Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 15

Using the vine metaphor, Jesus expands its scope to all believers and individualizes its application. He stresses certain features. The first is that there is a genuine stock. One must plant the right kind of vine or tree in order to assure the proper quality of fruit, for no fruit can be better than the vine that produces it. Jesus said, “I am the true vine” . Unless the believer is vitally connected with him, the quality of his fruitfulness will be unacceptable. There may be many branches, but if they are to bear the right kind of fruit, they must be a part of the real vine.

The second feature is that God the Father is the gardener. Success in raising any crop depends largely on the skill of the farmer or gardener. The relation of the believer to God is that of the vine to the owner of the vineyard. He tends it, waters it, and endeavors to protect it and cultivate it so that it will produce its maximum yield.

A third emphasis is on pruning. Two aspects are noted: the removal of dead wood and the trimming of live wood so that its potential for fruitbearing will be improved. Pruning is necessary for any vine. Dead wood is worse than fruitlessness, for dead wood can harbor disease and decay. An untrimmed vine will develop long rambling branches that produce little fruit because most of the strength of the vine is given to growing wood. The gardener is concerned that the vine be healthy and productive. This caring process is a picture of God’s dealings with humans. He removes the dead wood from his church and disciplines the lives of believers so that they are directed into fruitful activity.

“Clean” (GK 2754) recalls Jesus’ statement to the disciples at the footwashing (13:10), where he singled out Judas as one who was not clean. “Clean” should not be equated with “perfect” but with sincere devotion that unites others to Jesus as branches are united to the vine. Judas was an example of a branch that was cut off.

The means by which pruning or cleaning is done is the Word of God. It condemns sin; it inspires holiness; it promotes growth. As Jesus applies the words God gave him to the lives of the disciples, they undergo a pruning process that removes evil from them and conditions them for further service.

Continued production depends on constant union with the source of fruitfulness. Branches that are severed from the parent stock may produce leaves temporarily, but inevitably they will wither because there is no source of life to sustain them; and they will never bear fruit. The effectiveness of believers depends on their receiving the constant flow of life from Christ.

Fruitbearing is not only possible but certain if the branch remains in union with the vine, though uniformity of quantity and quality is not promised. But if the life of Christ permeates a disciple, fruit will be inevitable.