30 Days of Prayer for the Harvest
Day 8 – Monday, January 19, 2026
Yesterday, we looked at the Parable of the Sower (also known as the Parable of the Four Soils) in Mark 4. Jesus told about four different soils that represented four different kinds of people who hear the word of the kingdom of God, the gospel message. We saw the various responses that people may have to the word: hard hearted rejection (Mark 4:15); temporary emotional acceptance (4:16-17); worldly distraction (4:18-19); or bearing fruit (4:20).
Jesus told another short parable in Luke 13 about a fruitless fig tree. Look at it:
6 He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ 8 But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9 And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’ “ (Luke 13:6-9).
Jesus tells this parable immediately after being told about some Galileans who had recently suffered and died at the hand of Pilate (Luke 13:1). Jesus used this incident to teach, “…unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3, 5). The response that Jesus is looking for is repentance.
To reinforce this point, Jesus tells the parable of the fig tree. The vineyard owner represents God, the one who rightly expects to see fruit on His tree and who justly decides to destroy it when He finds none. The gardener, or vineyard keeper who cares for the trees, cultivating and fertilizing them to bring them to their peak of fruitfulness, represents Jesus, who feeds His people and gives them living water. The tree itself probably has two symbolic meanings: the nation of Israel and the individual.
The three-year period is significant because for three years John the Baptist and Jesus had been preaching the message of repentance throughout Israel. But for the most part, the fruits of repentance were not forthcoming. John the Baptist warned the people about the Messiah coming and told them to bring forth fruits of repentance because the ax was already laid at the root of the tree (Luke 3:8-9). But the Jews were offended by the idea they needed to repent, and they rejected their Messiah who demanded repentance from them. They had departed from the true faith and the true and living God and created a system of works-righteousness that was an abomination to God. He, as the vineyard owner, was perfectly justified in tearing down the tree that had no fruit. The Lord’s ax was already poised over the root of the tree, and it was ready to fall.
However, the compassionate gardener intercedes for more time to water and fertilize the fruitless tree, and the gracious Lord of the vineyard responds in mercy and grace. The gardener asked permission to give the barren fig tree more than it deserved. Mercy said let it alone this year also. Grace said let me dig around it and put on fertilizer. This gracious request illustrates how the Lord works in the human heart to call people to repent and believe.
Jesus leaves the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree open-ended. We don’t know if the gardener’s care for the tree worked. We don’t hear if it bore fruit or was cut down. H. B. Charles comments,
These questions are not answered. Why? The story is not about the tree. It’s about you and me. Only you can fill in the blanks. You must answer for yourself. Why am I still here? Am I just taking up space? Is my life bearing fruit? Do I need to get right with God? God is gracious and infinite. Grace is not infinite. God sets limits on His mercy, patience, and forbearance. The God of the second chance is the God of the last chance. God is slow to anger. If you are slow to repent, slow anger will catch up with you. Get right with God while you have a chance.[1]
Jesus would dig around, fertilize, and water the nation of Israel until the time came for them to be cut down. Some would repent and be saved. Many would refuse and perish.
Could God use us in the lives of perishing people to dig around and fertilize with the hope that they will repent? That was the heart of Jesus. And since Christ dwells in us through faith (Eph. 3:17), it should be our heart as well.
The time is short, the axe is already laid at the root of the tree. The time to repent is now. Let’s do all we can to help people repent and believe in Jesus before they perish.
Today’s Prayer
Father, thank You for your mercy that gave me time to repent. Thank you for the grace by which I believed in Jesus. Thank you for causing the fruit of repentance and faith to show in my life.
Lord, I pray that those around me who also need to repent and believe in Jesus. I know that unless they repent, they will perish. Would You have mercy on them by giving them more time? By the empowering of Your Holy Spirit, would you graciously allow me and others to dig and fertilize their soil?
Father, if their heart is hardened, please soften it by Your grace and the truth of Your word. If their heart is shallow, deepen it through my prayers and faithful witness. If their heart is distracted by the world, show them the true treasure of Christ and eternal life.
Lord you have said that the goodness of God leads to repentance. Let me show Your goodness to someone today. Help me to dig and fertilize with Your goodness in someone’s life.
Amen.
Today’s Action
Work through your list of friends that you are praying for.
Pray for each one by name, asking the Lord to show you what you might be able to do to help bring them to repentance.
Write down those ideas and look for opportunities to follow through.
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[1] H.B. Charles, The Barren Fig Tree, https://hbcharlesjr.com/resource-library/sermon-outlines/the-barren-fig-tree-luke-136-9/ accessed 01/18/2026.
