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Luke 13:7
ESV And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’
NIV So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
NASB And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Look! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’
CSB 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! Why should it even waste the soil?’
NLT Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’
KJV Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
NKJV Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’

What does Luke 13:7 mean?

Jesus is telling a final parable about reconciliation (Luke 13:6). The crowd members need to repent of their wrongs to others and to God while they have the chance. If they hesitate, they may face severe judgment, whether the court be earthly or heavenly (Luke 12:57–59; 13:1–5).

In the same way, Jesus tells the nation of Israel to wake up and realize their time is short. John the Baptist warned about this with the same metaphor. When Pharisees and Sadducees came to his baptisms, he confronted them with their sin and cautioned them that their status as Jews would not protect them (Matthew 3:7–9). He said, "Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire" (Matthew 3:10).

God, the owner, has been patient with Israel. Hundreds of years prior the prophet Joel said, "Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster" (Joel 2:13). The parable reflects God's patience as Jesus completes His teaching ministry. Jesus the vinedresser asks for one more year to spread fertilizer—truth that will produce the fruit of good works—and see if the tree will "repent" or change its ways. Presumably, the owner grants his request (Luke 13:8–9).

Some think that the three years reflect Jesus' three-year ministry, others say it means an unspecified amount of time. In the Old Testament, dividing a time span into threes seems to represent a period when things fall into place for a final work, decision, or judgment (Genesis 40:12–13, 18–19; Exodus 15:22–24; 2 Samuel 24:13; 2 Kings 17:5; 18:10; Ezra 8:15, 32; 10:8; Nehemiah 2:11; Daniel 1:5). Jesus uses it again in Luke 13:32–33. In that context, it is interesting that Jesus' ministry and His death and resurrection follow the pattern.
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