The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

(Isaiah 5:1–7)

6 Then [Jesus] told this parable: “A [man] had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He went to look for fruit on it [but] did not find [any]. 7 So he said to the keeper of the vineyard, ‘Look, for the past three years I have come to search for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found [any]. Therefore cut it down Why should it use up the soil?’

8 ‘Sir,’ [the man] replied ‘leave it alone again this year, until I dig around it and fertilize [it]. 9 If it bears fruit [next year], fine. But if not, you can cut it down