1

Leave it alone for one more year

2

[Luke 13:8-9]

"'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'"

3

One day, there was an incident in which Pilate, the governor,

killed the Galilean people who had come to offer sacrifices with their sacrifices.

And when Jesus heard about the case, taught people about the meaning of that incident.

4

Jesus said to the people. "Do you think that these Galileans were slain by the governor even though they sinned more than the other Galileans?

Not like that. If you do not repent, then you will perish."

5

Then Jesus said that the Temple of Siloam collapsed and 18 people died.

"Those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them.

Do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem?

No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

6

The Jews had the idea that those who suffered or died suffer

much more sin than others.

But Jesus said that they were not particularly dead

because they were more sinful.

Jesus taught them that anyone should repent of their sins before God.

7

Then he told people a parable. A man planted a fig tree in his vineyard.

He hoped to harvest good fruit from the fig tree.

8

The steward of this vineyard worked hard to make fruit on the fig tree.

It was the time when the fruit was coming, and the owner came.

But no fruit could be obtained from the fig tree.

9

The steward worked hard on the fig tree again for a year.

In the second year, did the fig tree bear fruit?

But even in that year the owner could not get the fruit.

10

This fig tree did not bear fruit even in the third year.

The master said to the steward, "Let there be no fruit on this fig tree, so let it

be taken away. How can this tree make the land of the vineyard useless?"

11

The steward of the vineyard sincerely asked his master again.

"Master, let me leave this year alone. I will ditch and fertilize the trees.

Nevertheless, if the fig tree cannot bear fruit next year, cut it off."

The owner lasted a year in the vineyard's stewardship plea.

12

The owner waited three years for the fruit of the fig tree.

The fig tree, however, did not bear fruit for three years and occupied

only the land. If the tree cannot bear fruit during the newly given year

of opportunity, it will be cut off.

13

Today, in this parable Jesus said, the Master is God.

The steward of the vineyard, which strives to make the fig tree bear fruit,

means Jesus.

And the fruitless fig tree is a parable of God's people who do not live according to God's will.

14

In Jesus' time, the Israelites did not live a life of obedience to God.

Despite their disobedience, God persevered and waited

but they did not listen to God's word stubbornly, but rather refused to live.

15

That is why Jesus told them to abandon their evil deeds and to bear good fruit.

If they do not repent, they give a terrible warning

that God will be forsaken as the fig tree is cut off.

16

This is the same word that God has given to us today.

We who believe in Jesus and become children of God are fig trees that have to bear fruit worthy of God's will.

Jesus is always praying and helping us to bear good fruit.

17

Right now, let us look back once in a while about how much

I have lived the fruit of God's children for this year.

Let's turn around and reflect on the fact that there was nothing happening

at a glance while we acted shamefully.

As we look back on a year, we should repent before God if we have fruitless

or poor fruit, like the fig tree that Jesus spoke in parables.

And let's have a heart of faith that fits into a new year with a new mind.

(This is the sample conclusion provided by CTM. Please feel free to change the conclusion to best suit the listeners of your sermon.)