Then he told this parable: ‘A man had a fig-tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, “For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig-tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?”
‘ “Sir,” the man replied, “leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig round it and fertilise it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.” ’
Luke 13:6 – 9 New International Version
The significance of the number 4 in the Old Testament
These notes were first written five years ago on 01 September 2019 09:36 hrs
The number 4 symbolises the "appointed time" of God, starting from the 4th day of creation when sun moon and stars were completed, to divide day from night, and to indicate months and years, and seasons. In other words, God's appointed times began from Day 4.
And towards the last days, it is by the 4th Trumpet that the prophecy is given in Revelation 8:12 – 13 — that Three Woes will be coming upon the world. These Three Woes will be heralded by the 5th, 6th and 7th Trumpets respectively.
See my notes on The First Four Trumpets.
Link: The meaning of numbers in the Bible
In addition, Jewish tradition looks at 3+1 as the fulfilment of God's plans, e.g. in Amos chapter 1, we see a pattern of 3+1, where we read of God's impending judgment on Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, and Ammon, "For three sins, and for four".
Link: Judaism numbers
This allusion to the number 4, particularly to 3+1, of God's appointed times sheds light on the Parable of the Fruitless Fig Tree in Luke chapter 13, verses 6 to 9.
In this Parable, the fig tree was fruitless for 3 years, and the vineyard keeper asked the owner to give it one more year to bear fruits. It implies that the fruitless tree will suffer judgment at God's appointed time of 3 + 1 years.
Note that this parable was told in the context of the Lord Iesus warning in Luke 13: 1-5 about the peril of not turning away from sin. In this passage, the Lord warned his people, that regardless of whether one dies peacefully in his sleep, or in a violent death like the Galileans who were slaughtered by Pilate's men, or like those who were crushed by the falling tower at Siloam, they would all perish unless they repented.
unless you repent, you too will all perish. Luke 13:5
Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Iesus, let us take heed of God's appointed time. Let us repent.
Below is a link to a post I wrote two years ago about bearing fruits worthy of repentance, a call by John the Baptist:
