The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 2 — Section 7

ON THE PART OF ALL. In contrast with hie audience, this wrui the application of the calamities related which he made. These were to him the prophecy of the doom awaiting every one who oontinued in his sins. Archbishop 'l'rench emphasizes the "likewise." "Ye shall all likewise perish, i.e. in a manner similar to that in which both thl' Galilreans and the eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell perished. So, in the destruction of Jerusalem years afterwards, multitudes of the inhabitants were crnshC'<l beneath the ruins of their temple and their city, and, during the last sie<1e and assnnlt, numbers were pierced through by the Roman darts, or, more miserably yet, by tho_se of t~eir o~'D frantic factio_ns in the ~ourts of ~he temple, in the very act of preparing their sacrifices. So that, literally, their blood, hke that of the Galilreans, was mingled with their sacrifices, one blood with another." All befallings of jud<1ment which men witness should be, not occasions of criticism or of harsh stricture on ;there, but voices bidding to humility and self-examination. The sin which I can trace in my neighbour should chiefly remind me of the sin which has dominion over myself. If I have been kept from his transgression, let me thank the grace which has kept me, recall how great perhaps was the difference between his circumstances and mine and ask whether, in some other form, I may not have been a transgressor as great a; he. Reflections such as these will save from all Pharisaic exaltation, will send us to our knees for the erring brother, ay, and send us to our knees for ourselves-the word of the Lord sounding within, "'l'hinkest thou that he is a sinner above thee, because be tmffers such things? I tell thee, Nay: except thou repent, thou ehalt likewise perish." II. NOW see in the parable BOTH THE GOODNESS AND THE SEVERITY WBIOB LEAD TO REPENTANCE. 'l'he details-who owns the vineyard? what the vineyard repre- sents? who is the Dresser or the Gardener? for what the three years and the one year of grace stand ?-need not here be discussed. The parable is a picture of Almighty God in his dealings with his Church, Jewish or Gentile, in the desire of his love, in. the responsiveness of his heart to the intercession of the Mediator whom he has appointed, in the deferring of his judgment so that a fuller opportunity may be giveu to men to confess his presence and seek him with their whole heart, and flee from the wrath to come. Notice three of the salient features. 1 ~e fruit which is sought- sought year by year with increasing disappointmem;; ,ruit, the legitimate product or the tree, growing out of its life, marking its use and ",ill,lue. We hea.r the astonished "What more could I do to my vineyard that I nave not done?" And nothing-" nothing but leaves." Herein we recognize the longing of the love of God. He gives to men that men may give of his, one to another . .AB his own goodness is "a flowing life- fountain," so is the goodness which is the expression of the new heart and the right spirit. Tho fruitless tree keeps a certain energy to itself. There is a power in it which remains undeveloped. It draws the moisture away from the surrounding soil, it receives the rain and sunshine of heaven ; it is all an in-come, there is no out-come. Is it not the type of the kind of person who is a stranger and foreigner to the life of the Eternal-a person who is fed. but does not feed; who claims to be ministered to, but dues not seek the bliss of ministering; whose character has no distinct influence for good; who is not what, in his place and according to his opportunity, the Lord of the vineyard expects him to be? God comes to men for his harvest. Is he receiving it from us'/ "Herei.u," says Christ, "is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit." Remember, "much fruit "-the well-matured, well-ripened godliness of the one in whose heart are God's ways. Resemblances cannot impose on him whose eyes are as a flame of fire. Why did he curse the tree which be beheld on hie way to Bethany? Not because it was barren, but because it was false. In the fig tree the fruit should appear before the leaves. He saw leaves where there had been no fruit. Profession is nothing. A routine of relicrious offices is nothing. Appearance before God is nothing. All this may be only~ extra assumed for an occasion, and then taken off. 'l'he tree which produces is the tree that is sound at the core. 'l'he conscie~ce right :produces the life ricrht. Repentance, the way of making the tree good; holmess, the hfe of repentance ~for this God comes to each of us, seeking, expecting. 2. What as to the intercession P There appears on the scene the one who has been charged with the care of the vineyard. The first reference, no doubt, is to the Lord Jesus Christ himself, into whose hand the Father bas given all things, and in whom is substantiated the craving of the ol<l patri- arch for tLe Interpreter-" the one among a thousand to whom the Eternal is gracious, on. xm. 1-3:j,] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. 9