Luke 13
A call to repent and the barren fig tree
There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilæans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilæans were sinners above all the Galilæans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
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 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? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
People tell Jesus about Galileans whom Pilate killed while they were offering sacrifices. Jesus asks whether they were worse sinners than other Galileans, and likewise the eighteen killed when a tower fell at Siloam; no, he says, but unless his hearers repent they will all perish too. He then tells of a fig tree that has borne no fruit for three years and is given one more year at the gardener's plea.
What does this mean?
"Dung it" (KJV) means spread manure around it.
Historical context
No other ancient source mentions either incident, but Josephus describes Pilate's violent handling of protests, so such an event is plausible. Siloam was an area in the south of Jerusalem with a well-known pool. Many people assumed that disaster was a punishment for particular sins (compare John 9:2), an assumption Jesus rejects here.
Why does it matter?
The fig tree was an established image for Israel (Hosea 9:10), and the parable is often read as a warning that time to repent is limited but not yet over. Some readers connect these warnings with the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE (19:41–44; 21:20–24).
Editorial notes, not scripture.