"THIS YEAR ALSO" (Pastor Tom Henry) ~ 1/1/26

“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 thou shalt cut it down.” (Luke 13:8, 9)

Fruit-bearing trees follow natural cycles marking the years of their existence. There is a season for digging, pruning, caring, etc. There is a season for harvest when fruit is expected. If no fruit appears then the caretaker must wonder, why. After one fruitless year, the tree is allowed one more year. If barrenness continues, there is no other alternative but to cut it down, because, as the vinedresser in our parable asked, “Why cumbereth it the ground?” (Vs. 7)

In this case the fig tree had been barren for three years: grace had already been extended a year beyond what was ordinarily allowed. The owner of the vineyard, jealous for his ground, justly ordered that the tree be destroyed. But, the vinedresser, not being eager to forfeit his work and toil, and loving the tree which he had nurtured, interceded, and pled, “Let it alone this year also.” He begged the vineyard owner for one more year - for grace upon grace!

As we come to the dawning of a new year, it behooves us all to remember that it is only due to God’s goodness and grace that we have been granted “this year also.” For the Christian, it provides more and new opportunities to serve the Lord, and to grow stronger in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. For the unsaved, it adds additional space for repentance. Peter tells us that “the longsuffering of the Lord is salvation.” (II Peter 3:15) This is true in every case. God did not owe you or me even one opportunity to repent of our sins and believe on His Son. He does not owe any sinner even one hearing of the blessed Gospel of Jesus Christ. Yet, some who read this article will have remained impenitent, having refused countless Gospel appeals year after year.

Why should such rebels be allowed to “cumber the ground”? Could it be that the blessed “Dresser” of the vineyard (our Savior and Intercessor, Jesus Christ) has pled with His Father (the owner of the vineyard) that He spare you “this year also,” so that this year, 2026, might be the year of your salvation. We know from our Savior’s great intercessory prayer that He prays not only for those who have believed, but for those who shall believe through the preaching of the Gospel. (John 17:20) Perhaps it is for you that He now pleads, “Father, I love this ‘tree’; I have invested much pain and labor to see it produce fruit. Let Me just once more dig it and dung it, and prune it, and see if it will come through before you cut it down, and have it cast into the fire.”

This parable was no doubt intended for the Jewish nation and people. They were a chosen privileged people from whom acceptance, obedience, and service was expected. Having not found this fruit, God had determined to cut them off. Our Lord, like Moses of old, interceded and stayed God’s hand. This gave space for the Apostles to preach repentance, but their message was unheeded, and they were cut off.

Certainly, this parable has further application to the Church, which is often referred to as God’s vineyard. We are plants planted by God’s own hand - planted in fertile soil, “a fruitful hill.” As He comes into His vineyard, He has every right to expect fruit from every plant. After all, He has gone to enormous expense in planting and caring for us. When He comes to gather fruit, if none is found, why should He allow you or me to “cumber” such valuable ground? When He finds plants that are not of His planting, our Lord made it quite clear that they shall be “rooted up.” (Matt. 15:13)

Let us consider the appeal of the vinedresser in this parable and apply it to the beginning of a new year. He pled, “Let it alone this year also.” This suggests a retrospect. “This year also.” There have been former years of grace. The context suggests years of sparing grace. God’s patience has already been taxed - taxed by provocation. Yet the fruitless tree is granted more time. Let none therefore despise “the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”. (Rom. 2:4) Do not presume, for Solomon said, “There is an end, and the expectation of the sinner shall be cut off.”