Journal Precis: The Catholic Biblical Quaterly

This journal states that the fig tree in parable evokes the the ense that religion of the day was not producing the desired result of mercy and grace for all. It states that the religion of the day was not producing the fruit (figs) that God intended his followers to be. Conclusively, the author uses the fig tree as a metaphor for the sign of God's grace and patience in the person Jesus. The purpose of the community is to bear fruit that blesses the world and that the withered fig tree represents the lack of spiritual fruit by the Jews of the time (and the prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem).






Brown, Scott G. "Mark 11:1-12:12: a triple intercalation?." The Catholic Biblical Quarterly 64.1 (Jan 2002): 78-89. General OneFile. Gale. St Marys High School (BAISL). 15 May 2008

Book #3: The Parables of Jesus by Arland Hultgren

This last book draws conclusions that differ from all my other research. Firstly, the author toys with the idea that 3 years have been understood by Luke have alluded to the three year ministry of jesus. Additionally, he says the two figures within the story (the owner and the laborer) can represent the two sides of god - judgment and mercy. He satates the this parable is a laden with a tone of urgency during a time of much conflict and violence, and that this parable is trying to convince people to repent. Interestingly, he says the landowner who comes looking for the fruit (and finds none) is God, and that he is stirred by the lack of fruitfullness, while the other side of God is all-merciful and prevails for the time.

Book #2: In Parables

This book focuses mainly on the summary of the parable, as well as the analysis of the translation. McKenna stated that the parable is about a king who converted an uncultivated field into a vineyard, but the vineyard would only produce wine that was sour. Futher, it said that the king decided to destroy the vineyard, but the workman persuaded him to give the young vineyard more time. The author then related this to Moses, as he pleaded on behalf of Israel, which came from a pagan (uncultivated) culture and was a nation, which Moses said be patient with them and they will perform good deeds, and then God did not destory the people.