The Barren Fruit Tree

At first reading it may not be apparent as to why the two parts of the passage from Luke are considered together. A question about the wickedness of persons who suffer from accidents leads into a parable about a barren fig tree. A closer examination will show why the two parts belong together and the important distinction Jesus makes in terms of ethical behavior and its outcome.

Jesus is faced with a question about the link between the results of disasters and wickedness. He does not see a direct connection because the consequences to persons in a sense are arbitrary. They happen to the good and evil alike. The deaths or injuries from such events have no ethical connection to the results. They are just random victims of the natural course of events.

CONTEXT

Conte…