We are often in too much of a hurry. We plant and then immediately want the fruit. But trees need time to develop in strength. The background to this parable is in Leviticus 19:23-25, which says, "‘When you enter the land and plant any kind of fruit tree, regard its fruit as forbidden. For three years you are to consider it forbidden; it must not be eaten. In the fourth year all its fruit will be holy, an offering of praise to the Lord. But in the fifth year you may eat its fruit. In this way your harvest will be increased. I am the Lord your God." The 'first fruits' always belong to the Lord, but to give Him the weak crop from the first three years would insult Him. So, the first full crop would be expected in the fourth year and would be given to the Lord in worship.
In Jesus' story, the fig tree bore no fruit at all in the first three years. The options were to cut it down or work hard in improving the soil for a year, trying to encourage it to fruit. Although the owner had every right to get rid of the tree, it was given a limited second chance. It was like Israel, which had been spiritually unproductive for many years and during the three years of Christ's ministry resisted the call to repentance from John the Baptist and Jesus Himself (Matthew 3:2; Matthew 4:17). Interestingly, the day Jesus was raised from the dead was also the Feast of First Fruits - hence 1 Corinthians 15:20: "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." Fifty days later, at Pentecost, the church was born and continues to be productive.
God is patient, but only for a while. In Greek, the word 'patient' means 'long angry'. It is not that God has abandoned His right to judge those who are spiritually unproductive, but He delays to give more opportunity for rebels to repent. 2 Peter 3:9 says, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
So, Isaiah 55:6-7 says, "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon." It was true for ancient Israel; it is still true today. The urgency of the gospel lies in knowing that repentance must not be put off for ever, and people need to get right with God while there is still time. Nobody can ever count on tomorrow; so "… Today, if only you would hear His voice, do not harden your hearts ..." (Psalm 95:7-8).
