Parable · Luke 13:6-9
The Barren Fig Tree
An owner wants to cut down a tree that has not fruited in three years. The gardener asks for one more year.
Also called One More Year
The point
The parable ends without telling you whether the tree fruited. The year is still running.
6Then 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.
7So 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.
9If it bears fruit next year, fine. But if not, you can cut it down.’”
Berean Standard Bible, public domain. Read the whole chapter
Using this at church
Read in church on
- Third Sunday in Lent Year CGospel, Luke 13:1-9
For a newsletter or sermon notes
The parable of the Barren Fig Tree, explained in plain words. A tree bears no fruit. The gardener asks for one more year. https://freescripture.org/parables/barren-fig-tree/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church
More on counting the cost
The Wise and Foolish Builders Two houses, one on rock and one on sand. The same storm hits both.Counting the Cost A man builds a tower without pricing it out. A king marches to war outnumbered.New Wine in Old Wineskins You do not patch old cloth with new, or pour new wine into brittle old skins.The Unworthy Servants A servant who has done his work does not expect to be thanked for doing his work.