Everyone loves Figs!

[nebula]

In the context of these parables, it does seem to fit. Jesus uses a figtree to symbolize Israel in many parables.

Luke 13:5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.

[Joshua-777]

Are parables meant to be prophecies?

Jesus was speaking to the people about their individual lives.

I think that the context of that parable can be both. The majority of the parables Jesus taught are prophecy, For example, the wheat and the tears Matt 13:24-43, or the parable about the dragnet, Matt 13:47-52. All the parables in Matthew chapter 25.

I can be wrong on my interpritation of these parables, but thats what I get out of the passage.

Weren't the tax collectors and harlots a part of Israel? What about those of Israel who came to faith in Messiah?

Yes they where, but they also became children of God, and partakers of the new covenant, where there is equality between Jews and gentiles, awaiting for the future restoration of Israel. Those of Israel who did not accept Jesus where cut off, and Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD and regathered as a nation in 1948.

Another reason I think that those parables are refering to Luke 19:41-44 Jesus mentions Jerusalem's detruction, which is the same time he mentions all those parables, overturns the money changers, and withers the tree.

Luke 19:41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying,

[Guest shiloh357]

In the context of these parables, it does seem to fit. Jesus uses a figtree to symbolize Israel in many parables.

Luke 13:5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.

[Joshua-777]

Now you are mixing parables and metaphors. This is again a prophecy against the pharisees and the metaphor for the Kingdom is a vineyard, not a fig tree. In the verses that follow, the pharisees realize that the parable is aimed at them.

You really need to do some more quality hermeneutic study. Your approach to these parables ignores the intentions of the authors and the objects they have in view. There are only few places where Jesus prophetically links the fig tree with Israel and it is never parabolically. Rather it is eschatologically.

Your right, those parbles are aimed the Pharisees, I automatically linked them with Israel because of Israels rejection of Jesus. My approach might ignore the intentions of the authors. With that said, I'm going to say what lead me to my conclusion.

I believe Jesus prophetically links the fig tree with Israel, in Luke 21:29 that is where I got the origional idea that the pariable of the withered fig tree would fit; also, when this parraible was given was where Jesus gave some major rebukes against the Pharisees refering to them being cut out of the Kingdom. Another thing that lead me to believe this was that Jesus wept over Israel right before when He withered the tree, refering to the destruction of Jerusalem.

Luke 19:41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying,

[Joshua-777]

I was praying earlier and the Lord lead me to a verse refering to the wickedness of Israel. The congregation was sinning against the Lord, and this is a part of His rebuke against them.

Jeremiah 8:13 NKJV I will surely consume them, says the LORD.

No grapes shall be on the vine,

Nor figs on the fig tree,

And the leaf shall fade; And the things I have given them shall pass away from them.

Jeremiah 8:13 ESV When I would gather them, declares the LORD,

there are no grapes on the vine,

nor figs on the fig tree;

even the leaves are withered, and what I gave them has passed away from them."

[Guest shiloh357]

believe Jesus prophetically links the fig tree with Israel, in Luke 21:29 that is where I got the origional idea that the pariable of the withered fig tree would fit; also, when this parraible was given was where Jesus gave some major rebukes against the Pharisees refering to them being cut out of the Kingdom. Another thing that lead me to believe this was that Jesus wept over Israel right before when He withered the tree, refering to the destruction of Jerusalem.

Again, you are mixing genres. You are trying make references to the fig tree pertain to Israel, even when the text TELLS you that the parable meant something else altogether.

Sometimes Jesus does use the fig tree to represent Israel. You need to let the text speak for itself, rather than trying to assign values to various texts on your own. The withered fig tree was a lesson about faith and had nothing to do whatsoever with Israel. The proximity of time between two events does not necessarily link them together.

[Joshua-777]

believe Jesus prophetically links the fig tree with Israel, in Luke 21:29 that is where I got the origional idea that the pariable of the withered fig tree would fit; also, when this parraible was given was where Jesus gave some major rebukes against the Pharisees refering to them being cut out of the Kingdom. Another thing that lead me to believe this was that Jesus wept over Israel right before when He withered the tree, refering to the destruction of Jerusalem.

Again, you are mixing genres. You are trying make references to the fig tree pertain to Israel, even when the text TELLS you that the parable meant something else altogether.

Sometimes Jesus does use the fig tree to represent Israel. You need to let the text speak for itself, rather than trying to assign values to various texts on your own. The withered fig tree was a lesson about faith and had nothing to do whatsoever with Israel. The proximity of time between two events does not necessarily link them together.

The parables where towards the religious leaders, which where cut off. The withered tree I believe fits with the religious leaders rejecting messiah and being cut off because they didn't bear fruit, which is also what John the Baptist was saying, when he said " And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

[Guest shiloh357]

The parables where towards the religious leaders, which where cut off.

Some of them were about the religious leaders, yes.

The withered tree I believe fits with the religious leaders rejecting messiah and being cut off because they didn't bear fruit, which is also what John the Baptist was saying, when he said " And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

[Fez]

Are parables meant to be prophecies?

Jesus was speaking to the people about their individual lives.

Right. A parable is just that, a parable.

This is what Jesus had to say about His parables...

Mar 4:10 And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables.

Mar 4:11 And he said to them, "To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables,

Mar 4:12 so that "they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven."

Mar 4:13 And he said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?

Not prophecy, paparble....