Introduction. Everyone who has planted a fruit tree can relate to Jesus’ parable about the frustration of planting one that doesn’t produce fruit. Time, money and effort are wasted if we plant a tree to produce apples or oranges and it turns out the tree is barren. The only thing left to do is cut it down and plant another tree that will produce what we desire.
This parable was written to remind us that since we are created in the image and likeness of God, our feelings are exactly the same as God’s. He too put forth great efforts to create the heavens and the earth, send Jesus to die for our sins, and devise the gospel to make it possible for us to bear fruit.
- “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 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?’” (Lk. 13:6-7)
This parable was written to remind us that since we are created in the image and likeness of God, our feelings are exactly the same as God’s. He too put forth great efforts to create the heavens and the earth, send Jesus to die for our sins, and devise the gospel to make it possible for us to bear fruit.
Jesus revealed this more fully in the parable of the sower. After speaking of the four types of human hearts in which the seed would be sown, Jesus made it clear that the first three hearts ended with no fruit and all the labor, toil and sacrifice of Jesus ended in vain for them. Only the heart that “bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty,” (Mt. 13:23-24) will result in salvation. Just as our own efforts to plant must result in fruit to be worth the time, only those who “having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience” (Lk. 8:15) will please God.
This was not a new revelation. God had described all the work He had done for Israel in much the same way. God had prepared the soil, planted the best grape vine, and had great expectations that it would produce good grapes. Yet in spite of all that God had done, it did not produce the good grapes He had expected.
After God called Abraham and blessed him, He continued to work with Israel. He brought them out of Egypt and gave them the law of Moses, and led them into the promised land. He sent judges and prophets to guide them and reveal His expectations. But the fruit He had worked so hard to produce never materialized. What God did next is very important. When they failed to produce the fruit, severe judgment came upon them.
What God had planned for Israel was a place of safety where justice and equity were the rule of the land. The fruit He sought were children who were like Him. But what He received after all His efforts were children who acted like Satan without repentance. This was not the result God had sought and the only thing left was to cut down what had failed to produce and plant again.
Nothing has changed. Just as God called Abraham, Jesus has called His disciples. Just as God made them a nation and protected them, Jesus has made us a nation and protected us. His expectations are exactly the same as what God had expected of Israel.
John the Baptist told Israel to “bear fruits worthy of repentance.” He warned them that “even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” He concluded with “His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Mt. 3:1-12).
Using the same figure of a choice vine, Jesus revealed that each of His disciples is a branch expected to produce fruit.
As branches in the vine, we must be bearing fruit. If we bear fruit, God will prune us so that we can bear even more fruit. But if we do not bear fruit, we will be cut off as a branch and withered. If we truly abide in Jesus, then we will bear much fruit and God will be glorified.
Conclusion. What has been clearly revealed in parables is something we all feel within our own heart. We all know that if we have a fruit tree or a garden, all the money and labor are put forth to bring fruit. If there is no fruit, we feel cheated and have no choice but to remove that branch or plant. Jesus has warned that God feels exactly the same way and will do exactly the same thing.
When we stand before the judgment seat of Christ, it is evident that the issue of fruit will be of the greatest importance. The only thing left is to learn the fruit God seeks and diligently seek to produce it. If we stand before Him barren or unfruitful, we will be condemned. This leads us to understand the importance of the fruit of the Spirit, the efforts we put into evangelism and the good works we are doing. After listing the seven things God asked us to add to our faith Peter said, “for if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2Pet. 1:5-8). This places virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and love in their proper setting. They are among the fruits we must possess if we are to be seen as productive and fruitful on the last day.
This was not a new revelation. God had described all the work He had done for Israel in much the same way. God had prepared the soil, planted the best grape vine, and had great expectations that it would produce good grapes. Yet in spite of all that God had done, it did not produce the good grapes He had expected.
- My Well-beloved has a vineyard On a very fruitful hill. He dug it up and cleared out its stones, And planted it with the choicest vine. He built a tower in its midst, And also made a winepress in it; So He expected it to bring forth good grapes, But it brought forth wild grapes. (Isa. 5:1-2)
After God called Abraham and blessed him, He continued to work with Israel. He brought them out of Egypt and gave them the law of Moses, and led them into the promised land. He sent judges and prophets to guide them and reveal His expectations. But the fruit He had worked so hard to produce never materialized. What God did next is very important. When they failed to produce the fruit, severe judgment came upon them.
- Let Me tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it shall be burned; And break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. 6 I will lay it waste; It shall not be pruned or dug, But there shall come up briers and thorns. I will also command the clouds That they rain no rain on it. 7 For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, And the men of Judah are His pleasant plant. He looked for justice, but behold, oppression; For righteousness, but behold, a cry for help.” (Isa 5:5-7).
What God had planned for Israel was a place of safety where justice and equity were the rule of the land. The fruit He sought were children who were like Him. But what He received after all His efforts were children who acted like Satan without repentance. This was not the result God had sought and the only thing left was to cut down what had failed to produce and plant again.
Nothing has changed. Just as God called Abraham, Jesus has called His disciples. Just as God made them a nation and protected them, Jesus has made us a nation and protected us. His expectations are exactly the same as what God had expected of Israel.
John the Baptist told Israel to “bear fruits worthy of repentance.” He warned them that “even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” He concluded with “His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Mt. 3:1-12).
Using the same figure of a choice vine, Jesus revealed that each of His disciples is a branch expected to produce fruit.
- “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. . . . I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. ... By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” (Jn. 15:1-8).
As branches in the vine, we must be bearing fruit. If we bear fruit, God will prune us so that we can bear even more fruit. But if we do not bear fruit, we will be cut off as a branch and withered. If we truly abide in Jesus, then we will bear much fruit and God will be glorified.
Conclusion. What has been clearly revealed in parables is something we all feel within our own heart. We all know that if we have a fruit tree or a garden, all the money and labor are put forth to bring fruit. If there is no fruit, we feel cheated and have no choice but to remove that branch or plant. Jesus has warned that God feels exactly the same way and will do exactly the same thing.
When we stand before the judgment seat of Christ, it is evident that the issue of fruit will be of the greatest importance. The only thing left is to learn the fruit God seeks and diligently seek to produce it. If we stand before Him barren or unfruitful, we will be condemned. This leads us to understand the importance of the fruit of the Spirit, the efforts we put into evangelism and the good works we are doing. After listing the seven things God asked us to add to our faith Peter said, “for if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2Pet. 1:5-8). This places virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and love in their proper setting. They are among the fruits we must possess if we are to be seen as productive and fruitful on the last day.