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This thread's purpose is to share the Parables that were told by Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. These are beautiful parables that are meant to strengthen the faith and to enlighten us all on the magnanimity of our Heavenly Father's Love and Providence.

May you enjoy and be blessed!

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The Budding Fig Tree

29 And he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees; 30 as soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away till all has taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

-Luke 21:29-33

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The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree



 He spoke this parable. "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it, and found none. He said to the vine dresser, ‘Behold, these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and found none. Cut it down. Why does it waste the soil?’ He answered, ‘Lord, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it, and fertilize it. If it bears fruit, fine; but if not, after that, you can cut it down.’"

-Luke 13:6-9


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Meaning:

The context of this is that people were talking about people who died in disasters and in senseless ways. Jesus says in verse 4,5, "Do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish." For those who live comfortable lives, it's easy to presume that it's their own fault that people are subject to misfortune. They must somehow be worst sinners. But throughout the Bible, this has proven to not necessarily be the case. The ultimate counter example will be Jesus' own death. The Jews in particular where characteristically judgmental and hypocrites, considering themselves morally superior.

The subject of this parable is producing fruits of repentance. The particular application is directed towards the Jewish nation which, although some had repented and come to faith in Christ, the majority were hardened in heart. Jesus was doing a take on Isaiah's prophecy mentioned below. The more general application is toward those who are being led through nominalism to true faith in Christ.

Jesus found that his efforts in converting the Jews as a whole to faith in himself was largely unfruitful. And ultimately he would be rejected and killed by them. He was the caretaker of the vineyard. His father was the owner. Despite the barrenness, he intercedes for the Jews, much as Moses had done when God was going to destroy them.

The fruitfulness he was looking for was fruits of repentance, as verse 5 indicates. If a person says he believes, but has no outworkings to his faith, such faith is a dead faith, having no salvific value and being good for nothing. Jesus fertilizes people's faith in a number of ways. To the proud, he'll fertilize with humiliation. To the humble he may provide miraculous signs of healing, so as to affirm their faith. But he always uses his word to edify.

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The Creditor and the Two Debtors


"A certain lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they couldn’t pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?" Simon answered, "He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most." He said to him, "You have judged correctly."

-Luke 7: 41-43

Meaning

The context is that Jesus was having dinner over Simon the Pharisee's house and a sinful woman barged in to repent of her sins. Jesus forgave her, but also spoke to Simon's condescending way of thinking characteristic of the religious elite. Essentially he ended up creating a balanced view by humiliating Simon and lifting up the sinner. He noted that Simon's demonstration of love was mediocre, not even offering to have Jesus' feet washed when he entered. Washing the feet was a sign of hospitality. The woman immediately upon entering the room recognized this practical need and quickly met it even with her limited resources. In fact she probably had planned to do so before this, taking her expensive perfume with her just for that purpose. This was her sign of repentance. The woman never even asked to be forgiven. For as she had met his need without a word from him. So Jesus met her need without a word from her.

The parable compares two men who owe different amounts of money. These are liken to the woman and Simon. However this is not to say that they actually had different amounts of sin. But rather he was speaking to Simon's self-righteous way of thinking characteristic of the Pharisees, judging primarily by outward appearance. Thus he empathized with Simon, getting into his way of thinking and then analyzed the situation from that perspective.



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