He saw a fig tree by the side of the road and went to it, but found nothing on it except leaves. So he said to the tree, "You will never again bear fruit!" At once the fig tree dried up.

Then Jesus told them this parable: "There was once a man who had a fig tree growing in his vineyard. He went looking for figs on it but found none.

But the gardener answered, 'Leave it alone, sir, just one more year; I will dig around it and put in some fertilizer.

So Ruth went out to the fields and walked behind the workers, picking up the heads of grain which they left. It so happened that she was in a field that belonged to Boaz.

Then watch it go; if it goes toward the town of Beth Shemesh, this means that it is the God of the Israelites who has sent this terrible disaster on us. But if it doesn't, then we will know that he did not send the plague; it was only a matter of chance."

It so happened that a priest was going down that road; but when he saw the man, he walked on by on the other side.

"Aren't five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one sparrow is forgotten by God.

Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth much more than many sparrows!

Israel is the vineyard of the LORD Almighty; the people of Judah are the vines he planted. He expected them to do what was good, but instead they committed murder. He expected them to do what was right, but their victims cried out for justice.