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In this lesson:
The second farewell discourse. Every word in this passage is Jesus speaking. A parable. The vine and the branches. Teaching the disciples. Keep Jesus' commandments and bear fruit. Study Tip: When you come across an important Bible verse, write it down, memorize it, and ponder its meaning. |
The Vine and the Branches.
Fifteenth-century Orthodox icon from the Benaki Museum in Athens, Greece. |
The Gospel According to St. John
The King James Bible
The King James Bible
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John 15:1-17
A parable 1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. 16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 17 These things I command you, that ye love one another. |
Margin notes:
"I am the true vine." (15:1) - Jesus is proclaiming His deity. This is the seventh of seven times in John that Jesus declares Himself "I Am." The first was "I am the bread of life" (John 6:35) followed by "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12), "I am the door" (John 10:7), "I am the good shepherd" (John 10:11), "I am the resurrection" (John 11:25) and "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). Additional note: In the Old Testament, growing vines represented Israel and fruitfulness (Psalm 80:8-11; Isaiah 5:1-7; 27:2-6; Ezekiel 19:10-14. "My Father is the husbandman." (15:1) - "My Father is the gardener." "He purgeth it." (15:2) - "He prunes, trims it." "Now ye are clean through the word." (15:3) - Means cleansed or sanctified of sins through the word of God. See also John 17:17 and Ephesians 5:26. "Abide in me." (15:4) - To abide in Jesus is to believe in (1 John 4:15), obey (1 John 3:24), and live in union with Him. "He is cast forth as a branch." (15:6) - Means to be thrown into a fire as a useless branch. See also Matthew 3:10. Ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." (15:7) - Trust the power of prayer. Turn to God when in crisis or need of spiritual guidance. He will answer your prayers, but remember, even if God's answer isn't the one you were praying for, it will always be in your best interest. Jesus repeats this teaching in Matthew 7:7-8, Mark 11:24, John 14:13, and 16:24. "Herein is my father glorified." (15:8) - "By this my father is honored." "Continue ye in my love." (15:9) - "You remain in my love." "That your joy might be full." (15:11) - This message is reinforced in 1 John 1:4. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (15:13) - A reference to tomorrow's crucifixion and the deep love Jesus has for us. "I have made known unto you." (15:15) - "I have told you." "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you. (15:16) - "You didn't choose Me (to be sacrificed), but I chose you (to die for)." "Ordained you." (15:16) - Means, "assigned or appointed you." |
Jesus gives a similar parable in Luke 13:6-9.
New Living Translation
John 15:1-17
Jesus, the True Vine
1 "I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener.
2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.
3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.
4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
5 "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.
7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!
8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
9 "I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.
10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in his love.
11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!
12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.
13 There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends.
14 You are my friends if you do what I command.
15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn't confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.
16 You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.
17 This is my command: Love each other.
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Jesus, the True Vine
1 "I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener.
2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.
3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.
4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
5 "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.
7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!
8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
9 "I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.
10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in his love.
11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!
12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.
13 There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends.
14 You are my friends if you do what I command.
15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn't confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.
16 You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.
17 This is my command: Love each other.
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Key verses from this passage
"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (15:5)
"As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love." (15:9)
"This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you." (15:12)
"As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love." (15:9)
"This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you." (15:12)
Today's Question:
1. What is the meaning of "the true vine" parable?
Come to Jesus as you are, but don't stay that way... be born again!
1. What is the meaning of "the true vine" parable?
Come to Jesus as you are, but don't stay that way... be born again!
Answer: (Do you agree?)
1. The "true vine" represents Jesus and the husbandman (gardener) is God (15:1) tending to the branches (believers) growing from the vine (Jesus). Some branches (firm believers) bear fruit and are pruned and cared for while the unproductive branches (weak believers) are cut from the vine. Just as a branch will die if removed from the vine, mankind cannot live if cut off from Christ. Are you a productive branch bearing fruit for the gardener?
Application thought for the day:
Jesus said, "I have called you friends." (15:15)
Not servants, subjects, workers, or casual acquaintances... but friends.
What bliss! Jesus seeks our friendship.
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Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2026 evolke
© 2026 evolke