A Wild Party: Fig Trees, Talents, Servants, Virgins, Sheep & Goats

These Parables, The Fig Tree, The Talents, The Faithful & Evil Servant, Wise & Foolish Virgins, The Sheep & Goats, are considered together for our study because of their similar points they address, and the context in which they appear.

All of the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, & Luke) include the Parable of the Fig Tree in a narrative of Christ's regarding the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the tribulation*, the end of time, and the judgment of mankind. Matthew records the additional parables as part of an extended discourse in Matthew 24 & 25.

As Fr. Christopher is fond of pointing out, it is out of fashion these days to dwell on the “Reward & Punishment” aspects of Jesus teachings, but it can hardly be ignored in both Jesus’ parables and His more direct teachings. Jesus makes it clear that there will be a reckoning at the end of life for what transpires here, but there is more than a mere pointed stick in Jesus’ words.

Christ’s reveals Himself as the Righteous Judge, the Lamb of God, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, who is worthy to judge all mankind. To reduce His roll to mere “boogeyman,”
who can frighten us into toeing the line, is to reduce us as well as Him.

In the brief parable of the Fig Tree, it is not the fig tree that is the point. It is our own willingness to look at the sign God has built into the fabric of creation, and the signs God has built into the world when it strays from Him that show us how near He is in time and space.

The Faithful and Evil Servants serve the same Master, but it is their remembrance of the Master’s wishes and character that sets them apart. Who is our Master? Christ, of course, Who reminds us that the Church is full of people who have forgotten the face of their Master. Our task is to remain faithful to the truth we have and to serve His household, “giving them food in due season.”

The Talents (a Greek word meaning a measure of money, which has come to mean skill or gift in English) make it clear that we are counted on to do our part while the rich man (Christ) has traveled to a far country (gone to prepare a place for us in Heaven). Our disposition when He returns for us, either in death or at the end of time, is of great import. God has trusted us to continue the work Christ has begun, and it is our responsibility to follow through according to the measure given us.

Likewise, the Wise and Foolish Virgins are waiting for the same Bridegroom, Christ, who will return for His Bride (the Church). Who among the Church will be foolish and who will be ready?

Ultimately, the Righteousness of God will be used as the measure of all men, but not in the way you might think. The sheep and the goats are divided from among all nations not by adherence to some creed or membership in some organization; certainly not by any measure of success that the world uses. It’s not even about correct theology or four spiritual laws. It’s about serving God.

The one constant through all of these parables is the partnership between man and God.

Yes we will be judged, but we will be treated with great respect by God, Who allows us to choose and to live or die by our choices. God never forces Himself upon us, because He created us in His image and wants us to come to Him of our own volition.

It was the unilateral decision made by Eve and Adam that broke the partnership agreement between man and God. Likewise, it was the servanthood of Mary, whose obedience and partnership with God that laid the groundwork for the Second Adam to restore the partnership to all of us through His sacrifice. Cooperation between man and God, including the joining of Manhood in its fullness with the Godhead, in its fullness, that is the ideal, the model, the perfection of the whole of creation. It’s all there in the cooperation/partnership/union between Man and God.

Continued in the next installment…

*I consider it significant that all three quotes of Jesus make it clear that His return will follow the tribulation mentioned. Combined with a simple reading of the events of St. John's Revelation, the concept of believers being spared the suffering of the end of time appears to be wishful thinking (the idea of a "pre-tribulation rapture" was invented in the 1800's, never appearing in Christian history & writings prior to that). Believers have never been exempt from any of the trying times of human history. Thankfully, our Lord promised to be with us "always, until the end."