Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

[garee]

They were not saved like you and I. They were safe from God's judgment.

Were they:
Born again
Made new creatures in Christ
Redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ
Sealed by the Holy Spirit
Part of the Church, the body of Christ
Absent from the body, present with the Lord

The best they could do is end up in Abraham's bosom. We've got something better.

Abraham meaning the "father of a multitude of nations" (all) The new born again name God named Abram . . meaning exalted father of one family (Amorites and Hittites) . Abram the previous name before he was born again . Abraham was given the faith that came from hearing God to separate his citizenship 'to be used to represent our unseen God as the "bosom of Abraham" the invisible presence of God who works in us to both will and do His good pleasure. .

Genesis 17:5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

The untied in Christ nations called Christians

 

[Nehemiah6]

My question is, what is the moral of the story? Does it pertain to Israel and Jesus’s ministry of three years? It seems like there should be more to the story. Thoughts?

There is more than enough to the story. It is about Israel and its spiritual barrenness, and the end result of that.

 

[Melach]

Acts 10:28

i know that verse. but thats no where in the torah actually. find that for me in the torah.

its not talking about the torah, just how jews operated.

 

[TheDivineWatermark]

A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’

The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’ ~~ Luke 13:6-9
My question is, what is the moral of the story? Does it pertain to Israel and Jesus’s ministry of three years? It seems like there should be more to the story. Thoughts?

I realize some believe "the fig tree" is "Israel" (straight up).

I've posted why I see it somewhat differently:

I've posted before about how I see a distinction between the two phrases in Lk13:6 "A certain man had A FIG TREE planted *in* his VINEYARD"... where Isaiah 5:7 says, "For THE VINEYARD of the Lord of hosts is the house OF ISRAEL"... (so "Israel" is the "Vineyard" and something distinct [from that] is "planted IN" it [that is, distinct from it, yet somewhat related to it]).
I've mentioned in past posts how I've read an article long ago that suggested that "*the fig tree" itself may speak of "the Law" or "Law-observant [leadership]" [??] (for lack of a better way of phrasing it; something that likely requires the involvement of "the city"/Jerusalem)
[*esp. in the "eschatological" sections of scripture, like Matt24:32-33(34-35, in view of Matt5:18 "Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled"), and Mk13:28-29(30-31), Lk21:29-31(32-33; with v.32's "ALL" here necessarily INCLUDING what was ALREADY just mentioned in v.24 "and [they] shall be led away captive into all the nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles UNTIL the TIMES of the Gentiles be fulfilled" [note: distinct from the phrase "the FULNESS of the Gentiles be come in"]--"the TIMES of the Gentiles" having started in 606/605bc, and representing "Gentile domination over Israel"... think: Neb's dream/statue/image, with Neb as "head of gold" and which "TIMES" does not conclude until the END of the future trib yrs, at the time of Christ's Second Coming to the earth, Rev19)]





Then, I would bring your attention to something that I myself have only just been made aware:
In the Greek, Luke 13:9's wording "G1519 G3588 G3195 [eis to mellon]" is the same exact phrase as found in 1 Timothy 6:19 - "[kjv] against the time to come" ... "[hcsb] for the age to come"... "[esv] for the future"... "[nkjv, ylt] for the time to come"...

(see the Greek "G3195 - mello" also in: Matt12:32; Acts 24:15; Col2:17; Heb10:1; 11:20; Heb6:5 [<--this v. adds the word "age" in the sentence])


Compare the two:

https://biblehub.com/text/luke/13-9.htm

https://biblehub.com/text/1_timothy/6-19.htm


So, Wm Kelly [commentary notes under Lk13:9] points out... [says], "melleiv [G3195 - mello] is used in the NT constantly for the future in that connection, as in 'the age to come'."

He's not saying Lk13:9 ["3195 - mellon"] MUST be speaking of this, he's just pointing out the phrasing, where the exact phrasing is used in 1Tim6:19, and what it refers to [in many places] where elsewhere used, also.


I think it's interesting, and something worth pondering, anyway.

[note: I'm not really drawing any definite conclusions here... just giving it further thought]

 

[Guojing]

i know that verse. but thats no where in the torah actually. find that for me in the torah.

its not talking about the torah, just how jews operated.

So you rather believe Peter, a devout Jew, was incorrect about what the Law of Moses stated?

And the Jewish believers who criticized him in Acts 11 were also similarly mistaken?

What is the probability of all of them Jews being incorrect, and you a non-Jew being correct, when it comes to the Law of Moses?

 

[Guojing]

I realize some believe "the fig tree" is "Israel" (straight up).

I've posted why I see it somewhat differently:

I've posted before about how I see a distinction between the two phrases in Lk13:6 "A certain man had A FIG TREE planted *in* his VINEYARD"... where Isaiah 5:7 says, "For THE VINEYARD of the Lord of hosts is the house OF ISRAEL"... (so "Israel" is the "Vineyard" and something distinct [from that] is "planted IN" it [that is, distinct from it, yet somewhat related to it]).
I've mentioned in past posts how I've read an article long ago that suggested that "*the fig tree" itself may speak of "the Law" or "Law-observant [leadership]" [??] (for lack of a better way of phrasing it; something that likely requires the involvement of "the city"/Jerusalem)
[*esp. in the "eschatological" sections of scripture, like Matt24:32-33(34-35, in view of Matt5:18 "Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled"), and Mk13:28-29(30-31), Lk21:29-31(32-33; with v.32's "ALL" here necessarily INCLUDING what was ALREADY just mentioned in v.24 "and [they] shall be led away captive into all the nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles UNTIL the TIMES of the Gentiles be fulfilled" [note: distinct from the phrase "the FULNESS of the Gentiles be come in"]--"the TIMES of the Gentiles" having started in 606/605bc, and representing "Gentile domination over Israel"... think: Neb's dream/statue/image, with Neb as "head of gold" and which "TIMES" does not conclude until the END of the future trib yrs, at the time of Christ's Second Coming to the earth, Rev19)]





Then, I would bring your attention to something that I myself have only just been made aware:
In the Greek, Luke 13:9's wording "G1519 G3588 G3195 [eis to mellon]" is the same exact phrase as found in 1 Timothy 6:19 - "[kjv] against the time to come" ... "[hcsb] for the age to come"... "[esv] for the future"... "[nkjv, ylt] for the time to come"...

(see the Greek "G3195 - mello" also in: Matt12:32; Acts 24:15; Col2:17; Heb10:1; 11:20; Heb6:5 [<--this v. adds the word "age" in the sentence])


Compare the two:

https://biblehub.com/text/luke/13-9.htm

https://biblehub.com/text/1_timothy/6-19.htm


So, Wm Kelly [commentary notes under Lk13:9] points out... [says], "melleiv [G3195 - mello] is used in the NT constantly for the future in that connection, as in 'the age to come'."

He's not saying Lk13:9 ["3195 - mellon"] MUST be speaking of this, he's just pointing out the phrasing, where the exact phrasing is used in 1Tim6:19, and what it refers to [in many places] where elsewhere used, also.


I think it's interesting, and something worth pondering, anyway.

[note: I'm not really drawing any definite conclusions here... just giving it further thought]

Fig tree, vineyard and olive are always symbols in the Gospels referring to Israel and the Jews.

Some examples from the OT show that The fig tree is symbolic of Israel itself – It often symbolized the health of the nation both spiritually and physically. Hosea 9:10 says,

“When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert; when I saw your ancestors, it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree.”

Later, the Bible tells us of the glorious time when

“Judah and Israel lived in safety, every man under his vine and his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.” (1 Kings 4:25)

The fig tree is a picture of Israel. In Jeremiah 24, we read about the prophet’s vision of two baskets of figs. Every person in Israel was symbolized by those figs. This means that the whole nation is one or several fig trees from which come the figs, the individual Israelites.

Elsewhere in the OT, when God was displeased with His people because of their unfaithfulness, He would make it known by referring to the lack of fruit on a fig tree. We have an example of this in Jeremiah 8:13. "I will surely consume them," says the Lord. "No grapes shall be on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade; and the things I have given them shall pass away from them." Here again, Israel as a nation is symbolized by a fig tree.

 

[Guojing]

Are you stating no one was saved before the cross?

People were saved before the cross but, especially during the law administration, their salvation was not unconditional like us. Salvation during the law administration was based on keeping the Law of Moses (Genesis 17:14) and making sure animals are sacrificed whenever it is broken (Numbers 15). Whenever you obey God in doing those, God sees that as faith.

David was perhaps the famous example. After he committed adultery, Psalms 51 showed the extent of his worry that God will take the Holy Spirit away from him.

For us now, we live under an unconditional covenant where God impute righteousness apart from works. David saw us in the future and envied us because of that, as Romans 4 stated.

 

[Melach]

So you rather believe Peter, a devout Jew, was incorrect about what the Law of Moses stated?

And the Jewish believers who criticized him in Acts 11 were also similarly mistaken?

What is the probability of all of them Jews being incorrect, and you a non-Jew being correct, when it comes to the Law of Moses?

very high. because i can read and its not in the torah. its not also in the cross references. and you didnt provide any either. st.peter doesnt say law of moses in the verse. jews obeyed many laws and still do that are unbiblical

 

[Melach]

very high. because i can read and its not in the torah. its not also in the cross references. and you didnt provide any either. st.peter doesnt say law of moses in the verse. jews obeyed many laws and still do that are unbiblical

also i wasnt saying st.peter is wrong. i was saying he wasnt talking about the written law we have in the bible. which is proven by what i said there, no cross references and you couldnt even find it for me

and how do you know im a non-jew

 

[Guojing]

very high. because i can read and its not in the torah. its not also in the cross references. and you didnt provide any either. st.peter doesnt say law of moses in the verse. jews obeyed many laws and still do that are unbiblical

For the Jews, when they say anything is unlawful, its understood that they are referencing the Law of Moses.

That is the only Law that they have in scripture. You are clutching at straws there. But if you want to split hair like that, so be it.

 

[TheDivineWatermark]

Fig tree, vineyard and olive are always symbols in the Gospels referring to Israel and the Jews.
Some examples from the OT show that The fig tree is symbolic of Israel itself
[…]
Later, the Bible tells us of the glorious time when
“Judah and Israel lived in safety, every man under his vine and his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.” (1 Kings 4:25)
The fig tree is a picture of Israel.

I pointed out Isaiah 5:7 (as one of my reasons: "the VINEYARD of the Lord of hosts is the house of ISRAEL"... compare Lk13:6 and its TWO distinct phrases).

But you don't have any problem with the 1Ki4:25 verse saying something like:

"“Judah and Israel lived in safety, every man under his vine and his ISRAEL, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.” (1 Kings 4:25)"

[substituting the word "Israel" in place of the phrase "fig tree" here ^ ]

I find that to be very unlikely.

And saying "I saw your fathers as the firstfruit OF the fig tree in its first season" (Hos9:10) is not exactly saying "Israel IS the fig tree," as I see it.

 

[Guojing]

I pointed out Isaiah 5:7 (as one of my reasons: "the VINEYARD of the Lord of hosts is the house of ISRAEL"... compare Lk13:6 and its TWO distinct phrases).

But you don't have any problem with the 1Ki4:25 verse saying something like:

"“Judah and Israel lived in safety, every man under his vine and his ISRAEL, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.” (1 Kings 4:25)"

[substituting the word "Israel" in place of the phrase "fig tree" here ^ ]

I find that to be very unlikely.

And saying "I saw your fathers as the firstfruit OF the fig tree in its first season" (Hos9:10) is not exactly saying "Israel IS the fig tree," as I see it.

Yep, so whenever I read references to the fig tree or figs, I understand it to be a reference to the Jews only.

Gentiles were never addressed in such terms.

 

[garee]

Fig tree, vineyard and olive are always symbols in the Gospels referring to Israel and the Jews.

Some examples from the OT show that The fig tree is symbolic of Israel itself – It often symbolized the health of the nation both spiritually and physically. Hosea 9:10 says,

“When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert; when I saw your ancestors, it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree.”

Later, the Bible tells us of the glorious time when

“Judah and Israel lived in safety, every man under his vine and his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.” (1 Kings 4:25)

The fig tree is a picture of Israel. In Jeremiah 24, we read about the prophet’s vision of two baskets of figs. Every person in Israel was symbolized by those figs. This means that the whole nation is one or several fig trees from which come the figs, the individual Israelites.

Elsewhere in the OT, when God was displeased with His people because of their unfaithfulness, He would make it known by referring to the lack of fruit on a fig tree. We have an example of this in Jeremiah 8:13. "I will surely consume them," says the Lord. "No grapes shall be on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade; and the things I have given them shall pass away from them." Here again, Israel as a nation is symbolized by a fig tree.

The fig tree as to its leaves is used to represent the gospel healing the nations. You could say in respect born again Israel. Not all Israel is considered born again Israel .Some would make it after a outward flesh of a Jew or what the eyes see . They deny the father and the Son .In exchange for what the eyes see. . the outward flesh, again used to demonstrate unbelief in mankind as a whole .

Romans 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

God renamed his bride which began with Abel. . "Christian" previously called her a inward Jew the born again Israel . The born again people of God

 

[EleventhHour]

They were not saved like you and I. They were safe from God's judgment.

Were they:
Born again
Made new creatures in Christ
Redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ
Sealed by the Holy Spirit
Part of the Church, the body of Christ
Absent from the body, present with the Lord

The best they could do is end up in Abraham's bosom. We've got something better.

People were saved before the cross but, especially during the law administration, their salvation was not unconditional like us. Salvation during the law administration was based on keeping the Law of Moses (Genesis 17:14) and making sure animals are sacrificed whenever it is broken (Numbers 15). Whenever you obey God in doing those, God sees that as faith.

David was perhaps the famous example. After he committed adultery, Psalms 51 showed the extent of his worry that God will take the Holy Spirit away from him.

For us now, we live under an unconditional covenant where God impute righteousness apart from works. David saw us in the future and envied us because of that, as Romans 4 stated.

I would have to disagree.
David was saved... while he expressed that concern ...no indication that God took His Spirit away.

 

[Melach]

For the Jews, when they say anything is unlawful, its understood that they are referencing the Law of Moses.

That is the only Law that they have in scripture. You are clutching at straws there. But if you want to split hair like that, so be it.

ah i see you are just ignorant on the subject. moving on. jews dont believe in just the written law, torah. also the oral law.

if its the law of moses as you say it should be simpel for you to show me chapter and verse. but nope. just keep repeating same thing with no chapter and verse.

one last time. chapter and verse or its over if no chapter and verse you are proven wrong gg eazy

 

[EleventhHour]

They were not saved like you and I. They were safe from God's judgment.

Were they:
Born again
Made new creatures in Christ
Redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ
Sealed by the Holy Spirit
Part of the Church, the body of Christ
Absent from the body, present with the Lord

The best they could do is end up in Abraham's bosom. We've got something better.

Yes but those in Abraham's bosom were there waiting ...they were saved.

 

[Guojing]

I would have to disagree.
David was saved... while he expressed that concern ...no indication that God took His Spirit away.

I am not saying God actually took his Spirit away, but that concern he had in Psalms 51 illustrated very well the difference between our covenant with Jesus, and his covenant under the Law.

For a Christian now to say as David did then "11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me." he will be insulting what Jesus did on the Cross.

I recall a song people sing in church nowadays that has those lyrics. It was creepy.

 

[Guojing]

ah i see you are just ignorant on the subject. moving on. jews dont believe in just the written law, torah. also the oral law.

if its the law of moses as you say it should be simpel for you to show me chapter and verse. but nope. just keep repeating same thing with no chapter and verse.

one last time. chapter and verse or its over if no chapter and verse you are proven wrong gg eazy

I am not a Jew, so I don't need to prove to you I am aware of everything in the Law of Moses. It was never given to me in the first place.

I just take the words of Peter in the scripture and I believe he was correct. If you want to adopt a different view, I cannot stop you.

 

[EleventhHour]

I am not saying God actually took his Spirit away, but that concern he had in Psalms 51 illustrated very well the difference between our covenant with Jesus, and his covenant under the Law.

For a Christian now to say as David did then "11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me." he will be insulting what Jesus did on the Cross.

I recall a song people sing in church nowadays that has those lyrics. It was creepy.

Interesting.

Well people who believe that salvation is conditional would not find what David was stating as insulting....but a real possibility.

But I still disagree those who by faith were saved ... stayed saved.

 

[Guojing]

Interesting.

Well people who believe that salvation is conditional would not find what David was stating as insulting....but a real possibility.

But I still disagree those who by faith were saved ... stayed saved.

David didn't have the same covenant we had, simply because Jesus have not died on the cross yet. He lived under the Law of Moses. It was a conditional covenant.

You are not disagreeing with all that I have stated correct?