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Lenten Season · Third Sunday in Lent · Year C

Luke 13:1-9

Repent, or the Barren Fig Tree

March 19, 2028

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree, Carl Rahl
The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree, Carl Rahl, mid-1800sBelvedere, Vienna
The gardener kneels and pleads with the owner of the vineyard, who stands in a red cloak beside the fruitless tree with his axe nearby.A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none.Carl RahlA Viennese painter and teacher of the mid-1800s, admired for large history pictures in the Venetian manner.Belvedere, ViennaThe Belvedere in Vienna, a baroque palace that holds the great collection of Austrian art.Belvedere, Vienna
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelLuke 13:1-9Lk 13:1-9
Epistle1 Cor. 10:1-131 Cor 10:1-13
Old TestamentIsa. 55:1-9Is 55:1-9
PsalterPs. 63:1-8Ps 63:1-8

Overview & Insights

"Unless you repent, you will all perish as they did." (Luke 13:3)

Jesus responds to news of Galileans killed by Pilate and eighteen people crushed by a falling tower by refusing to treat tragedy as proof of greater sin, pressing his hearers toward repentance instead. He follows with the parable of a fig tree given one more year of digging and manure before judgment, holding urgency and patience together.

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Take it further: Luke 13:1-9

Commentary

Luke 13:1-9Lk 13:1-9 Working Preacher

Lutheran exegesis connecting sudden tragedy to Jesus's call to repentance.

Luke 13:1-9Lk 13:1-9 Center for Excellence in Preaching

Reformed preaching commentary on repentance and the fig tree's reprieve.

Coming to Life: Lectionary Commentary for Lent 3 SALT Project

An ecumenical lectionary commentary framing the passage around life and death.

Luke 13Lk 13 Enduring Word · David Guzik

Verse-by-verse evangelical commentary covering the whole chapter.

Luke 13:1Lk 13:1 BibleHub

Aggregates classic commentaries verse by verse from this opening verse.

Repentance, Lent 3 (C) - March 23, 2025 Sermons That Work · Episcopal Church

An Anglican homily on repentance drawn from the same Gospel.

Background & Word Study

Luke 13:1 InterlinearLk 13:1 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek interlinear text for the opening verse.

The Church Fathers

Luke 13, patristic commentaryLk 13, patristic commentary Catena

Early church commentary gathered verse by verse for the chapter.

Sermons & Reflections

Repent or Perish Journey with Jesus

An essay on the urgency of repentance without moralizing about others' suffering.

Worship & Prayers

Third Sunday in Lent, Year C The Lectionary Page

Anglican collect and full appointed readings for the Sunday.

Podcast

Sermon Brainwave #654: Third Sunday in Lent Working Preacher

Scholars discuss all four Lent 3C readings for preachers.

Art & Music

Art in the Christian Tradition Vanderbilt

Curated art, images, and hymn suggestions tied to this Sunday's texts.

Study Hub

The Text This Week: Lent 3C Textweek

A master hub linking commentary, art, and sermons across all readings (a few links may be dated).

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