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.… Now supposing the predestined interval pass away, and you are not a fruit-bearer? There will be no more notice, it will come quietly, solemnly, instantaneously, abrupt, irrevocable, "Cut it down." Then "the axe will be laid at the root," and you will go up to your bed, and you will begin to decline and fade away. Or a blow will do it in a moment, and you will lie down, a thing that has never fulfilled its intention of life; then how is it to live for ever? But if otherwise, if you begin now, in any degree, really to live for God, and repay God's care, and honour Him, what will you have then? There is no answer given in the original. We have put in "well." God had left it a blank, for every one to fill in just as he likes; and we cannot fill it in with too much. But let it stand, "well." "If it bear fruit, well." "Well," all health, all joyous health for the soul, "well." "Well" will it be to live well, to die well, to meet God well. "Well" will it be to go on bearing more fruit for ever and ever. "Well " will it be for you to be eternally happy, and Christ to "see of the travail of His soul in you, and to be satisfied." "Well." Then what is the conclusion? Do not go on living a useless life. Let God have some satisfaction in you. Begin at once. Do something. Let there be some" fruit" seen — at home, in your temper, in your intercourse, in your daily conduct, in your own family. Let there be more "fruit" in our own closet, in more real communion with God in private. Let there be a "fruit" in the world, in something taken up and done definitely for the Lord Jesus Christ. Let there be a "fruit" in the Church — truer worship, more frequent use of ordinances, more sympathy and love shown to all the brethren. And let there be a "fruit" — fruit best of all, in your own soul — more of Jesus there — a humility, a tenderness, a holy singleness, which shall show Jesus, just as the grapes shows the vine. (J. Vaughan, M. A.) 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. |
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