Sermon # 95 Luke
Sermons
Title: The
Parable Of The Barren Fig Tree
Text: Luke 13:6-9
Subject: The Great Danger of Privilege Without Profit
Date: Sunday Evening –
Tape # X-49a
Introduction:
I cannot begin to tell you
what an awesome weight of responsibility it is for me to stand here and
endeavor to preach the gospel to you, eternity bound
sinners, who must soon meet God almighty upon his great white throne of
judgment. There is no burden to carry that compares with “the burden of the
Word of the Lord.”
You see, while I am fully
aware of the fact that salvation is God’s work alone, I am also aware of the
fact that he uses the preaching of the gospel both as an instrument and means
of grace for the salvation of his elect and as an instrument and means of
judgment upon those who refuse to believe the gospel. The same sun that melts
the wax, hardens the clay; and the same gospel that
melts the hearts of God’s elect bringing them to repentance hardens the hearts
of the reprobate sealing their doom while they live.
(2
Corinthians 2:16-17) "To the one we
are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life
unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? (17) For we
are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of
God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ."
When I see a new face in the
congregation, I am always both hopeful and fearful,
hopeful that they might be saved by the gospel and fearful that they might
forever be damned by it.
Proposition: You see, while it is a
great, indescribably great privilege to sit where you sit, under the sound of
the gospel, that same privilege (if it brings forth no fruit unto repentance)
will sink your soul into the lowest hell and torment you forever. That is the
message of our Lord’s parable in Luke 13:6-9.
(Luke
13:6-9) "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."
Context
If we would understand this
parable correctly, it must be read in the context of verses 1-5.
(Luke
13:1-9) "There were present at that
season some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with
their sacrifices. (2) And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye
that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they
suffered such things? (3) I tell you, Nay: but,
except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. (4) Or those eighteen,
upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were
sinners above all men that dwelt in
The Jews
Read in this context, it is
obvious that this parable was addressed by our Lord to the Jewish nation. God
gave the Jewish people privileges and advantages, by which they should have
known and served him, by which they should have known and believed the Lord
Jesus Christ. They, and they alone, had all the
privileges of divine revelation. They professed to be the people of God. But
the very things that should have been their salvation became their ruin – Their
religion! Because they refused God’s revelation, the Lord God cut them down in
judgment and cast them off (Rom. 11).
Year after year, for three
years, he walked among them, showed himself by miracle
after miracle, told them plainly who he is, and taught in their temple and
synagogues. Yet, they despised him, rejected him, and refused to believe him.
At last he left them to themselves.
(Matthew
23:37-38) "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou
that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how
often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her
chickens under her wings, and ye would not! (38) Behold, your
house is left unto you desolate."
Addressed to Us
But it is a very bad mistake
to imagine, as many do, that that is the end of our Lord’s purpose in this
parable. This parable is specifically addressed to you and me. It’s intent is the awakening of all who enjoy the means of
grace, and the privileges of the sitting where we sit in the
(Luke
13:6-9) "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."
Spurgeon said, “The parable is so simple that it needs no explanation, and therefore our Lord Jesus has not given any. May we all make a personal application of its solemn teaching!” I will do no more in this message than point out the obvious lessons this parable is intended to teach. It is my prayer that God the Holy Spirit will burn them into your heart and mine.
1. The gospel church is God’s
garden and vineyard.
(Isaiah
5:1-2) "Now will I sing to my
wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard.
My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: (2) And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and
planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and
also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes,
and it brought forth wild grapes."
2. Because the Lord God has
given you the privilege of sitting here under the sound of the gospel, it is
your responsibility to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
(2
Corinthians 5:20-21) "Now then we
are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray
you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. (21) For he hath
made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the
righteousness of God in him."
(2
Corinthians 6:1) "We then, as workers
together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace
of God in vain."
3. Yet, some of you are without
fruit toward God.
·
Fruit, not fruits – The fruit is faith in Christ.
·
Acts
·
Mark
·
John 3:16-19, 36
·
Romans 10:9-13
(Romans
10:9-13) "That if thou shalt
confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that
God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with
the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is
made unto salvation. (11) For the scripture saith, Whosoever
believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (12) For there is no difference
between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that
call upon him. (13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord
shall be saved."
You have heard the gospel for years. You may even profess faith in Christ. But you have made for yourself a refuge of lies that will soon fall upon you and crush you to hell.
· Baptism
· Church Membership
· Good Works
· The Good Opinion of Others
· Religious Experience
(Isaiah
28:14-20) "Wherefore hear the word
of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is
in
Judgment is his strange
work, but he will perform it. It may appear a strange act for God, but it will
be the act of God that casts you headlong into eternal hell.
4. There is period of time set
and determined God beyond which he will not tolerate the insult of your
obstinate unbelief. – “Behold today is the day of salvation!”
a. Noah’s Generation
b. Ephraim (Hos.
c.
d. “Jesus of
Illustration:
5. Barren, fruitless souls are
not only useless themselves, they are a hindrance to
others.
They cumber the ground,
spoil the soil and, like the Pharisees, not only refuse to enter the strait
gate, put prevent others from entering.
6. Faithful pastors, faithful
gospel preachers, earnestly intercede with God, that he might spare even the
barren soul that deserves to be cut down.
(Luke 13:8) "And he answering said unto him, Lord,
let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung
it."
(Joel
2:17) "Let the priests, the
ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say,
Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the
heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people,
Where is their God?"
a. Moses Interceding for
b. Paul (
(Romans
10:1) "Brethren, my heart's desire
and prayer to God for
7. It is my great privilege and responsibility before God to faithfully labor for your souls’ everlasting salvation.
(Luke 13:8) "And he answering said unto him, Lord,
let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung
it."
8. The only thing that will
save you from the axe of divine justice is that the gospel you hear cause you
to bring forth the fruit of faith in Christ.
a. This faith is the gift and
work and operation of God the Holy Spirit.
b. But this faith is your
responsibility. You must believe on the Son of God.
c. If you believe, salvation is
yours.
9. Every soul without the fruit
of faith toward God, like the barren fig tree shall be destroyed.
There is a law in the Book of Deuteronomy that relates to this. The barren, fruitless tree is fit for nothing but fire. You can only use a fig tree for two things: food or fuel. It is good for nothing else.
(Deuteronomy
20:19-20) "When thou shalt besiege
a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy
the trees thereof by forcing an ax against them: for thou mayest eat of them,
and thou shalt not cut them down (for the tree of the field is man's life)
to employ them in the siege: (20) Only the trees which thou
knowest that they be not trees for meat, thou shalt destroy and cut them
down; and thou shalt build bulwarks against the city that maketh war with thee,
until it be subdued."
10. Whether you believe or
believe not, whether you are saved or damned, our God does well, and we will
acquiesce in his goodness.
(Romans
3:3-4) "For what if some did not
believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God
without effect? (4) God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a
liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be
justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged."
a. God’s purpose will be
accomplished.
b. God’s people will be saved.
c. God’s glory will be
manifest.
d. God’s justice will be
vindicated.
Illustration: The Hounds of Hell