Parable on Deferred Judgement

78. Parable on Deferred Judgement

The first thing we might ask ourselves after reading this parable is, what is a fig tree doing in a vineyard? It does not seem to belong. Worse, it produces no fruit, so the caretaker is instructed to cut it down. But the caretaker demurs, saying, let me see if I can’t nurture this tree so that it bears some fruit, before we make an irreversible decision.

What comes to mind when reading this parable is the situation where a stranger is inserted into an established gathering – say a group of co-workers, or friends from a social club. Often our initial impulse is to reject the stranger – to ignore them and to feel relief when they depart. Picking up the vibes, the stranger in turn may be quiet and not add much value to whatever is going on, justifying the group’s original impulse to reject him or her.

In such situations, Jesus is recommending a different response. Don’t instinctively reject the foreign element, the stranger. Be inclusive. Make them feel welcome. Create the conditions for their participation and see what contribution they might make before passing judgment.