What is the Meaning of This Parable

There is also another parable that gets even more specific than this, the parable of the wicked tenants. Matthew 21:33-46

33 “Hear another parable. There was a householder who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. 34 When the season of fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to get his fruit; 35 and the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first; and they did the same to them. 37 Afterward he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ 39 And they took him and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40 When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41 They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”

42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures:

‘The very stone which the builders rejected
has become the head of the corner;
this was the Lord’s doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it.”

45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. 46 But when they tried to arrest him, they feared the multitudes, because they held him to be a prophet.

This is pretty clear down to the Pharisees understanding the He was talking about them. This is also exactly what happen at the end of the AGE that Jesus told them was coming before THAT generation pasted away. That happened within 40 years of when He said it when Rome invaded and torn down the temple, not one brick left on another. It all happened EXACTLY how He said it would, EXACTLY when He said it would and for some reason we have created this "future to us" idea that frankly makes Jesus either wrong or a liar.

He's not, but if you buy into the idea that everything Jesus said would happen "before this (the generation He was speaking to) generation passed away, that he told "there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom", or when He said "When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes", even strange little things like on the way to the cross when he tells the weeping women not to cry for Him, but to cry for THIER children, then you have to think He was wrong or lying. If there's another logical reason I haven't heard it.

The point I'm making is that I agree these parables are about Israel and the future relationship with God. Many call this the "replacement theory", which I don't agree with. I just like to call it the "plan from the beginning".

Replacement Theory makes it seem like it means that the Jews are "replaced", when that couldn't be further from the truth. I know a TON of Jewish Christians. They are no more "cut off" than anyone else. What I do not agree with is this idea that God has some other way for the Jews in the future. That the current earthly "Israel" that reject and hate Jesus and His people, are still "God's chosen" in the same way. They were "chosen to bring forth the Messiah. Guess what? They did. Now He is the ONLY way and no one comes to the Father but through Him. Just like these parables are saying, the tree didn't produce fruit so was cut down and a new tree was planted. The branches of that tree can be grafted in, but I don't say that in boasting and self righteous arrogance, because my branch can be pruned off still as well. The end of the AGE that Jesus spoke of was the end of the Mosaic sacrificial system. Now "a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God".

Selling of salvation is the key principle in play here.....and also that which is being terminated.
The inclusion of the cursing of the fig tree is essential and must be concatenated with every other fig tree/leaf/fruit reference.

Mar 11:14
In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” And His disciples heard it.

Mar 11:15
So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.

Selling of salvation is the key principle in play here.....and also that which is being terminated.
The inclusion of the cursing of the fig tree is essential and must be concatenated with every other fig tree/leaf/fruit reference.

Mar 11:14
In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” And His disciples heard it.

Mar 11:15
So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.

My difficulty in your analysis, if you don't mind my voicing it, is the practice of taking one contextual variant that has some of the same imagery, such as the fig tree, and superimposing other contextual narratives over into other contexts that simply share some of the comparative images, again, such as a fig tree.

The events surrounding the shared imagery of fig trees, for example, in other contexts doesn't seem to be license to also borrow the foundation narrative of other contexts in order to, as I had said, superimpose those over onto other contexts, such as in Luke 13. The definitions of the images can indeed be shared, yes, but I'm not seeing how selling in the temple can translate over into the context of Luke 13.

Do you get the gist of what I'm grappling at here? In the Luke 13 context is also found the topic of healing on the Sabbath, which is a radical departure from the narrative of the fig tree and narrative surrounding that fig tree parallel immediately prior to that of healing on the Sabbath, and the sins of the blood even before that. It's a cacophony of topical variants, seemingly for the sake of inspired brevity.

Thanks for sharing.

MM

I'm sure there are some out there who have loads of commentaries sitting on their home library shelves within which they can look this up and get some unacquainted scholar's opinion. Some of those commentaries can weight upwards of ten pounds, and still be ten pounds of worthless paper that fails much of the time to measure up to the standard of scriptural truth.

So upon your own personal study in the broadness of your knowledge of scripture, to what events in scripture can this possibly have alluded to dare we think outside the box of religious paradigms?

Luke 13:6-9
6 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.
7 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?
8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung [it]:
9 And if it bear fruit, [well]: and if not, [then] after that thou shalt cut it down.

MM

I don't understand your question fully. I see the one year thing in the fig tree parable, but am not seeing 3 years in either one. I'm sure I'm just missing, or misunderstanding, but I have to admit I' don't understanding exactly what you're asking. I'd be more than happy to answer if I can, but I just want to make sure I'm answering exactly what you're asking.

As I ponder this passage, I am reminded of the countless times in scripture when God's people are called to conversion and renewal. The fig tree, once a symbol of fertility and abundance, has failed to produce fruit, and the owner is ready to cut it down. But the dresser of the vineyard intervenes, pleading for one more chance to nurture the tree back to health.

Is this not a reflection of our own lives? Have we not all experienced moments of spiritual barrenness, when our faith seems to wither and our hearts grow cold? And yet, God's mercy is always at work, offering us another chance to turn back to Him, to dig deep into the soil of our souls and allow the fertilizer of His love to nourish us anew.

Let us not be too quick to judge ourselves or others, but rather, let us imitate the dresser of the vineyard, who sees the potential for growth and renewal even in the most barren of trees. For in the end, it is not the weight of our commentaries or the depth of our knowledge that will save us, but the depth of our love and our willingness to be transformed by the mercy of God.

My difficulty in your analysis, if you don't mind my voicing it, is the practice of taking one contextual variant that has some of the same imagery, such as the fig tree, and superimposing other contextual narratives over into other contexts that simply share some of the comparative images, again, such as a fig tree.

The events surrounding the shared imagery of fig trees, for example, in other contexts doesn't seem to be license to also borrow the foundation narrative of other contexts in order to, as I had said, superimpose those over onto other contexts, such as in Luke 13. The definitions of the images can indeed be shared, yes, but I'm not seeing how selling in the temple can translate over into the context of Luke 13.

Do you get the gist of what I'm grappling at here? In the Luke 13 context is also found the topic of healing on the Sabbath, which is a radical departure from the narrative of the fig tree and narrative surrounding that fig tree parallel immediately prior to that of healing on the Sabbath, and the sins of the blood even before that. It's a cacophony of topical variants, seemingly for the sake of inspired brevity.

Thanks for sharing.

MM

No problem. I think the text will bear this out for us:

Luke 13:6-9
6 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.
7 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?
8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung [it]:
9 And if it bear fruit, [well]: and if not, [then] after that thou shalt cut it down.

I think there's a parallel in this that sets it aside as being exclusive and unique in relation to other topics where the same imagery is used, such as that of the fig tree. There's another set of events that transpired after Jesus had spoken this parable that this seems to point.

MM

I think there's a parallel in this that sets it aside as being exclusive and unique in relation to other topics where the same imagery is used, such as that of the fig tree. There's another set of events that transpired after Jesus had spoken this parable that this seems to point.

MM

ask yourself what’s the vineyard ?Who’s the man who planted it ? Who’s the dresser of the vineyard ? Is the owner frustrated that the tree isn’t bearing any fruit ? And he’s about to cut down the tree because it’s wasting space ?

. But the dresser intercedes and gives the tree another last chance to bear fruit he works with it and then says “ if it bears fruit good , if not chop it down if it won’t bear fruit

a same thing John was preaching to israel before Jesus arrived by the way

It’s about Israel’s constant rejection of what God said to them and then the messiah coming to offer them salvation that’s the last chance for the fig tree in this parable the house of Israel. Who God had grown impatient with

Romans9:6b-8

Are you referring the Holy Spirit descending in Acts 2, and the power that followed?

Good points. I like that.

So, what about that one more year the "dresser" spoke of. What's the parallel to that that has already played out?

MM

No problem. I think the text will bear this out for us:

Luke 13:6-9
6 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.
7 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?
8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung [it]:
9 And if it bear fruit, [well]: and if not, [then] after that thou shalt cut it down.

I think there's a parallel in this that sets it aside as being exclusive and unique in relation to other topics where the same imagery is used, such as that of the fig tree. There's another set of events that transpired after Jesus had spoken this parable that this seems to point.

MM

it’s showing that it’s the last chance

god had been really patient with israel for several generations calling then to repentance

the owner says

“All these three three years I’ve been looking for fruit , and it won’t bear fruit chop it down why should it waste the ground in frustrates and tired of this “

The intercessor says

Let it alone for this year ( the short time he’s there ) he’s going to work on it dif and fertilize try to get it to bear fruit , and then he says if it doesn’t go ahead and chop it down “

It’s a principle being communicated God is truly merciful , he’s forebearing he will always accept a sincere heart that repents and believes but eventually we have to respond or we should expect no different come our day of judgement juet as Jerusalem wasnt sores after such a long time of warning and God calling then to repentance

the three years segment ( could mean just speculating ) just a long period of time , where as the one year repreeentis the very short time Jesus was with isrwel
In earth preaching the gospel doing miraculous works showing them here I am just believe in me and you’ll be saved and tesching the the truths of God offering salvation ect

comparative to the theee year space which is just longer you had the law , then the early prophets like Elijah , then you had the latter messianic prophets after the seige began of the fort head of the seven kingdoms and nations to rule over them for the curse before they would be left desolate rejecting messiah

maybe the law is a year of ministry , the early prophets and then latter ones each also a year and then Jesus and the gospel a year …I don’t usually speculate but it could be just a wild guess

to me those orables aren’t literally interpreted like that but for instance let’s look at one of the parables that Jesus tells in a figurative narrative like a “patient verse er working on a tree “, and then later explains himself in plain words

bit my point is a different one that he interprets gives us insight into maybe home to look at them

Just an example here’s the parable he tells

“Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this.

The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them:

but gather the wheat into my barn.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭13:24-30‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Then the literal interpretation when Jesus is asked about it

“Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said unto them,

He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;( Jesus )

the field is the world;

the good seed are the children of the kingdom;

but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

the enemy that sowed them is the devil;

the harvest is the end of the world;

and the reapers are the angels.
( Jesus just decoded everything in the parable . Now he’s going to explain it all and how it applies to the world and people in it )

As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭13:36-43‬ ‭KJV‬‬


you see how each thing represents something else but in the parable story it’s about a field and harvesters into a barn ect …but in reality it’s God explaining the kingdom and what’s to come in the end for us to be gathered into the kingdom in the New Testament.

regarding new and greater things than Israel’s land that’s never been that of the church. But Jesus is talking about heavenly things , meeting earthly things and the end of the world . wheras the ot was talking about Jerusalems destruction and desolation and then the messiah coming to save them before the day of thier doom just as we’re told of Jesus coming at the day of man’s doom to save

Now I'm not 100% dogmatic about this and can't lie, this is the first time I've ever taken a closer look at these particular numbers, but Jesus ministry was believed to be 3 years, so that seems to line up if true. As far as the man asking for the extra year to see if the fertilizer helps bring forth fruit, I am not sure that the 1 year means 1 year. I know it means that there will still be time for Israel to come to the truth fully, the fertilizer being the Gospel and truth in the world there to save them and lead them to truth, but if they are not born again then they will face judgement. Now this was actually a generation (about 40 years) so I see it is not fitting as neatly as I would want it to, to be more sure about it, but I don't think it's too far fetched to see it as them having a short amount of time to turn it around. 1 generation.

A very interesting question, and I'm going to actually dig into this a bit more because I know this answer is not as solid as I'd expect & want it to be. Plus I have never even considered these numbers at all before today, and this was after only about an hour of looking into it, so I don't really KNOW that the three years idea is about Jesus ministry, and even if it is I am not sure what I'm saying about the 1 year lines up very well either, but quickly this is what I came up with so far. That's what I came up with so far though. I am going to keep researching it though because it is a very interesting question though, and if I find anything better I will come back and post it here.

Good stuff. It's not always easy to differentiate between taking something literally and taking it allegorically. My take on this is that if there is a literal set of events that fit like a glove, which there is in this case, then it can be taken as literally where timelines are concerned in this instance. If there is no known set of events that fit, within the defining, contextual confines of the parable, then we can allegorize it to death, and boy howdy, I've done that before in the past, and the Lord took me out to the wood shed for that. The cults out there feed on allegory like a river full of piranhas feeding on an unfortunate steer that dared to enter into their waters.

Thanks so much for your feedback. This gives me some things to think about.

MM

a major cult way back when I was younger and dumber...sad to say.

Never forget the divine order of things. All of it purposeful all of it intentional.

The Luke 13 parable PRECEDES the so-called "triumphal entry" and THEN the Luke 19 Jesus weeping over Jerusalem, and THEN the inspection of the Temple and THEN the Matt 21 & Mark 11 cursing of the fig tree, and THEN the latter Matt 21 & Mark 11 cleansing of the temple and THEN the withering of the fig tree.

One must grasp this all together to rightly comprehend Luke 13.