“Dicebat autem et hanc similitudinem : Arborem fici habebat quidam plantatam in vinea sua, et venit quærens fructum in illa, et non invenit.”
“He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon , and found none.”
“Then 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.”
“He spoke this parable. “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it, and found none.”
“And he spake 3004, 1161 this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit 2590, 1722 thereon, and found none.”
A certain man, &c. Each one, inasmuch as he holds a place in life, if he produce not the fruit of good works, like a barren tree encumbers the ground; because the place he holds, were it occupied by others, might be a place of fertility. (St. Gregory)
II. Christ's reply to this report, in which,
Verses 6-9 This parable of the barren fig-tree is intended to enforce the warning given just before: the barren tree, except it brings forth fruit, will be cut down. This parable in the first place refers to the nation and people of the Jews. Yet it is, without doubt, for awakening all that enjoy the means of grace, and the privileges of the visible church. When God has borne long, we may hope that he will bear with us yet a little longer, but we cannot expect that he will bear always.