1: There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2: And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? 3: I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 4: Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5: I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 6: He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. 7: Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? 8: And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: 9: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

1: There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2: And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? 3: I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Jesus is teaching here that before He returns the 2^nd time, that there will be persecution and that some of those who are serving Him (their sacrifices) will be put to death. Spiritual Rome (Pilate) will be involved in this persecution. Jesus is also teaching that just because some will lose their lives does not mean that this is a judgment from God because they are sinners. Then Jesus teaches that there is a need for everyone to repent before He returns.

4: Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5: I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Here Jesus teaches that there will be those who lose their lives from natural disasters but this does not mean that they are greater sinners than others. Again Jesus says that all must repent before He returns or they will perish. He is clearly teaching the necessity to repent of sins before the Judgment ends and He returns.

6: He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. 7: Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? 8: And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: 9: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

This parable that Jesus gave concerns the Jewish nation. A tree in Bible symbolism represents a person. A fruitful tree represents a person who keeps God’s law. (Psalm 1:2-3) Blessed is the man . . . his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season. An unfruitful or dry tree represents a person who the lord will separate from his people. Isaiah 56:3: The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. The vineyard represents the people or nation of Israel. Isaiah 5:7 For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel. For three years the fig tree bore no fruit and the Lord Jesus had expected it to produce fruit as he visited it each year. For three years Jesus had visited the people of Israel and had expected them to bear fruit and they had born no fruit. The fig tree or dry tree in the vineyard with no fruit represented people in Israel who were hypocrites, who were pretending to be serving God but who really were not obeying His commandments. This parable was a warning to the people and nation of Israel of the end of their probationary period and the impending judgment about to be pronounced upon them. The Lord had already given Israel three years of His time, witnessing to them with teaching, preaching and miracles of healing and yet they had not accepted Him. Now, in the parable, He is telling them that they have only a short time left (Luke 13:8) The lord spent six more months witnessing to Israel and then they crucified Him. John the Baptist had begun his work of preaching, teaching and baptizing the people of Israel six months before Jesus began His work. John was to prepare the way for Jesus. This occurred in AD 26 (margin reference of Bible Luke 3:2-4). John also told the people in Luke 3:9-10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 10: And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? John used the same symbols as Jesus did in His parable to warn the nation of Israel of impending judgment upon them. Thus Jesus’ parable had said the fig tree would have a total of four years of probationary time. John preached for six months before Jesus who preached for three years and six months before being crucified. Thus Israel was given a total of four years of time [as Jesus said.] (copy not clear). In AD 31 when Jesus was crucified by Israel, the veil of the temple that concealed the presence of God in the Most Holy Place was rent or torn from the top to the bottom. Matthew 27:50-51: Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent. This showed that God was no longer in the Most Holy Place of the temple. His presence, the Shekinah Glory had left the nation of Israel forever. Their probation as a nation was over.