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Scott's Reference Library
Luke 13:1 through Luke 13:9 (NIV)
1Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans
whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2Jesus answered, “Do you
think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans
because they suffered this way? 3I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too
will all perish. 4Or 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?
5I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
6Then 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. 7So 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?’
8“‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around
it and fertilize it. 9If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it
down.’”
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
VERSES 1-5
Mention was made to Christ of the death of some Galileans. This tragical story
is briefly related here, and is not met with in any historians. In Christ’s
reply he spoke of another event, which, like it, gave an instance of people
taken away by sudden death. Towers, that are built for safety, often prove to be
men’s destruction. He cautioned his hearers not to blame great sufferers, as if
they were therefore to be accounted great sinners. As no place or employment can
secure from the stroke of death, we should consider the sudden removals of
others as warnings to ourselves. On these accounts Christ founded a call to
repentance. The same Jesus that bids us repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at
hand, bids us repent, for otherwise we shall perish.
VERSES 6-9
This parable of the barren fig-tree is intended to enforce the warning given
just before: the barren tree, except it brings forth fruit, will be cut down.
This parable in the first place refers to the nation and people of the Jews. Yet
it is, without doubt, for awakening all that enjoy the means of grace, and the
privileges of the visible church. When God has borne long, we may hope that he
will bear with us yet a little longer, but we cannot expect that he will bear
always.