The Parable of the Fruitless Fig Tree – repent or perish

The Parable of the Fruitless Fig Tree - repent or perish. Have you heard of the parable of the fruitless fig tree? Do you know why "repent or perish" is in the title along with the name of the parable? If not, you're probably not alone. You see, the parable of the fruitless fig tree is kind of "hidden" under a section titled "Repent or Perish" in the 1984 NIV.

The Parable of the Fruitless Fig Tree - repent or perish is article #5 in the series: Parables of Jesus. Click button to view titles for entire series

When you read it, the concept of the tree without fruit and the warning of repent or perish makes sense.

Well, it should make sense to Christians.

However, I believe there's more to it than we might think.

It sounds fruitless-fig-tree focused. But what if we look at a larger view? Look at a context beyond just the one passage. It's 9 verses. Three paragraphs.

However, having said that, it's also part of Luke's Gospel. It's something Jesus said. And, it's a parable. Therefore, we must be on the lookout for the deeper meaning. Something beyond one little fig tree. Beyond something like the image of that one tree, surrounded by dirt and scrub brush.

What's the connection between the Fruitless Fig Tree and repent or perish?

So let's take a look at the passage the NIV titled Repent or Perish.

Repent or Perish

Lk 13:1 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

Lk 13:6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’