{The vinedresser} (	on ampelourgon). Old word, but here
only in the N.T., from ampelos, vine, and ergon, work. {These
three years I come} (	ria et(8820)aph' hou erchomai). Literally,
"three years since (from which time) I come." These three years,
of course, have nothing to do with the three years of Christ's
public ministry. The three years are counted from the time when
the fig tree would normally be expected to bear, not from the
time of planting. The Jewish nation is meant by this parable of
the barren fig tree. In the withering of the barren fig tree
later at Jerusalem we see parable changed to object lesson or
fact ( Mr 11:12-14  Mt 21:18f. ). {Cut it down} (ekkopson).
"Cut it out," the Greek has it, out of the vineyard, perfective
use of ek with the effective aorist active imperative of
kopt(935c), where we prefer "down." {Why?} (hina ti). Ellipsis
here of gen(8874)ai of which 	i is subject (Robertson, _Grammar_,
pp. 739,916). {Also} (kai). Besides bearing no fruit. {Doth
cumber the ground} (	(886e) g(886e) katargei). Makes the ground
completely idle, of no use (kata, arge(935c), from argos, a
privative and ergon, work). Late verb, here only in the N.T.
except in Paul's Epistles.