Seminar on Parables

Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

The Text of the parable1

Luke 13:6 Then he told this parable: A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he
came looking for fruit on it and found none.

v. 7 So he said to the gardener, See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this
fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?
v. 8 He replied, Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it.
v. 9 If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.

Parallelism with Other Texts

This parable has some similarity with a story in Ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature. The
story ends quite differently from this parable. In the ANE text the lord of the tree does not let
it grow any further. Here the gardener pleads clemency for the tree. Although we see an aspect
of mercy, it is still a warning of the urgency of repentance.

Gods delay or restraint in judging when there is repentance after a prophets intercession is
not uncommon in the Old Testament (cf. Jonah).

This is a parable exclusive to Luke and has no exact parallel in other Gospels. The cursing of
the fig tree appears in Mathew 21:1822 and Mark 11:1214, 11:2025, but appears as an event
in the life of Jesus, most probably to assert the divinity of Jesus. It has a similar construction
with the parable of the debtor (Luke 7:36-50).

Context
The warnings and the calamities concerning judgement beginning in 12:1 become a call to
repentance. The incidents in 13:1-5 form the immediate context for this passage. The two
questions lead to their conclusion in this parable. Jesus touches here on the subject of
identifying suffering with sin. Were the people who were massacred by Pilate worse sinners
(v. 2): No: Repent (v. 3)! This is repeated a second time; this time it is Jesus who brings up the
incident. Were those eighteen who died when the tower at Siloam fell, worse sinners than all
the others in Jerusalem (v. 4): No: Repent (v. 5)!

Key Words in the Parable

1. Vineyard the Greek word used here is .2 The vineyard is often equated with
the people of Israel (Mk 12:9; Lk 20:16). But here, it has a subtle connotation of being
with God the fig tree was in the vineyard which was owned by the Lord. In the
Christian context it is the community and the individuals who constitute the new Israel.

1
All scriptural references are taken from the New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition.
2
The Greek texts are taken from The Greek New Testament III Edition (Corrected).

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 2. Fig Tree , figs are plentiful in the region of Israel. It was commonly planted in
the spare corners of the vineyard.3 These again are symbolic like the vineyard, of Israel
in the Old Testament (Joel 2:2125; also Jer 8:13). The symbol of the fig-tree is chosen
because it is highly fruitful, it can produce up to three crops a year; Israel who was
called to be most fruitful is now barren, so also us.
3. Gardener the word used in the Greek text is , which properly speaking
is a vinedresser instead of the word . The gardener here refers to the Jesus and
can be compared to the gardeners in other passages (Mt 21:33-46; Mk 12:1-2; Lk 20:9-
19). Here he is shown as an intercessor who pleads for the people. He is also pictured
as a servant (2 Kings 25:12; the poor were left behind to tend vines and plough).
4. The Lord of the tree the gardener addresses the owner as , that is Lord. We can
easily identify God as the owner of the vineyard (cf. Mathew 21:33-41; the parable of
the wicked wine-growers).
5. Fruit means result. Sometimes it refers to the works themselves. In Iranian
literature soul is a tree planted by the messenger of life to bring forth life.4 A change of
heart () is only perceived through the good works that are done by the person.
One who bears the spirit receives sanctification as the fruit (Rom 6:22).

Parable in the Cycle of Readings

This parable occurs on the Third Sunday of Lent in the Year C. The accompanying first reading
for the Gospel is from the book of Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15, which is about the call of Moses to
rescue the people of Israel from their slavery in Egypt. The second reading is from the First
Letter to the Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12, an admonishment from Paul giving the example of the
Israelites who perished in the desert due to their rebellion even though they were provided for.
The acclamation, Repent, says the Lord; the kingdom of heaven is at hand, is a straight-
forward summary of the content of the readings.

Reflections
Tending after the fig tree is compared to looking after ones own master (Prov. 27:18).
Figs dont bear fruit immediately upon planting. It takes three years for it to bring forth
figs, the owner looked for fruit on the tree for three years (cf. Mk 11:13-14). Therefore,
the tree must have been at least six years old. The owner grants it another year, that is
seven, which is a perfect number, expressing fullness. Gods patience is expressed to
the fullest. He waits until there is no more hope.
Land was precious and an unfruitful tree was taking up the resources which could have
sustained a fruitful one.
The manuring symbolizes Gods exceptional effort to save (cf. Amos 3:2).
The merciful God gives time to repent. If humans die due to calamities or accidents, it
is not to be considered the punishment of God, he gives chance even to the unfruitful
tree.

3
cf. John P. Kealy, Lukes Gospel Today (New Jersey: Dimension Books, 1979), 312.
4
cf. Hauck, , in Theological Dictionary of the New Testament Vol. III, gen. ed. Gerhard Kittel, trans.
Geoffrey W. Bromiley (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1965).

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 This passage can be refracted into various dimensions. The fig tree can be
representative of individuals or communities.
Fruits are something that God is looking for: fruit-bearing is the identifying mark of
discipleship (cf. Jn 15:8; My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and
become my disciples).
After six years, the tree which has not borne fruit is not likely to do so any more. This
brings us to a supernatural element in the parable. The tree has to undergo a complete
transformation.

Conclusion
The focus of Jesus is that time is running short and though God is merciful, but like calamities
judgement will come suddenly. The sudden calamities serve as warnings of sudden judgement.
In our context, we Christians are already in the presence of the Lord, we are counted as his
people, but, passivity is not accepted. What is required of us to prove our conversion and
discipleship is active fruit-bearing. This parable is an invective and a wakeup call against
procrastinators and unproductive people. It is necessary to repent and be converted for one will
be thrown into prison like the debtors, perish like the Galileans and the Jerusalemites and be
cut down like the fig tree.