1708 LARGE FINE ENGRAVING PARABLE OF BARREN FIG TREE GOSPEL OF LUKE CHRISTIANITY
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:17166096 | Topic: Christianity |
| Place of Publication: Europe | Binding: Loose Pages, Articles |
| Special Attributes: Illustrated | Original/Facsimile: Original |
"The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree (Luc. XIII)". Original fine large antique engraving published during the year MDCCVIII (1708). Dimensionsof leaf: 42 x 26.5 cm. Engraving's actual size: 24 x 19.5 cm. Good condition in general (foxing, few splotchy parts, water-stain on lower right margin where few tiny tears, merely creasy paper at its corners/edges).Shipmentfees' values (via registered mail) to EU and to other countries: $10.5 & $11.5 respectively.For additional information con...cerning the displayed item, do nothesitate to email me.6 Hespake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in hisvineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.7 Thensaid he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years Icome seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; whycumbereth it the ground?8 Andhe answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till Ishall dig about it, and dung it:9 Andif it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut itdown.The Parable of the BarrenFig Tree (not to be confused with the parable of the budding figtree) is a parable of Jesus which appears in Luke 13:6-9. It is abouta fig tree which does not produce fruit. He spoke also of thisparable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and hecame and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto thedresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seekingfruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth itthe ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone thisyear also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bearfruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.— Luke 13:6–9, King James Version. In this parable, the owneris generally regarded as representing God the Father, who had a figtree planted in his vineyard and came seeking fruit. The gardener(vinedresser) is Jesus. Fig trees were common trees and would rarelybe planted in vineyards because the deep roots and large branchestake much ground that would otherwise be used for the vine. The figtree was a common symbol for Israel and may also have that meaninghere, and the tree in the parable may refer to a Christian who hasheard the gospel of Christ by faith unto salvation. In either case, the parable reflects Jesus offering a chance for repentance andforgiveness of sin, showing his grace toward his believers. "Thesethree years" logically refers to the period of Jesus' ministry, or simply that is the period it took for a fig tree to bear fruit.The fig tree (gentile) was given the opportunity to be in thevineyard where it otherwise should not have been as well as theneeded time to bear fruit. The vinedresser, who is Jesus, does notfail and has offered to cultivate it and so it will produce fruit.The owner is an absentee landlord, only visiting his vineyard once ayear. The law regarding first fruits, Leviticus 19:23-25, forbidseating fruit from a tree in its first three years. The vinedresserhas disposed of the fruit, either by plucking it at an early stage ordropping it for compost, to prevent anyone from inadvertently eatingthe forbidden fruit. The story suggests that the vinedresser is anobservant Jew and the owner is a pagan, unfamiliar with the laws offirst fruits. Now that the tree is entering its productive period, the vinedresser has saved it from the ax, without letting the masterknow what happened to the earlier fruit. However, the owner has yetanother surprise coming, because in the fourth year, all the fruit isoffered to the Lord. Luke may have picked up a Jewish tale of aJewish laborer outsmarting his pagan master. In the end, the faithfulprevail. Although the parable is found only in Luke's gospel, theother two synoptics include instead the cursing the fig tree withsome remarkable coincidences. There is no strong argument againstauthenticity. A majority of the members of the Jesus Seminar voted itauthentic.
00018
00018
