“A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘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’” (Luke 13:6-9).
I’ll admit, I don’t know all that much about fig trees.
As such, Jesus’ parable (quoted above) doesn’t hit home as nicely for me as it would have for his original listeners, who lived in a primarily agrarian society, or for someone with a vast amount of interesting facts about horticulture.
However, a quick search online shows that fig trees should produce fruit no later than the third year. So for the vineyard owner to react as he did makes total sense. Fruit was expected, and no fruit was to be found.
From a logical viewpoint, continuing to care for the tree would be wasted time and effort. But the man tending the garden urges the vineyard owner to leave it alone for another year. In that time, the gardener would dig around it and fertilize it, giving the fig tree every opportunity to produce fruit. We’re not told in Jesus’ parable how the vineyard owner responded to the gardener’s request, but we do know what God does in our own lives.
We’re sinful from birth—sinful from conception—and natural-born enemies of God. As sinful people, we naturally balk against God’s perfect law. Our sinful natures offer no apology or remorse for our transgressions. As such, we deserve only God’s righteous wrath and punishment. We certainly don’t deserve any grace period from God. But that’s exactly what God gives us.
In 2 Peter 3:9, the apostle describes our God as patient. He doesn’t want anyone to perish but wants everyone to come to repentance. God wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
From the day we are born until the day we die, we’re all similar to that fig tree in its fourth year. Here and now is when all people can come to repentance. There is urgency and immediacy in that fact. Repent or perish. Yet, so often, people can be lulled into a sense of false security and complacency. I’ll have time to do that later. I’ll have time to repent, to turn from my sinful ways later.
As Christians, through faith in Jesus, we understand that now is the time of God’s favor. Now is the time when the opportunity for repentance is before us. Today is a gift of God’s grace. Tomorrow is not a given. We don’t know when the Lord will bring our time of grace to an end. Because of that, we make the most of the opportunities God gives us each day to turn from our sins and be comforted by his full and free forgiveness. And we share his lifesaving message with other people, urging them to repent and look to our Savior Jesus for salvation.
True repentance comes from hearts that have been crushed by the law and made alive by the gospel.
True repentance includes contrition and sorrow over sin and a desire to turn from it.
True repentance is rooted in the Spirit-worked trust that God will indeed forgive all our sins for Jesus’ sake—because of his perfect life, innocent death, and triumphant resurrection.
Through his Word and sacraments, our patient and gracious God equips us to live for him until he calls us home to heaven to be with him forever.
May we continue to share his message with others, making the most of every opportunity set before us.
In addition to his parables, Jesus said some pretty difficult things. Hard Sayings of Jesus is an excellent book that will clear up confusion around difficult or controversial statements that Jesus made and help you understand and embrace all your Savior’s words of life.
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Alex Brown is the marketing and content copywriter at Northwestern Publishing House. He has his Master of Divinity degree from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary and enjoys reading, writing, and spending time in God’s creation.
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