Week 3: Luke 13:1-9      The Fig Tree

For the commentary I have used the New Bible Commentary Revised

All "opinions" are my own

This is part of a much larger section which the commentary calls "From Galilee to Jerusalem" (9:51 - 19:10) and contains preaching; story telling and healing.

1. We begin in v1 with people telling Jesus about some Galilean Pilgrims (presumably from the territory they were now in?) who had been killed by Pilate whilst going about their religious Jewish duties - offering temple sacrifices. The incident was reported to Jesus to see what his reaction would be. To us Pilate's action would be morally disgusting. To the Orthodox Jew it would be a punishment for sin ? albeit at the hands of the Romans. This is something that still finds echo in the C20^th/21^st religious/Christian world. If illness befalls someone or bereavement it is felt to be divine punishment and we hear words like: "I must have been very wicked/What have I done wrong for this to happen?"
2. Jesus reply is to confound the lot of them. They (the people who had been killed) were no more wicked than any other Galilean ? "do you think it proves they were worse sinners than all the other Galileans? No indeed ?" (13:vv 3&4)
3. Jesus then turns the table and warns his listeners about repentance ? "No indeed! And I tell you that if you do not turn from your sins you will all die as they did" (13:5). Beware of thinking that his listeners would die at the hands of Roman soldiers or falling masonry. It means that if they did not repent they would die in error.
4. Now we come to the Story/Parable of the Unfruitful Fig Tree.  For some the fig tree represents Jesus' own nation ? Israel. It had not born fruit or repented but there is a plea (from Jesus?) for one more chance. If not ??. However could it also represent unfaithful Christians who refuse to tend the garden?
5. For a metaphorical use of the fig tree ? see Hosea 9:10

Questions:

The Creed tells us that Jesus will come again in glory to judge ?the living and the dead?. What does this judgement mean to you?

1. If we looked at the life of the church how would we decide what areas are bearing fruit and those that are not? Would we have the courage to cut out the fruitless areas?
2. Is the image of springtime gardening useful?