I think the original intent of this scripture was talking about the jewish people, because Christ had come to offer them the kingdom of God, they rejected him. Jesus was with them for three years (which it talks about in the passage)
Then I think that allegorically it has more to do with Christians than non-Chrirstians. When in scripture does it ever talk about a non-Christian ever bearing fruit? Never, because non-christians cannot bear fruit. Fruit comes from abiding in Christ. The unsaved will certainly be judged some day and this scripture could be used this way, but I think it has far more to do with those who are saved and not bearing fruit. Just like the Jewish people of the day were religious and their lives (fruit) were detestable before God, it is we who are Christians and have lives that are detestable to God that he will eventually cut down b/c they are doing more harm than good for the Gospel.
Actually jesus does speak of "fruit worthy of repentance" in Luke 3:8. The idea that I'm talking about here being that God gives people space for repentance but it is not forever.
Right, but even the fruit of repentance is a work of the Holy Spirit. Fruit cannot come without the Holy Spirit. I would argue (quite biblically) that repentance cannot come until one is saved. You acknowedge that truth of Christ, and thats how you are save (if you shall confess with thine mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you shall be saved, (no repentance necessary).
Both of these scriptures, Christ is talking specifically to the Jewish people at the time when the Kingdom of heaven was still being offered to the Jewish people (which had been prophecied) and Jesus was fortelling the rejection of the jewish people after 3 years of him offering the kingdom and preaching to them the truth. They rejected it (which was also prophecied).
Again, there are many truths we can gain from this passage today and apply to our lives, because the word of God is complex and living, but literally that is who Jesus was talking to.
With the repentance thing, again, repentance is unnecessary for salvation, that can be seen b/c you see many unrepentant Christians, does that mean that they have lost their salvation?
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Then I think that allegorically it has more to do with Christians than non-Chrirstians. When in scripture does it ever talk about a non-Christian ever bearing fruit? Never, because non-christians cannot bear fruit. Fruit comes from abiding in Christ. The unsaved will certainly be judged some day and this scripture could be used this way, but I think it has far more to do with those who are saved and not bearing fruit. Just like the Jewish people of the day were religious and their lives (fruit) were detestable before God, it is we who are Christians and have lives that are detestable to God that he will eventually cut down b/c they are doing more harm than good for the Gospel.
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Both of these scriptures, Christ is talking specifically to the Jewish people at the time when the Kingdom of heaven was still being offered to the Jewish people (which had been prophecied) and Jesus was fortelling the rejection of the jewish people after 3 years of him offering the kingdom and preaching to them the truth. They rejected it (which was also prophecied).
Again, there are many truths we can gain from this passage today and apply to our lives, because the word of God is complex and living, but literally that is who Jesus was talking to.
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