The Parable of the Fig Tree (Luke 13:6–9)

A man had a fig tree, which had been planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. And he said to the vineyard-keeper, “Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?” And he answered and said to him, “Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.” (Luke 13:6–9) John, the last of the old covenant prophets, urged the religious Jews to “Bear the fruit of repentance” (Matt. 3:8), but they didn’t listen. “The axe is already at the root of the tree,” warned John (Matthew 3:10). Still nothing. Then for three years Jesus searched Israel in vain for the fruit of faith. When Jesus entered Jerusalem at the start of his final week, the people waved branches without fruit. The next morning, Jesus cursed a fruitless fig tree (Mark 11:14). Oh, the symbolism! But what does the parable of the fig tree mean? Mr. Preterist: “The parable foreshadowed [...]