In the Gospels we find a number of stories in which a fig tree plays a role. In the previous blog we saw that Jesus curses a fig tree (Mark 11:21) and that the tree immediately withers. It is a picture of Israel not bearing fruit in this eon. Another story where a fig tree is mentioned is found in Luke’s Gospel.
Luke 13
5 No, I say to you, but if you do not take heed, you will all perish in the same way.
6 And He spoke this parable: A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came to seek fruit therefrom, and found none.
7 And he said to the vinedresser, Behold, three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none. Then cut him down, why is he also making the land unproductive?
8 And he answered and said unto him, Lord, let him alone this year also, that I may dig about it also, and manure it.
9 And if indeed it bears fruit in the coming year [leave it alone], otherwise you will certainly cut it down.
Israel does not reflect
In verse 5 we see that Jesus tells the people of Israel that they will perish as a nation if they do not heed His preaching. Next, the Lord discusses a parable about a fig tree planted in a vineyard. Both are an image of Israel. A vine speaks of the promises God made to the patriarchs. After all, the vine “promises” wine, a representation of new life. The vineyard specifically speaks of the land, the house of (Ps.80:8; Isa.5:7; Jer.12:10), the fig tree of the nation of Israel.
three years
It was the Lord Himself who came to His people to see if they bore fruit, but found none (:6). The three years in verse 7 therefore represent the first three years of His public ministry among the people, which began when He was thirty years old (Luke 3:23). The cutting down of the fig tree, like the withering of the fig tree, speaks of the setting aside of Israel. The nation of Israel would eventually be taken away in 70 AD because it was barren.
digging and fertilizing
But after three years Jesus’ ministry was not yet over, and hence the answer: Lord, let it stand this year also, that I may also dig about it and manure it. And if indeed it bears fruit in the coming year [leave it alone], otherwise you will certainly cut it down.
death and resurrection
The digging speaks of the burial of the Lord. But He stayed only a short time in the grave, for God raised Him from the dead and gave Him new and incorruptible life. Fertilization is nourishment for the tree and speaks of this imperishable life. But, as we now know afterwards, Israel also rejected the resurrected Christ and was expelled from the land. Here in this parable it is called: cut down, elsewhere: cut off (Eze.37:11).