Jesus told this parable: A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. He told the vinedresser that for three years he had come looking for fruit on that fig tree but found none. And he told him to cut it down. But the vinedresser answered him to leave it alone for another year until he had dug around it and put manure on it. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not it can be cut down. (Luk 13:6–9).
The fig tree is a symbol of Israel. The people of Israel are sometimes represented as figs on a fig tree (Hosea 9:10, Jer 24), or a fig tree that bears no fruit (Jer 8:13), see Jesus Curses the Fig Tree in Jesus' Last Days before his Crucifixion.
This parable is about second chances. It's about the inspection of fruits in Israel, but none is found. The second chances are almost over (Luk 13:8–9).
Jesus basically explains in this parable that he is given a call to repentance for Israel (Luk 13:1–5). He wants them saved and reminds them that their time to respond is short. Likewise, a non-believer must make a decision to receive Jesus in his heart, and not postpone it, see Salvation.
For information on other parables, see Jesus' Parables.
