Luke 13:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’

NIV: So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’

NASB: And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Look! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’

CSB: He told the vineyard worker, ‘Listen, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it even waste the soil?’

NLT: Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’

KJV: 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?

NKJV: Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’

Jesus is telling a final parable about reconciliation (Luke 13:6). The crowd members need to repent of their wrongs to others and to God while they have the chance. If they hesitate, they may face severe judgment, whether the court be earthly or heavenly (Luke 12:57–59; 13:1–5).

In the same way, Jesus tells the nation of Israel to wake up and realize their time is short. John the Baptist warned about this with the same metaphor. When Pharisees and Sadducees came to his baptisms, he confronted them with their sin and cautioned them that their status as Jews would not protect them (Matthew 3:7–9). He said, "Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire" (Matthew 3:10).

God, the owner, has been patient with Israel. Hundreds of years prior the prophet Joel said, "Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster" (Joel 2:13). The parable reflects God's patience as Jesus completes His teaching ministry. Jesus the vinedresser asks for one more year to spread fertilizer—truth that will produce the fruit of good works—and see if the tree will "repent" or change its ways. Presumably, the owner grants his request (Luke 13:8–9).

Some think that the three years reflect Jesus' three-year ministry, others say it means an unspecified amount of time. In the Old Testament, dividing a time span into threes seems to represent a period when things fall into place for a final work, decision, or judgment (Genesis 40:12–13, 18–19; Exodus 15:22–24; 2 Samuel 24:13; 2 Kings 17:5; 18:10; Ezra 8:15, 32; 10:8; Nehemiah 2:11; Daniel 1:5). Jesus uses it again in Luke 13:32–33. In that context, it is interesting that Jesus' ministry and His death and resurrection follow the pattern.

Luke 13:6–9 completes Jesus' lessons about reconciling with others. People need to repent of their sins against others (Luke 12:57–59) and against God (Luke 13:1–5). Here, Jesus warns that the nation of Israel also needs to repent. God has been patient but they are in danger of imminent judgment. This is the last story in this section about the kingdom of God (Luke 12:1—13:9). Next are two sections that begin with a Sabbath miracle and continue with teachings about salvation and God's kingdom (Luke 13:10—35; 14:1—15:32).

Jesus uses real-world examples to show that tragedy and death can come to anyone, even the righteous. No one should delay in reconciling to God; time is running out. Jesus heals a woman in the synagogue, on the Sabbath, triggering an angry response. Jesus scolds the synagogue leader, then preaches about the inevitable spread of the gospel around the entire world. However, He also notes that most people will reject this message, including the people of Israel.

Luke 9:51—19:27 is sometimes called "Jesus' Travelogue to Jerusalem." The segment describes how Jesus prepared the disciples for their future as He approached His own death and resurrection. Interspersed are a few altercations with religious leaders. There are calls for the crowd to repent of their sins and reconcile with God before it's too late. In Luke 13, two stories in particular reveal Jesus' heart. In one, He heals a long-suffering woman on the Sabbath; healing is a type of rest. In the last, He mourns the fact that, for now, the Jews as a nation will reject their Messiah.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.