Give the Fig Tree Another Year - Luke 13:8

The beloved physician Luke wrote, “spoke also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. 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 cumbers it the ground?”, and in chapter thirteen and verse eight of his book Luke shared how Jesus shared how the dresser of the vineyard tells the owner, “Lord, let it alone this year also” where we read:

And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

The verse reads, “And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, ...” Luke began with the words, “and he answering” or “and the vineyard owner's worker responded and began to speak” “said unto him” which means “uttered, declared and proclaimed to the owner of the vineyard”, “Lord” or “one to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master”, “let it alone this year also” which means “leave, disregard and yield up the fig tree even so and indeed the year they were in”. Luke shared Jesus said the worker “responded” to the vineyard owner by asking him to allow the “fig tree” not to be “cut down” but to remain during the current year.

The verse goes on to say, “... till I shall dig about it, and dung it:” Luke continued with the words, “till I shall dig about it” or “until the worker or pruner will dig a trench around the fig tree”, “and dung it” which means “and put ordure or manure around the fig tree”. Luke shared how Jesus said the worker asked the vineyard owner to allow him to “dig” a place around the “fig tree” and add the nutrients to it that would help it grow and produce fruit.

When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we see how the “worker” responded to the vineyard owner about “cutting it down”. Rather than destroy the “fig tree”, the worker wanted the owner to allow it to have just a little more time, permit him to dig and put fertilizer around it. The idea was that a little more time would allow another opportunity for the “fig tree” to bear “fruit” for the owner. God is long-suffering, compassionate, loving and gracious, and His desire is to “save” people from their “sins” so they can produce “fruit” in His Kingdom. Those who are willing understand God has extended their “time” to insert “nutrients” into their lives to allow them to believe and trust in His Son Jesus and produce “fruit” in His Kingdom.

Next time Luke shares how Jesus tells how the dresser of the vineyard tells the owner, “and if it bear fruit well: and if not … you shall cut it down”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".