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Lesson Sixteen

The Parable of the Unfruitful Fig Tree

Introduction

How do you feel about very lazy people? Very productive people? On a scale of 1-10 (1=lazy & 10=productive), how would you rate yourself?

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Selected reading

Luke 13:1-9

【Luk13:1】 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.
正当那时，有人将彼拉多使加利利人的血搀杂在他们祭物中的事，告诉耶稣。
【Luk13:2】 Jesus answered, 'Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?
耶稣说，你们以为这些加利利人比众加利利人更有罪，所以受这害吗？
【Luk13:3】 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
我告诉你们，不是的。你们若不悔改，都要如此灭亡。
【Luk13:4】 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?
从前西罗亚楼倒塌了，压死十八个人，你们以为那些人比一切住在耶路撒冷的人更有罪吗？
【Luk13:5】 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.'
我告诉你们，不是的。你们若不悔改，都要如此灭亡。
【Luk13:6】 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.
于是用比喻说，一个人有一棵无花果树，栽在葡萄园里。他来到树前找果子，却找不着。
【Luk13:7】 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?'
就对管园的说，看哪，我这三年，来到这无花果树前找果子，竟找不着，把它砍了吧。何必白占地土呢？
【Luk13:8】 '`Sir,' the man replied, `leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it.
管园的说，主阿，今年且留着，等我周围掘开土，加上粪。
【Luk13:9】 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.''
以后若结果子便吧。不然再把它砍了。

Questions for discussion

1. What news is brought to Jesus? What did these people really want to know? (Luke 13:1-2)

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2. What idea is Jesus rejecting about these reports? (Luke 13:1-5)

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3. What does Jesus tell them will happen if they don’t turn from their sins? (Luke 13:5)

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4. How many years had the fig tree been unfruitful? What did the man want to do to it? What did the gardener suggest? (Luke 13:6-9)

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5. What would happen if the tree finally bore fruit? What if it didn’t? (Luke 13:9)

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6. Who do you think the tree represents in this parable? The owner? The gardener?

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7. Why did Jesus need to tell this parable?

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8. What will happen to those who do not produce fruit? Those who do?

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A time to reflect

1. How would you compare yourself to the fig tree in the parable? What would you do if you were given another year to change?

2. What fruit do you hope to be producing in your life?