The Fig Tree

As we flip ahead to Luke 13, we find ourselves in the middle of Jesus’s teachings. Jesus tells them a parable. There is a fig tree planted in the middle of the vineyard and the owner of the land comes and sees that the fig tree isn’t bearing any fruit. And he reports that it hasn’t had fruit for three years and demands that it be cut down because it is taking up valuable space.

Fig Leafing by Hannah Garrity, A Sanctified Art

The gardener, however, isn’t ready to give up on the fig tree. The gardener suggests that they wait and give the tree another year. The gardener volunteers to take extra time to tend to the fig tree. To dig around it. To spread fertilizer on it. And if, in a year, the fig tree still isn’t bearing fruit as it should, so be it, the fig tree can but cut down.

As with all of Jesus’ parables, there is no single interpretation, Jesus doesn’t come out and say, “this is what this means.” Rather Jesus invites us to find ourselves in the story.

I think there are times when we find ourselves something like the landowner, frustrated, disappointed and even angry about something that is not producing. And I think there are times we find ourselves more like the gardener, willing and able to offer nurture and care to something in need before us.

But what if we are also like the fig tree?

The fig tree isn’t bearing fruit as it should be. It’s taking up space in the vineyard, and by taking up space it’s also presumably taking up resources from the soil.

So, the landowner wants to cut the fig tree down. In many ways it is the logical conclusion of the story. This tree isn’t doing what it is supposed to do, so it would be better to get rid of it, to chop it down, rather than letting it just take up space.

If that is true, then the question becomes, can the fig tree have worth even if it does not bear fruit?

It’s a valid question, especially if we think of ourselves as something like the fig tree. The landowner seems to say, “No.” The landowner claims that the fig tree doesn’t have value apart from its ability to bear fruit.

But the gardener says, “Yes.” The gardener gives value to the tree even if it is not producing. He sees the tree as worth something even if it is not bearing figs as it should. So, the gardener begs to let the tree stay.

Don’t get me wrong, the gardener understands that the tree needs to produce fruit. But the gardener also knows that the tree won’t bear fruit all by itself. And so, the gardener offers to pour time, energy, care into the tree. The gardener offers to give the tree what it needs to bear fruit.

If we are the fig tree, then perhaps God is the gardener. Perhaps God is the gardener fully devoted to the tree’s flourishing.

Grace and peace,

Kimmy