What Blocks Life?

[Christ4Ever]

The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God's word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest. Luke 8:14-15 NLT

Jesus wanted His followers to know that they couldn’t expect His message to do any good in their lives if they didn’t cling to it and prioritize it. The simple knowledge of His message could be undermined by the cares of this life and the distractions of wealth and pleasure. Growth and fruitfulness, which brought benefits to themselves and to others, were far from a guarantee.

Following Jesus is like tending a garden that requires planning, watering, and weeding if you want to see any kind of life and growth. Just planting seeds of scripture verses and leaving them to fend for themselves in your heart is a sure way to be disappointed. The words of Jesus will be most transformative and productive if you can make space for them and cling to them. Beware of distractions and misplaced priorities.

Prayer: Jesus, help me to resist the temptations of this life that would draw me away from abiding in You and from nurturing the life-giving words You have given to me.

 

[complete]

'And that which fell among thorns
.. are they, which, when they have heard,
.... go forth, and are choked with cares
...... and riches and pleasures of this life,
........ and bring no fruit to perfection.
But that on the good ground are they,
.. which in an honest and good heart,
.... having heard the word,
...... keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.'
(Luke 8:14)

Hello @Christ4Ever,

My eyes were attracted to the word, 'keep', and looking it up (below) found it instructive, and confirmatory in regard to what you have said in your OP.

G2722 Keep:- κατέχω - katechō (kat-ekh'-o)
From G2596 and G2192; to hold down (fast), in various applications (literally or figuratively)
Translated: - have, hold (fast), keep (in memory), let, X make toward, possess, retain, seize on, stay, take, withhold.
Total KJV occurrences: 19

* It is translated, 'hold fast' in Hebrews 10:23:-

'Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering;
(for He is faithful that promised )'
(Heb 10:23)

Praise God!

In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[B-A-C]

Luke 13:6; And He began telling this parable: "A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any.
Luke 13:7; "And he said to the vineyard-keeper, 'Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?'
Luke 13:8; "And he answered and said to him, 'Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer;
Luke 13:9; and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.'"

I have to wonder... was the problem that the tree wasn't "alive". Or is the problem the tree 'IS' alive but refuses to bear fruit. Even with Jesus tending the tree, watering and fertilizing... some trees
refuse to bear fruit.

Luke 8:13; "Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.
Luke 8:14; "The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.

It could be the same with some "soil" they start to bear fruit... but they never let it mature.

John 15:5; "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

If the tree can't make any fruit at all without Jesus, I wonder how it is... they at least start to bear fruit. It just doesn't mature.

 

[complete]

Luke 13:6; And He began telling this parable: "A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any.
Luke 13:7; "And he said to the vineyard-keeper, 'Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?'
Luke 13:8; "And he answered and said to him, 'Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer;
Luke 13:9; and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.'"

I have to wonder... was the problem that the tree wasn't "alive". Or is the problem the tree 'IS' alive but refuses to bear fruit. Even with Jesus tending the tree, watering and fertilizing... some trees
refuse to bear fruit.

' 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.
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?
And he answering said unto him,
Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.'
(Luk 13:6-9)

Hi @B-A-C,

The fig tree is a symbol of Israel's national privilege: here it denotes the special privilege of that generation. (Jeremiah 24:3-5; Hosea 9:10; Matthew 21:19) . Three years was the period of the Lord's ministry. 'Cut it down' - ie., from among the vines. They were in danger of losing their national privileges: which they did at the end of the Acts period.

In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[B-A-C]

They were in danger of losing their national privileges: which they did at the end of the Acts period.

It's pretty doubtful that the tree is Israel.

Rom 11:25; For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;
Rom 11:26; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, "THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB."
Rom 11:27; "THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS."
Rom 11:28; From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God's choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers;
Rom 11:29; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Rom 11:23; And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

 

[complete]

It's pretty doubtful that the tree is Israel.

Rom 11:25; For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;
Rom 11:26; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, "THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB."
Rom 11:27; "THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS."
Rom 11:28; From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God's choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers;
Rom 11:29; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Rom 11:23; And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.

Hello @B-A-C,

The figure you spoke of in your OP was a fig tree, not the Olive tree.

- The Fig tree refers to Israel's national privileges ( Matt 21:19-20, Luke 13:6-9 )
- The Olive tree refers to Israel's religious privileges ( Rom. 11)
- The Vine refers to Israel's spiritual privileges ( Isa. 5: John 15)
(Judges 9)

Israel will be restored as you say, but that was not being denied.

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[complete]

* Subject Heading:- 'What blocks life?'

'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.
Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard,
.. Behold, these three years
.... I come seeking fruit on fig tree,
...... and find none:
........ cut it down;
.......... why cumbereth it the ground?
And he answering said unto him,
.. Lord, let it alone this year also,
.... till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
...... And if it bear fruit, well:
........ and if not,
.......... then after that thou shalt cut it down.'
(Luke 13:6-9)

Hello @B-A-C,

I found myself looking at this Scripture again last night. This parable, like several others, are peculiar to Luke, isn't it? Not found in the other gospel records. Israel as a nation, symbolised by the Fig Tree, was privileged to have the only Begotten Son of God born into their midst, and live among them for 33 years, ministering the gospel of the Kingdom to them for three whole years: yet the nation failed to believe, and bore no fruits of repentance. There was a believing remnant, yes, of God's calling, but the nation itself remained unrepentant. In the parable the owner of the Fig tree wanted to have it cut down, but 'the dresser of the vineyard' intercedes for the Fig Tree, and it is given further time to bear fruit. Which is what happened during the Acts period, didn't it? For forty years God gave Israel opportunity to repent, but then the nation loses it's national privileges ( it is cut down ), and is scattered among the nations (yet the root remains). It would appear that Israel's national privileges were restored in 1948. Yet Israel is still being trampled down by the Gentiles.

* In response to your subject heading, 'What blocks life?' Surely it is unbelief.

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[B-A-C]

They were in danger of losing their national privileges: which they did at the end of the Acts period.

Israel will be restored as you say, but that was not being denied.

Do you see any conflict in those two sentences?

If a tree is cut down and thrown into the fire... I'm pretty sure it's not going to bear anymore fruit.

 

[B-A-C]

This parable, like several others, are peculiar to Luke, isn't it?

The point?

There was a believing remnant, yes, of God's calling, but the nation itself remained unrepentant. In the parable the owner of the Fig tree wanted to have it cut down, but 'the dresser of the vineyard' intercedes for the Fig Tree, and it is given further time to bear fruit. Which is what happened during the Acts period, didn't it? For forty years God gave Israel opportunity to repent, but then the nation loses it's national privileges ( it is cut down ),

The parable of the vineyard, is about personal relationship, not national. Otherwise it would have been all the tees in the vineyard, not just a specific one.
Any truth of the Bible that applies to a nation, also applies to us individually. What is a nation, or a church for that matter? It's a group of individuals.

A nation can't be corrupt, unless it's people as individuals are corrupt.

 

[complete]

The point?



The parable of the vineyard, is about personal relationship, not national. Otherwise it would have been all the tees in the vineyard, not just a specific one.
Any truth of the Bible that applies to a nation, also applies to us individually. What is a nation, or a church for that matter? It's a group of individuals.

A nation can't be corrupt, unless it's people as individuals are corrupt.

Hello @B-A-C,

The point? Just a friendly observation. My oh my! You are battle scarred aren't you? You appear to think that every remark is a barbed comment. There are no winners and losers here, for we are all learners of Him.

Just sit at the Lord's feet and learn of Him, for I am sitting alongside you.

With love in Christ Jesus
our risen and glorified
Saviour, Lord and Head.
Chris

 

[complete]

Do you see any conflict in those two sentences?

If a tree is cut down and thrown into the fire... I'm pretty sure it's not going to bear anymore fruit.

'For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again,
and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;
Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.
(Job 14:7-9)

Hello @B-A-C,

No, I see no conflict? The tree is to be 'cut down', but the root will remain. There will still be hope for the tree.

Praise God!

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris