A FIG TREE planted in a vineyard (Luke 13:6,76He 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. 7Then 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? (Luke 13:6‑7)) — in the spot of all others most choice, most constantly under the owner’s eye. How often had the owner of that fig tree observed its growth! how often had he looked among its branches for fruit! For three long years he had looked for, yes, “had come, seeking fruit,” but in vain. Israel is “the vineyard of the Lord” (Isa. 5:1-71Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: 2And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. 3And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. 4What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? 5And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: 6And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. 7For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry. (Isaiah 5:1‑7)), and the favored tree in the favored vineyard, we cannot doubt, is the city of the Lord’s most special care, Jerusalem. “When the time of the fruit drew near,” the lord of the vineyard sent his son that he might receive the fruits of it (Matt. 21:33-3933Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: 34And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. 35And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. 36Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. 37But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. 38But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. 39And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. (Matthew 21:33‑39)), and he looked to the dresser of his vineyard for fruit from his favored tree. The wall of the vineyard is now broken down, and it is laid waste, and neither “pruned nor digged,” while the clouds “rain no rain upon it.” It is the time of the “casting away of” Israel (Rom. 11:15-2215For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? 16For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. 17And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 18Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 19Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 22Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. (Romans 11:15‑22)). Long, long since the solemn word, “Cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?” has gone forth against Jerusalem, and the favored city has been overturned. “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God;” it is a fearful thing to be cared for, nourished, warned by Him, and still to be profitless and unfruitful, yes, to be “nigh unto cursing.”
Like the favored tree in the favored vineyard is the child of Christian parents in a Christian land. How many such trees are there in happy English homes! The heavenly husbandman looks to them for fruit: “Herein is My Father glorified that ye bear much fruit.” Of His grace are all the advantages of the Christian home, to Him must an account be rendered for all the advantages. To be the special object of the husbandman’s interest, to be placed in the choicest spot in his vineyard, in no way saved the fig tree from the ax, neither will the fact of being brought up where Christ’s name is revered, and where the Bible is honored, excuse any one from bearing fruit.
Capernaum, Bethsaida, and Chorazin were cities wherein most of the Lord’s mighty works were done. Many a miracle was wrought in Capernaum, many a word of life fell from Jesus’ lips in its streets. As the people saw the sick rise up healed from their beds, they beheld the Saviour sent from God amongst them; it was their hour to seek and to find mercy at His hands, but “they repented not.” (Matt. 11:2020Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: (Matthew 11:20).) Hence their mercies became their greatest woe — “It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment than for you.” (vs. 22.) Alas! how shall they fare who repent not, though they hear more wonderful things than did the citizens of Capernaum, for in this Christian country it is well known that Jesus not only lived and blessed men, healing their bodies and comforting their hearts, but that He died upon the cross for the chief of sinners, and that now, having risen from the dead, He lives in heaven to bless and to save.
To whom much is given, of him much is required, which great principle in the ways of God none dare overlook. Yet when the owner of the vineyard came and found no fruit upon the fig-tree, mercy was mingled with judgment. The tree was not at once cut down, rather it became the object of rewed care on the part of the dresser of the vineyard. “Lord,” said he, “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.” And so it is with the reader of this page who has so often refused God’s word of grace. Kindness has been heaped on kindness, love showered on love. The pitiful word is heard, “Let it alone this year also.” One more opportunity, though no more are deserved. Judgment lingers, and mercy still stretches forth her hand.
Out of the many who read this page, these words will be last words to some! “This year also” will be the last year; the present, the last opportunity for repentance unto salvation not to be repented of. Our eternal destiny depends upon the present reception or rejection of Christ. “They repented not!” they preferred their own course, their own self-contentment. To such, the sad, sad end, “Cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?” must come. Far better to be born a heathen, and never to hear of Jesus, than to be a professing Christian in a Christian home, and to perish rejecting Him. “It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for thee.” The wise man, the religious professor, may look upon the ignorance and the cruel customs of the heathen with scorn, but it is written to such, “Despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.” (Rom. 2:4, 54Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 5But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; (Romans 2:4‑5).)
Let us not forget that the hour is near when this day of salvation must close. Even as it was with Jerusalem and the cities where the Lord’s mighty works were done, so will it be with Christendom and our own land — the opportunities for mercy will end. “The same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.” (Luke 17:29, 3029But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. (Luke 17:29‑30).) Let none presume on the mercies which surround him, but may the high privileges of a Christian’s home and surroundings lead the favored heart at once to Christ.