6 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. 7 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? 8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: 9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down. (Luke 13:6-9 KJV)
Thomas Scott
Verses 6-9: ( Notes, Isa 5:1-7; Mt 21:33-44 Marg. Ref.) This parable seems to have been added to enforce the preceding warning. A fig-tree, planted in a vineyard, would have every advantage of culture. In three years’ time the young trees were expected to bear; but the owner of this tree is represented as coming three subsequent years to seek fruit, and as not finding any. It might therefore be concluded to be a barren tree, not fit to occupy the room, or appropriate the nourishment and culture, which might be more profitably employed. The dresser of the vineyard, however, entreated that it might be spared for one more year; during which space he would use proper means for rendering it fruitful: then perhaps it would produce fruit, but otherwise it ought to be cut down.
—The Jewish nation seems to have been primarily intended. The Lord had long borne with their unfruitfulness against manifold advantages, and the time of his vengeance approached: they would, however, be spared a little longer, that the apostles and preachers of the gospel might make another vigorous and zealous effort to bring them to repentance, faith, and holiness; and if this failed, they must be given up to ruin. For Jerusalem would be destroyed, the ceremonial worship terminated, and the unbelieving Jews cast out of the church to make way for the calling of the Gentiles.—The parable, however, is equally applicable to the case of all those individuals who continue unfruitful under the means of grace; though spared from time to time through the long-suffering of the Lord, they will at length be cut down by death, and cast into hell, except they repent and bring forth fruits meet for repentance.
—Many expositors speak as if Christ himself was represented by “the dresser of the vineyard;” and indeed the long-suffering of God with sinners is the effect of his mediation: yet he seems rather to be the Owner of the vineyard who sentenceth the barren trees to be cut down; and the language used may describe the fervent prayers and zealous labours of faithful ministers, who earnestly desire to prevent the ruin of the people.