Let it Alone

Luke 13: 1-9

"At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2He asked them, "Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? 3No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. 4Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them — do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did." 6Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. 7So he said to the gardener, 'See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?' 8He replied, 'Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. 9If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"

Here in Luke – the unfruitful fig tree is given more time and nurture in order that it will once again produce fruit. Can we say that it is a parable of grace or judgment ? Both ? The vineyard owner’s patience had worn out (3 years of waiting for fruit). He wanted to be rid of this fruitless tree…but the gardener appealed for mercy. “Sir, let it alone [Grk.= aphesis] for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it..” I wonder why it was that Jesus has the gardener being the messenger of grace and not the owner of the vineyard ? Are both the vineyard owner and the gardener divine figures in the story ? [Grk.= aphesis] translates Let it alone….let it be…suffer, pardon, forgive. This is the same word which Jesus speaks from the cross – “Father, forgive (aphesis) them, for they know not what they do.” (Lk. 23: 34) In his book, The Parables of Grace, Robert Capon writes: “ The world lives, as the fig tree lives, under the rubric of forgiveness. The world, of course, thinks otherwise. In it’s blind wisdom, it thinks it lives by merit and reward.” (pg. 97)

Last week, Pay No Toll raised the question, How determined or stubborn is God ? Perhaps the question here is How far will God's patience extend ? How much time will God allow for us to repent...to turn back....before judgment comes - chop it down. Patience...let it be....let it alone. We live, as Capon says, like the fig tree lives...under the rubric of forgiveness. Isn't patience like forgiveness ? Hey, guys...thanks for putting up with me !