Luke 13:6-9 He spoke also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.… How many who are called Christians live lives so utterly fruitless that they might have such obituaries written of them as this: "While professing to be followers of Him ' who went about doing good,' they were never known to go out of their way to speak kindly to the poor and the friendless, or to invite any stranger to church. Fields of usefulness close to their own dwellings were often pointed out to them, but they showed no ambition to be imitators 'of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.' An enlarged charity may hope that theirs is the blessedness of those who 'die in the Lord,' but we cannot add (in the apostle's expressive words of commendation) that they 'rest from their labours,' and that ' their works do follow them.'" (T. Adams.) Parallel Verses KJV: He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. |