Luke 13:9

Analysis & Commentary

And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down—The vinedresser's intercession has limits. The conditional structure (κἂν μὲν ποιήσῃ καρπόν… εἰ δὲ μή γε, ἐκκόψεις αὐτήν, kan men poiēsē karpon... ei de mē ge, ekkopseis autēn) presents two stark outcomes: fruitfulness or destruction. There is no third option.

This conclusion demolishes presumption upon God's patience. The 'cutting down' (ἐκκόπτω, ekkoptō) means complete removal and judgment—the same verb used by John the Baptist: 'Every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down' (Matthew 3:10). For Israel, this judgment fell in AD 70 when Rome destroyed Jerusalem and the temple. For individual souls, it comes at death or Christ's return. The parable ends without revealing the tree's response, leaving each hearer to provide the ending through their own life. Will we bear fruit or face the axe?

Historical Context

The destruction of barren fruit trees was standard agricultural practice—sentimentality didn't outweigh economic reality. Firewood from fruit trees was valuable, so even a cut-down tree had use, but only after it failed its primary purpose. Jesus spoke this parable around AD 30; within 40 years (a biblical generation), the Roman legions under Titus besieged Jerusalem, slaughtered hundreds of thousands of Jews, destroyed the temple, and ended the sacrificial system. This national catastrophe fulfilled Jesus' prophecy that fruitless Israel would be 'cut down.'

Questions for Reflection

• How does the finality of 'cut it down' challenge modern assumptions about unlimited second chances?
• What fruit has God's patient cultivation produced in your life this past year that wouldn't have existed without His intervention?
• If your life were evaluated today solely by its spiritual fruit, what would the verdict be—'well' or 'cut it down'?