What does this parable mean.. . ?

[ayeess]

Luke 13:6-9 (New King James Version)

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree


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[a] you can cut it down.’”

 

[ComingWitDaBig3]

Good eveniing brother, this parable itself is fascinating. What does it mean:
God waits patiently for you to change, yet if His patience is limited (because He's a just God), thus He may decide to 'cut' you down (comune wit God ends). BUT Jesus is our everlasting intercessor(someone who prays for something or in this case somone), and He 'convinces' The Lord God not to do so, thus the SECOND CHANCE.
I hoped this helped.
God Bless.

 

[ComingWitDaBig3]

**yet if His patience is limited
i meant :
**yet His patience is limited

 

[stormdancer0]

Just wanted to add:

Christ offers to "dig up the soil around" us, and provide "fertilizer." Neither of these are very attractive, worldly speaking. Everything is nice, and settled, then along comes the Gardner and starts stirring up everything, shaking things loose and digging around in stuff that's been hidden. On top of that, He introduces a lot of fertilizer. We all know what natural fertilizer is - straight off the barn floor.

But He does it to make us grow, to make us stronger. He does it out of love for us. Eventually, if we refuse to grow, He has no choice. A tree that does not produce fruit is cut down and burned.

 

[lilmissmontana]

Adding a few things:

This is a parable that teaches ministers how to minister to unfruitfulness. First we see Christ our intercessor in these scriptures ... we become intercessors when praying for these. Those we preach to we should pray for. We see the intercession in this parable when he asks for the tree not to be cut down yet.

dig about and dung it ... till up the soil and fertilize it ... in other words ... it's good to make sure the unfruitful tree is awakened to the terrors of the law and then fertilize with the promises

when we pray for others we must do our part

as for the tree ... if we pray for grace for someone and don't endeavor to do our part we are basically mocking God's grace and mercy

unfruitful persons of religion that become fruitful after a long time find all is well ... but while God is full of grace we can not expect He will have patience forever

God bless

 

[JerryChristian]

In this regard the fig tree represents the land of Israel. Christ spent a little over 3 years ministering to Israel looking at their fruits. He could find none. Yet he found himself wanting to give Israel another chance. So Israel has not been cut off but in the Millenial kingdom Israel will be given yet another chance to recognize him as Messiah.

 

[donrobert]

God gives us second chances... but we must not abuse his lenience...