The barren fig-tree

Of Sudden Judgements.

(The Gospel History, Section 101)

And he spake this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit thereon, and found none. And he said unto the vinedresser, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why doth it also cumber the ground? And he answering saith unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: and if it bear fruit thenceforth, well; but if not, thou shalt cut it down.

Commentary by J. R. Dummelow

Lk 13:6–9. The Barren Fig Tree. This parable illustrates the warning (vv. 3, 5), ‘Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.’ A certain man (God) had a fig tree (the Jewish nation) in his vineyard (the world), and he came (at various crises of their history) seeking fruit (good works and pure religion) and found none. And he said to the vine-dresser (the Son of God), Behold these three years (under the Law, under the Prophets, and under the Scribes) I come seeking fruit. Cut it down. Why besides being unfruitful, doth it also cumber the ground (prevent the conversion of the world)? And the vine-dresser (Christ) answered, Lord, let it alone this year also (for a further time of grace), till I dig about it and dung it (i.e. preach the gospel, show signs and wonders, send down the Spirit, do all things for its conversion), and if it bear fruit thenceforth, well; but if not, thou shalt cut it down (i.e. shalt destroy the nation with its city and Temple): cp. Mt 21:19. The parable is also capable of a more general application to the individual soul.

The barren fig-tree

(The Saviour of the World, Vol VI Book IV Poem LVII)

Did fearful thought subdue the restless crowd
Of Throne for judgment set? Through words, not loud
But piercing, penetrating flesh and bone,
Knew they God was at hand? Did sudden moan
Of men oppressed with guilt rise on the air,—
“Spare us, good Lord,” cried they, “Thy people spare!”?

And what the Word such quick conviction wrought?
Of vineyard spake He; straight their eager thought
Recalled the tale of how the Well-beloved
Planted a vineyard in a place approved,
A very fruitful hill; the choicest vine
He planted there that it should yield good wine;
Nay, more; rude thieves to scare, He built a tower,
And made a winepress, sheltered in a bower;
The vintage time arrived, for grapes He sought
The men who gathered for Him wild grapes brought
Yielding no wine fit for the Master’s use,
But draught so sour, the thirsty must refuse.

Then they bethought them how the Lord made haste
That vineyard so unfruitful to lay waste;
Remembered how ’twas Israel’s tale was told
In figure of that thankless garden, cold
’Neath the warm sunshine of God’s fost’ring grace,
Nor yielding grapes to justify its place.

“But, hark, a barren fig-tree is His theme,
Not that curst vineyard of our idle dream;
A fig-tree in the vineyard—what is it?
Belike those Rulers who o’er Israel sit:
The owner looked for fruit among the leaves—
Means He that virtuous semblance men deceives?

“‘Three years, I come,’ doth this mean, since three years
This Rabbi in our common ways appears?
Is He in sooth the Lord, come to demand
That fruit we should deliver to His hand?
And what have we to yield Him? Nought, I trow,
Rulers nor people, have we good to shew—

“A rotten race, predestined to our fall!
The gardener hastes him at his Master’s call,—
‘Cut down this fig-tree cumbering the ground!’
‘Nay,’ saith the Man, ‘if I have favour found,
Spare it a year that I may dig and prune,
Then, if it bear not, let its fall be soon!’

“What meaneth He? have we a spell of grace
Good fruit to yield an we would keep our place?”

St. Luke xiii. 6–9.

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