不结果的无花果树
路加福音十三章1至9节
1正当那时，有人将彼拉多使加利利人的血搀杂在他们祭物中的事告诉耶稣。
2耶稣说：“你们以为这些加利利人比众加利利人更有罪，所以受这害吗？
3我告诉你们，不是的！你们若不悔改，都要如此灭亡！
4从前西罗亚楼倒塌了，压死十八个人，你们以为那些人比一切住在耶路撒冷的人更有罪吗？
5我告诉你们：不是的！你们若不悔改，都要如此灭亡！”
6于是用比喻说：“一个人有一棵无花果树栽在葡萄园里。他来到树前找果子，却找不着。
7就对管园的说：‘看哪，我这三年来到这无花果树前找果子，竟找不着。把它砍了吧，何必白占地土呢！’
8管园的说：‘主啊，今年且留着，等我周围掘开土，加上粪，
9以后若结果子便罢，不然再把它砍了。’”
信息分享
基督讲这个比喻之前，刚与百姓谈论到悔改。事缘有人告诉祂，彼拉多处死了许多人。他们可能认为，那些被处死的人一定是犯了大罪。
但基督却回应他们说：「不，他们并非罪大恶极，或是比其他人犯了更多罪。」祂还加上一句：「你们知道么？你们若不悔改归向神，就会跟那些拒绝神的人一样，结局都是灭亡。」
接着，祂便说了一个比喻，表明神正在寻找甚么──在祂儿女的生命中寻找果子。
园主为何在他的园中种植无花果树呢？是因为他想要收获无花果。他有理由期望无花果树结果，可是，他最终却在树上只找到了叶子！
所有以色列人都知道，无花果树是用来象征他们这个民族的。神在祂的葡萄园中，为以色列预留了一个重要的位置，可是，经过年复一年、代复一代地等待，结果却令祂非常失望。
神已经对此极其忍耐，但除非他们赶快悔改，审判的利斧终必砍下。请看本章的结尾。
其实，这个警告提醒了所有人，不管你是否犹太人，对吗？
THE CASE OF THE USELESS FIG TREE
Luke13:1-9
1 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
2 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things?
3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem?
5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”
6 He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.
7 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?’
8 But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.
9 And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’”
Message
Christ had just spoken about repentance when he told this story. Some people had told him about the death of a number of persons through Pilate's actions. They must have inferred that the ones killed, must have been real sinners.
But Christ took up that inference and said: 'No, they weren't particularly bad sinners. You can't say that they were any worse than anyone else'. Then he added 'You know don't you that unless you repent and turn to God, you will perish like everyone else who refuses to do so'.
Then he told this story which illustrates what God is looking for - fruit in his children.
Why did the owner give the fig tree room on his land? The answer is because he expected it to produce figs. He had a right to expect figs but what did he find? Only leaves!
The fig tree was well known by the Israelites as a symbol of themselves as a nation. Israel had been given a prominent place in God's vineyard but the results had been sadly disappointing, year after year, generation after generation.
God had shown great patience but sooner or later the axe of judgment would fall unless they repented. See the end of the chapter.
Isn't that true for everyone - Jew or non Jew?