Cut It Down - Luke 13:6-9

Luke 13:6-9 ESV
The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree
And he told this parable:“A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 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? ’ And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down. ’”

A fig tree was often used to symbolize Israel. God sought fruit from His people, but all too frequently He found none. He reworked the soil, loosening that which had become hard and non-bearing. He applied discipline to make them grow and refine and bear fruit.

Jesus said He would raise the temple in three days. He rose three days after slain to become the true vine which was the only way to produce the fruit God sought.

Foreshadowing this was a commandment of God through Moses that said once the people entered the promised land and planted a fruit tree, they were to let three years pass and begin to eat its fruit on the fourth year.

Bearing fruit is the purpose of the tree, else it will be cut down.