And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.
Luk 13:7
And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’
Luk 13:8
And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure.
Luk 13:9
Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”
Parable of the fig tree with no fruit explained
The fig tree represents people who repented of their sins and who are children of God.
The believer is not bearing the fruit of God. That means that he or she does not show evidence that he or she is a
child of God.
The gardener is a pastor or someone who cares for the people of God.
The landowner is God. He hates it when his children do not produce evidence that they are children of God.
Ephesians 5 22 and 23 say that the fruit of God or fruit of the Spirit include:
- love
- joy
- peace
- longsuffering
- gentleness
- goodness
- meekness
- temperance
- faith
Everyone who is a child of God must read the Bible and follow the way that God wants us to live in order to produce fruit.
If we do not, God will sometimes allow difficult situations to come in order to produce the fruit of righteousness.
Therefore, it is easier if we obey the Word Of God in order to produce lives that please Him.
Jesus told this parable of workers in a vineyard in order to explain how He rewards His children for their labor on the earth.
Vineyards are mentioned several times in the bible. A vineyard was a plot of land in which grapes were grown. It was usually located on a hill and was cleared of many stones before the grapes were planted.
The owner of the vineyard would build a wall or hedge around the vineyard. They would also build a watch tower inside the vineyards, and a watchman would be hired to prevent thieves from stealing the crops (Bible Places, 2023).
Once the grapes began to ripen, the fruit would be harvested or removed from the vines. This usually took place between June to September.
Parable Of Workers In A Vineyard - the story
In the parable, Jesus said that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers to harvest or pick his ripe grapes.
He offered to pay them a denarius, which was the usual rate for a day's work.
The men agreed and the landowner set them to work.
What is a denarius?
A denarius was a silver coin that was used in ancient Rome. It was the standard Roman silver coin for over 400 years. Jews used it since Israel was once governed by Rome.
The denarius was a very important coin in the Roman economy. It was used to pay soldiers, buy goods, and pay taxes.
Roman emperors often had their images or symbols stamped on denarii, which helped to spread their message and promote their rule.
The landowner hired more people later in the day
Later, at around the third hour of the day (8.00 am), the
landowner went out and
saw others standing in
the marketplace doing
nothing.
He said to them, “I
can offer you work in my
vineyard, and I will pay
you whatever is right."
They went off to join the
others already working
in the vineyard.
At the sixth hour (11.00 a.m.), the landowner
went down to the
marketplace and saw
more men looking for
work.
He offered them work
too and they joined the
others working in the
vineyard.
The sun was
overhead and the work
made them sweat.
Three hours later at the ninth hour, the
landowner offered work
to more men looking for
a job. This is 2.00 p.m.
These too joined those
who had been working
for many hours,
About the eleventh hour of the day (4,00 p.m.), the landowner
went out and found
more men standing
around.
He asked them,
“Why have you been
standing here all day
long doing nothing?”
‘No-one one has hired
us,” they replied.
He said to them, “You
can go and work in my
vineyard.”
Time to pay the workers
When evening came (5.00 p.m.), the owner of
the vineyard said to his
foreman, “Call the
workers and pay them their
wages."
Five p.m is the twelvth hour of the day.
All of the workers lined up.
The workers who were hired last were placed at the front
of the line.
The
workers who were hired early in the morning were placed at the back of the line.
To everyone's surprise, all of the workers were given full pay - a denarius!
The workers who were hired early in the day got a denarius!
The
workers who were hired at the third hour of the day (8.00 a.m.) got a denarius!
The workers who were hired at the sixth hour of the day (11.00 a.m.) were paid a denarius!
The workers who were hired at the ninth hour of the day (2. 00 p.m.) were paid a denarius!
To their delight, those workers hired at the eleventh hour of the day (4.00 p.m.) were also paid a denarius!
The workers who had worked longer hours were surprised and unhappy!
Those who had
worked all day began to grumble.
“These who were hired
last worked only one
hour,” they complained,
“yet you paid
them the same as those of us who worked long hours
in the heat of the day.”
‘The landowner replied,
“I am not being unfair to
you, friend. Didn’t you
agree to work for a
denarius?
When the workers complained, the landowner replied,
"Take your pay and go.
I decided to give the one
who was hired last the
same as I gave you. "
"Don’t I have the right to
do what I want with my
own money? Are you
envious because I am
generous?”
Parable of workers in a vineyard meaning
The landowner is God.
The vineyard is the world.
The grapes are people who are lost in their sins and do not know Jesus as Savior.
The workers are the children of God who tell others about Jesus and gather them into the Kingdom of God.
Wages are the rewards that God promises to His children who win sinners into His Kingdom.
He paid everyone the same wages, because He has specific rewards for soul winners.
Example of rewards for children of God who win souls into the Kingdom of God
God wants His children to win sinners into His Kingdom. He does not want anyone to go to hell.
God promises that soul winners will shine like the stars or angels forever:
And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above;and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever - Daniel 12: 3.
Mat 20:1 - “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
Mat 20:2 - After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius[fn] a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
Mat 20:3 - And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
Mat 20:4 - and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’
Mat 20:5 - So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same.
Mat 20:6 - And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’
Mat 20:7 - They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’
Mat 20:8 - And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’
Mat 20:9 - And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius.
Mat 20:10 - Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius.
Matt 20:11 - And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house,
Mat 20:12 - saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’
Mat 20:13 - But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?
Mat 20:14 - Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you.
Mat 20:15 - Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’
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