◄ Unfruitfulness: General Scriptures Concerning ►
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Unfruitfulness, in a biblical context, often refers to the lack of spiritual growth, productivity, or the failure to produce good works and virtues that are expected of believers. The Scriptures provide numerous references and teachings concerning unfruitfulness, emphasizing the importance of bearing fruit in the life of a Christian.

1. Parable of the Sower: In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus describes different types of soil representing the hearts of people who hear the word of God. The seed that falls among thorns is choked by the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth, rendering it unfruitful. This illustrates how worldly distractions can lead to spiritual unfruitfulness.
Matthew 13:22 : "The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful."

2. The Barren Fig Tree: Jesus uses the parable of the barren fig tree to convey the expectation of fruitfulness. The tree, which bore no fruit, was given a limited time to produce before being cut down, symbolizing the urgency of repentance and the bearing of spiritual fruit.
Luke 13:6-9 : "Then Jesus told this parable: 'A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the keeper of the vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come to search for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Therefore, cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone again this year, until I dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine. But if not, you can cut it down.’"

3. The Vine and the Branches: Jesus teaches that He is the true vine and His followers are the branches. Those who remain in Him will bear much fruit, while those who do not remain in Him will be like branches that are thrown away and wither. This passage underscores the necessity of abiding in Christ to avoid spiritual unfruitfulness.
John 15:4-6 : "Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned."

4. Fruit of the Spirit: The Apostle Paul contrasts the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit, indicating that a life led by the Spirit will naturally produce spiritual fruit. Unfruitfulness is associated with living according to the flesh rather than the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23 : "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

5. Warning Against Unfruitfulness: The Apostle Peter encourages believers to add to their faith virtues that will keep them from being ineffective and unfruitful in their knowledge of Jesus Christ. This passage highlights the active role believers must take in cultivating spiritual fruit.
2 Peter 1:5-8 : "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

6. Judgment on Unfruitfulness: The Bible warns of judgment for those who remain unfruitful. In the Epistle of Jude, unfruitful individuals are compared to autumn trees without fruit, twice dead and uprooted, signifying the seriousness of spiritual barrenness.
Jude 1:12 : "These men are hidden reefs in your love feasts, shamelessly feasting with you but shepherding only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried along by the wind; fruitless trees in autumn, twice dead after being uprooted."

The theme of unfruitfulness in Scripture serves as a solemn reminder of the call to live a life that reflects the transformative power of the Gospel, producing fruit in keeping with repentance and faith.
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Isaiah 5:2
And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the middle of it, and also made a wine press therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.
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Matthew 3:10
And now also the ax is laid to the root of the trees: therefore every tree which brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
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Matthew 7:19
Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
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Matthew 13:4-7
And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
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Matthew 21:19,20
And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said to it, Let no fruit grow on you henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.
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Mark 11:13
And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
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Luke 3:9
And now also the ax is laid to the root of the trees: every tree therefore which brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
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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.
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John 15:2,4,6
Every branch in me that bears not fruit he takes away: and every branch that bears fruit, he purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
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Library

Homilies on the Gospel of John.
... His care to act as a man in general, [297]ib ... than Jacob, [305]112; often prophesied
concerning particular persons ... 415]ib.; referred to the Scriptures, [416]183 ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homilies on the gospel of.htm

Reprobation Asserted: Or, the Doctrine of Eternal Election and ...
... ordained to eternal life; which other scriptures contradict: for ... be bestowed on these
members in general; and also ... now the cause of the unfruitfulness of that ...
/.../the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/reprobation asserted or the doctrine.htm

The Theology of St. Hilary of Poitiers.
... of the method led to its general adoption in ... enabled him to derive from Scriptures
which otherwise ... the collective evidence of Scripture concerning the relation ...
/.../chapter ii the theology of st.htm

Resources
Unfruitfulness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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