The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

6 And He told this parable:(A) “A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it and found none.(B) 7 He told the vineyard worker, ‘Listen, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down!(C) Why should it even waste the soil?’(D)
8 “But he replied to him, ‘Sir,(a) leave it this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.(E) 9 Perhaps it will bear fruit next year, but if not, you can cut it down.’”

Footnotes:

a. Luke 13:8: Or Lord

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