The Barren Fig Tree

*Bible verses from the KJV and AMP version.

*Verse by Verse Commentary from Adam Clark, Matthew Henry, Charles Spurgeon and John Gill.

*Luke 13:6-9

L13:6 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.

Then He began telling them this parable: A certain man had a fig tree that had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it, but did not find any;

By the "certain man" may be meant, either God the Father, who is sometimes called an husbandman; or rather the Lord Jesus Christ, who is truly man, as well as properly God; and "by his vineyard" may be meant, the Jewish nation; which were His own nation and people, from whence He sprung, and to whom He was particularly sent, and among whom He had a special property; and may also be applied to the church of God in any age or nation, which is often compared to a vineyard, consisting of persons separated from the world, and planted with various plants, some fruitful, pleasant, profitable, and valuable, and are Christ's by His Father's gift, and His own purchase.

L13:7 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?
so he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and have found none. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground [depleting the soil and blocking the sunlight]?’

cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground? or "render the ground useless", for unfruitful trees suck up the juices of the earth, and draw away nourishment from other trees that are near them, and so make the earth barren, and not only hurt other trees, but stand in the way and place of fruitful ones; and therefore it is best to cut them down.

L13:8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
“But he replied to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, [just] one more year until I dig around it and put in fertilizer;

let it alone this year also - have patience one year more, or a little while longer. The Ethiopic version renders it, "until the winter".

L13:9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
and if it bears fruit after this, fine; but if not, cut it down.’”

thou shall cut it down - do with it as thou pleasest, nothing more will be said or pleaded in its behalf; full consent shall be given, and no more intercession used.

"Having a form of godliness but denying its power. 2 Timothy 3:5-

The treatment of the barren fig tree by the Savior of the world shows how all pretenders to godliness will be treated.... This tree represents the Jews, who refused to respond to the love of Christ. Despite all the privileges and opportunities granted them, they brought forth only briers and thorns—no fruit to the glory of God. This blighted tree was a parable to the house of Israel—a most impressive lesson. It is also a lesson to the professed followers of Christ in every age. 

Reaching through all time, it speaks in unmistakable language to all formalists and boasters of godliness who stand forth to the world with high profession but are utterly devoid of that vital piety which alone God recognizes as fruit....We learn from the Sacred Record that this tree, upon which hung not a redeeming cluster of fruit, was clothed with green foliage. Notice the words, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” 

*The doom of the fruitless fig tree has an application to individual professors who manifest the natural tendencies of the unrenewed heart, and contradict their faith by their daily life. They do not represent to the world the character of Christ, because they have not Christ in them."
From The Heart (E.G.W.)