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Luke 13:6–9—Barren Fig Tree

Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’” (Luke 13:6–9)

John Bunyan (author of Pilgrim’s Progress) preached a sermon in 1673 on Luke 13:6–9, stressing the limits of God’s forbearance.

Barren Fig-tree, Dost thou hear?

the Ax is laid to thy roots, the Lord Jesus prays God to spare thee;

Hath he been digging about thee?

Hath he been dunging of thee?

O Barren Fig-tree, Now thou art come to the point;

if thou shalt now become good,

if thou shalt after a gracious manner suck in the Gospel-dung,

and if thou shalt bring forth fruit unto God . . . Well!

But if not, the fire is the last.

Fruit or the Fire!

Fruit or the Fire, Barren Fig-tree!1

1. John Bunyan, The Barren Fig-tree (Oxford: Clarendon, 1986).