A certain man had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard, and he came and
sought fruit thereon, but found none. Then he called to the gardener
who attended to his vineyard, and said to him, "Behold these three
years I come seeking fruit on this fig-tree, and find none. Cut it
down. Why does it encumber the ground?"

The gardener answered him and said, "Lord, let it alone this year
also, till I shall dig about it and manure it. And if it bear fruit
then, it is well; but if not, then, after that, thou shalt cut it
down."

In this parable the vineyard means the world, and the fig-tree ungodly
people whose lives do not produce good works--do not produce fruit in
the service of God. The Lord of the vineyard, that is, God, would
destroy such people, but Christ intercedes in their behalf, that time
for repentance may be given. "He is not willing that any should
perish, but that all should come to repentance." Christ came and
sought to change men's hearts, and make their lives fruitful for God.
The warning has been given, and when the Lord of the vineyard comes
again to seek good fruit the unfruitful trees shall be destroyed.

Am I a barren tree, dear Lord?
A cumberer of the ground.
Oh! give me grace to fruitful be,
And in Thy work abound.

[Illustration: THE UNFRUITFUL TREE.]