John Calvin Commentary Luke 13:6

"And he spake this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit thereon, and found none." — Luke 13:6 (ASV)

He spoke also this parable. The substance of it is that many are endured for a time who deserve to be cut off, but they gain nothing by the delay if they persist in their obstinacy.

The wicked flattery, by which hypocrites are hardened and become more obstinate, arises from this cause: they do not think of their sins until they are compelled. Therefore, as long as God overlooks these things and delays His chastisements, they imagine that He is well satisfied with them.

Thus they indulge themselves more freely, as if, to use the words of Isaiah, they had made a covenant with death, and were in friendship with the grave (Isaiah 28:15). And this is the reason why Paul denounces them in such earnestness of language for treasuring up to themselves the wrath of God against the last day (Romans 2:5).

It is well known that trees are sometimes preserved, not because their owners find them useful and productive, but because the careful and industrious cultivator makes every possible trial and experiment before he determines to remove them from the field or vineyard.

This teaches us that when the Lord does not immediately take vengeance on the reprobate, but delays to punish them, there are the best reasons for His forbearance. Such considerations serve to restrain human rashness, so that no one may dare to murmur against the supreme Judge of all if He does not always execute His judgments in one uniform manner.

A comparison is drawn here between the owner and the vine-dresser. This is not to say that God’s ministers go beyond Him in gentleness and forbearance, but rather that the Lord not only prolongs the life of sinners but likewise cultivates them in a variety of ways, so that they may yield better fruit.