ
• Many will be attracted
• Not all will enter into the kingdom of heaven
• The gospel is adapted to the circumstances of all sinners
• Embraces the whole world
• Addressed to everyone
• Speaks to man as man
• Mark 16:15-18
• Adapted to save sinners
• Power of God
• Salvation for all who believe and obey
• Must be active
• The net had to be let down into the lake
• The gospel must be preached
• Apostles specifically called to this task (Mark 15:16-18)
• All Christians called to this task (Matthew 4:19, Mark 1:17)
• Preaching the gospel is hard work
• Fisherman's life has never been easy
• The same is true of those who will be fishers of men
• Wholly given to the task
• Sacrifice comfort
• Follow Christ in own life
• The whole counsel of God
• Gospel cannot be preached in vain
• God's word shall not return to him void
• Not everyone brought into the visible service of God are converted
• The net catches every kind, the bad with the good
• Not all members of a church are saved
• Judas, Ananias, Sapphira, etc.
• Many who enjoy having a form of religion
• Many who are inconsistent, who may do well for a season, then fall off
• Day of judgment
• When the net is full and brought to shore
• When the gospel dispensation is consummated
• The end of the worldAngels will be the agents of separation, according to the parable of the weeds
• Scrutiny will be exact
• All the good will be gathered out, every sincere believer recognized
• Every hypocrite and unconverted person will be detected
• Fate of the ungodly will be terrible
• Cast into the fiery furnace
• Weeping and gnashing of teeth
• Salvation of righteous will be certain.

Parable of Drawing in the Net