A Fig Tree In My Vineyard!: Tree Series Part 7

Leaves But No Fruit
Luke 13:6-9
6″He {Jesus} also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ 8 But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9 And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’”

–

–

Welcome to the seventh and final segment of this study of trees in the Bible.  We’ll be continuing our discussion about the fig tree that began in part 6.  In case you missed it, you may follow the link below:

Why Did Jesus Curse The Fig Tree?: Tree Series Part 6

–

Trappings Of Holiness.

–

Fertilizing The Tree.

Translator Issue.

In the opening passage Jesus is telling a story about a certain “Man” that planted a vineyard.  Notice that the word, “Man” is in italics.  That means the word was added there by translators.  It doesn’t appear in the original Greek text. 

–

The only word you will find in that sentence is this one: “Tis,” which means “Anyone, someone, a certain one or thing,” though the gender of the word is masculine.  It would be more accurate to translate it this way:

“A certain someone had a vineyard and found one day that somehow a fig tree had been planted in his vineyard by a person or persons unknown.

How it came to be there is not documented but it is clear that the owner of the vineyard, this certain “Someone,” did not plant it.  It came in from the side by stealth, most likely planted there by an enemy.   NOT GOOD!

Typologies.

Just as in the passage where Jesus cursed the fig tree for having no fruit, this certain “Someone” was looking for fruit on this fig tree as well.  He also found none.  In fact, He had been searching for fruit on the tree in question for three years.  What does it all mean?

–

The Holy Spirit, Master Storyteller, is at it again.  He is drawing pictures for us to illustrate an important truth and to tell us more about Jesus.  The keeper of this vineyard is “Jesus” and the certain Someone is “the Father.”  Jesus said to the The Father of this vineyard, “Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9 And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that YOU CAN CUT IT DOWN.”

You see, God had planted the nation of Israel, the vineyard in our story, as a beautiful, fruitful nation in the world; a nation through which He hoped to bring light and life to the whole world.  Why?  Because The Son of God would be born into the world as a Jew!  (This is also why the devil hates them.)

God Kept His Promise.

True to His word, in the fullness of time, God did indeed send His Beloved Son into His “Vineyard.”  Jesus walked among His people, ministering to them for three years.  He looked everywhere for fruit but found none.  He “dug and probed, looking for someone…ANYONE…in leadership or in positions of influence, to give up their self-righteous pretensions; in other words, they’re “DUNG.”   He wanted to “Fertilize” the “Fig tree” with their “Dung,” in order to bring back fruitfulness to the people that He loved so dearly.  Sadly, He did not find enough to do the job; not even close. 😞

–

Trappings Of Holiness.

What He found was all the “Trappings” of holiness; people attempting by their own works to appear as though they were following the law.  They Dressed in the approved fashion, offered the sacrifices as prescribed by law…..all the outward signs of religion, but no heart for God:  Leaves…but NO FRUIT.

A fig tree with leaves on it but no fruit is worthless!

–

Facts About Fig Trees.

We discussed a few facts about the fig tree in part 6 so, if you read that part, this will be review.

The fig tree is not a symbol of the curse, in case you heard that it was.  In fact, figs, vines and pomegranates were the holy trio of fruits used in the temple and in worship in the Old Testament.  They were blessings.

The fig is a wonderful fruit, containing more seeds within each fig than any other fruit on earth.  That’s why it is a symbol of fruitfulness as well as an excellent source of nutrition.  But as you learned in part 6, it wasn’t the fruit that posed a problem.  It was the leaf and the tree.

–

Facts About Fig Trees.

We discussed a few facts about the fig tree in part 6 so, if you read that part, this will be review.

The fig tree is not a symbol of the curse, in case you heard that it was.  In fact, figs, vines and pomegranates were the holy trio of fruits used in the temple and in worship in the Old Testament.  They were blessings.

The fig is a wonderful fruit, containing more seeds within each fig than any other fruit on earth.  That’s why it is a symbol of fruitfulness as well as an excellent source of nutrition.  But as you learned in part 6, it wasn’t the fruit that posed a problem.  It was the leaf and the tree.

–

First Mention Of Figs.

Figs are first mentioned in the garden of Eden after Adam and Eve fell.  It is more likely that the fig tree was the “Forbidden tree,” and it was probably figs that they ate. After doing so, their eyes were opened, they knew they were naked, and they sewed “FIG LEAVES” together.

What their eyes were opened to was the knowledge that they had sinned against God.  The fig leaves were an attempt to cover their shame, a depiction of man trying to save himself by own efforts; i.e., by “self-righteousness.” But as we all know,  “Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins.” (See Hebrews 9:22)

–

Our God, in His mercy, personally made them coats of skin, literally a “Blood covering.”  He was the first one to kill animals, probably a ram, to make their clothing.  In fact, sacrifice is written into His very Name.

YHVH, the covenant-keeping One with the unpronounceable Tetragrammaton, knew from the moment man walked this earth that He would be paying a great price to redeem or buy us back.  For more on that topic you may follow the link below:

https://emmausroadministries.wordpress.com/2016/02/28/the-name-of-god-yahweh-יהוה/

–

The whole story of the coats of skin is a whole topic in an of itself, please follow the link below to read all about it:

https://emmausroadministries.wordpress.com/2016/08/15/the-coat-of-many-colors/)

–

Fig Tree In The Church?

Even though the fig tree is a picture of natural Israel, this story has application for the Church as well.  The Holy Spirit is showing us that, within the Church, there is once again a “fig tree” (The Law) planted in “the vineyard.”  It came in from the side, by stealth, planted by our enemy, the devil.

–

The Apostle Paul says in Philippians 3:8–“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but DUNG, that I may win Christ.” He is the one who gives us the basis for calling self-righteousness, “Dung.”

–

The Apostle Paul says in Philippians 3:8–“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but DUNG, that I may win Christ.” He is the one who gives us the basis for calling self-righteousness, “Dung.”

–

There are many churches have all the trappings of religion but no substance; You know, LEAVES, BUT NO FRUIT.  Such churches teach “Salvation by grace,”but a “Righteous by works,” i.e. Self-righteousness, or as Paul said, “DUNG!”  They tell you that you are saved by grace but must keep your sanctification by your good works.  Otherwise, you could lose your salvation and go to hell.  AS IF!!! 

–

Church, you can NEVER loose your salvation no matter what you do or say.  To teach that cheapens the precious blood of Jesus, as if it was of lesser value that the blood of bulls and goats.  At least those sacrifices were good for a whole year!

–

Fertilizing The Tree.

Jesus has been digging around the base of this “fig tree” also, looking for enough “DUNG:” in other words, enough people willing to give up all their “Pretensions to righteousness,” so He can fertilize the tree with the aforementioned “DUNG.”  He wants to make it fruitful once again.

If He cannot find enough “DUNG,” He will have to cut down the “fig trees” in question and cast them out of the vineyard.  In other words, those Churches will shut down.  This has already begun to happen.

This scenario is corroborated in the book of Revelation where John writes in Chapter 2 to the Church at Ephesus.  They had left their first love.  In other words, they had forgotten it wasn’t about their love FOR God but His love FOR US!

–

(For more on the subject of First Love, you may follow the link below:

https://emmausroadministries.wordpress.com/2016/07/18/you-have-left-your-first-love/)

–

Let me reiterate that this does not mean you lose your salvation.  That is not possible.  You may, however, lose your ministry, your influence, and/or your Church could shut down.

–

Why did the devil plant the tree?  So that there would be no fruit.  He doesn’t want people to be saved, healed, delivered, and provided for.  He wants you sick, poor, and ineffective for the spread of the Gospel.  As far as he is concerned, the sooner you go to heaven the better because, once you are there, you can no longer be of any earthly good.

–

Priests Of The Order Of Melchizedek.

Those “vineyards” which have will be handed over to husbandmen and women of the order of Melchizedek.  They will preach the true Gospel to the sheep of his pasture.  They will not beat the sheep with a righteousness-by-works-of-the-law model; their works-based system of pleasing God.

Per Jeremiah 23, in the last days, God will replace those shepherds who have abused the sheep of His flock, taught them this evil, mixed up faith/works “doctrine” and raise up preachers of righteousness who feed them.

–

So let’s give up our DUNG:  Our striving to “DO” what God says by our own efforts.  It is right believing that brings about right living.  Let’s trust and believe in Jesus’ finished work.  Remember, we are transformed by beholding: NOT SCOLDING.  Jesus gives us power to go and “BE” witnesses of Him…..and “Being” is not “Doing.”  He has already done all the heavy lifting.  Rest and trust in that.

–

So you see, the problem with the fig tree was it had “LEAVES BUT NO FRUIT,”
and how there came to be a fig tree in the vineyard.