Week 3: New Testament Parables

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The Barren Fig Tree (Luke)

Reading time: 2 minutes. Word count: 400 words.

There are a number of parables which are found in only one gospel, such as this story of the fig tree which is found only in Luke. In the frametale, Jesus makes reference to another story - the tower of Siloam - but he does not actually tell that story, since he assumes that all the members of his audience are familiar with that story already, but this is not a story that is known today. Basically, all we know about the story is what is implied here in the text of the gospel: there was a tower in Siloam, near Jerusalem, and that when it collapsed, eighteen people lost their lives. When the twin towers of the World Trade Center collapsed in New York, there were many people who drew a parallel between this allusion to the tower of Siloam in Luke, and the events of September 11 2001 (example).

King James version:

There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

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 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? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

World English Bible version:

Now there were some present at the same time who told him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way. Or those eighteen, on whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them; do you think that they were worse offenders than all the men who dwell in Jerusalem? I tell you, no, but, unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.”

He spoke this parable.

“A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it, and found none. He said to the vine dresser, ‘Behold, these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and found none. Cut it down. Why does it waste the soil?’ He answered, ‘Lord, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it, and fertilize it. If it bears fruit, fine; but if not, after that, you can cut it down.’”

Questions. Make sure you can answer these questions about what you just read:

  • why did the man want to cut down the fig tree?
  • what did the worker propose to do instead?
  • what do you think the message of the parable of the fig tree is?

Source: Luke, Chapter 13. King James version. Website: Hypertext King James Bible. World English Bible version. Website: WEB World English Bible.

Modern Languages MLLL-2003. World Literature: Frametales. Laura Gibbs, Ph.D. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. You must give the original author credit. You may not use this work for commercial purposes. If you alter, transform, or build upon this work, you may distribute the resulting work only under a license identical to this one.
Page last updated: October 9, 2004 12:48 PM