Sermon Tone Analysis

October 4, 2015

Read Lu 13:6-9 -- American writer John Gardner once wrote, “The reason you can’t teach an old dog new tricks is that he is quite content with his mastery of the old tricks, and thinks that learning new tricks is strictly for puppies.

Besides, he is busy paying off the mortgage on the dog house.”

That is a very apt description of Jesus’ world – and ours!

Busy with routine; no time for the big questions of life.

So God warns Rom 2:4: “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”

That means everyone, kids included.

Since we’ve come to Eaton more than ½ doz kids killed.

You and I are alive thru God’s kindness.

But we must not mistake patience for approval!

This parable, ending a sermon that started in 12:1, teaches it’s a grave error to take His patience for granted.

His point is twofold.

Repentance is imperative.

And the opportunity is limited.

*I.The Parable*

A farmer plants a fig tree a vineyard managed by a vinedresser.

Lev 19:23-25 forbade taking fruit the 1st 3 years [buds would be pinched off to allow the tree to mature].

Fruit in the 4th year was an offering to God.

Then, Lev 19: 25 But in the fifth year you may eat of its fruit.”

Thus, by law, the owner would not have expected fruit for himself until the 5th year.

And now he’s been 3 years seeking fruit to no avail.

Thus he has 7 fruitless years invested in this tree.

No wonder he is saying, “Cut it down!”

It’s had ample opportunity to produce.

BUT the vinedresser wants to nurture the tree for one more try.

Then if there is no fruit, he agrees – it has to go!.

Simple parable, illustrating the patience of the owner and the extended but limited opportunity provided.

*II.The Interpretation*

This parable has two levels of interpretation -- one national and one personal.

The owner is God the Father.

The vinedresser is Jesus.

And the fruitless fig tree is the nation of Israel, OR any individual.

The fruitless tree is in danger of being “cut down” – taken away, removed and destroyed in judgment.

The key element is fruit, right?

The tree must produce or go!

And it’s not.

So what fruit is God seeking in the nation and in individuals?

What would make the nation or an individual acceptable to the Father?

What fruit?

Well, we don’t have to look far.

V. 3, “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

And v. 5: “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

Same exact words – spoken twice for emphasis.

John the Baptist addressed the Pharisees and Sadducees who came out of curiosity in Mt 3:8, “You brood of vipers!

Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance.”

Note, the fruit of repentance leads to other fruits that are in keeping with repentance.

What is that about?

It is about a changed life.

What does it mean to repent?

The word means to turn around.

I was going toward CA and now I turn and head to NY.

I was serving self; now I am serving God.

I was obeying my own desires and now I am obeying God’s desires.

That is fruit in keeping with repentance.

True repentance always brings about change.

When John said “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance” the people asked what would that LOOK like?

What shall we do?

And John’s response in Lu 4:9 ff. is to the people in general share your clothing and food; to the tax collectors, don’t cheat; and to the soldiers, don’t extort money and make false accusations for profit.

In other words when repentance happens, behavior changes.

Paul teaches that in Eph 2:8-10: “For by grace you have been saved through faith.

And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

[Works contribute nothing to salvation!

But look!

After salvation, nothing but works.]10

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

This is the fruit the Father is seeking – repentance, followed by a life change that shows it to be valid.

We’re not saved just to avoid hell and go to heaven.

We’re saved to walk in good works; and if they are lacking, so is salvation!

This is NT gospel!

Paul Paul told King Agrippa in Acts 26:20 that every place he preached “that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.”

In his book about the Jesus people of the late 60’s, God’s Forever People, Larry Eskridge tells of one young man from Anderson, Indiana who came to Christ at a coffee shop – Gerry’s Place.

He later testified, “My life before I found Jesus was a real bummer.

I was doing a lot of dope, booze and had low morals.

My idea of a good weekend was a hit of acid, a good-looking chick, and all the booze I could hold.

But since then I have died and been reborn. . . .

[I’m] free!” That’s fruit in keeping with repentance, Beloved.

In the parable, the owner has been seeking fruit for 3 years -- symbolic (this is a parable after all) of the whole history of Israel which was one of almost uninterrupted fruitlessness.

Hos 9:10: “Like grapes in the wilderness, I found Israel.

Like the first fruit on the fig tree in its first season.”

Jer 8:13, “When I would gather them, declares the LORD, there are no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree.”

No fruit.

And no fruit = no repentance!

So the Father rightfully says, “Cut them down.”

He could say the same of unrepentant individuals: “Cut them down”!

He would be perfectly justified.

They have squandered all their opportunity.

BUT Jesus steps in.

He asks for 1 more year – extended opportunity for them to hear and respond to the Word -- a second chance.

This doesn’t mean Jesus and the Father are at odds on this.

The Father is as willing to give as Jesus is to ask.

Mercy is at the heart of both.

This is an illustration of II Pet 3:9, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise [promise of judgment] as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

The heart of God is reflected in this parable.

He let Israel live and He lets us live on borrowed time -- kindness intended to lead to repentance.

That’s the interpretation of the parable.

Now – what about the application.

Three points.

*III.The Application*

*A.God’s Patience is Passionate*

Do you see it in the parable?