An Introduction

John 15:1-2: I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that bears not fruit, he takes away: and every branch that bears fruit, he purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

The sum and division of the words, and subject of this discourse. A fair and fruitful parable this is, spread forth into many branches. In which, under the pleasant shadow of a vine, (upon occasion they had but newly been real partakers of his blood in the fruit of the vine) Christ elegantly sets forth himself in his relation to his visible church, and the estate of his Apostles, and in them, of all visible professors to the end of the world: showing withal under that similitude, what his Father meant to do with Judas, now gone out to betray him; as with all other unfruitful branches like to him, even cut them off, and throw them into the fire. But on the contrary, encouraging them, and all other fruitful branches, that they should still continue to abide in him, with promise, that they should yet bring forth more fruit. The parable has three parts: 1. A vine here is, of all the fairest, verse 1. 2. A husbandman, of all the most careful. 3. The end of planting this vine, fruitfulness. First, this vine, as all vines else, has two sorts of branches: 1. Such as (though green) bring forth no true fruit, nothing but leaves. 2. Such as bring forth fruit, verse 2. The husbandman has answerably offices of two sorts towards them both, [reconstructed: to cut off and to prune], which is a witty word-play, to lop and cut off. First, clean to cut off those that are utterly unfruitful, which thereupon are cast out, do wither, and are gathered and cast into the fire: so verse 2 and 6. And thus now he meant to deal with Judas. But second, to purge, and but lop off the luxuriances, and too much running out of the fruitful branches into shoots, which they are subject to. Thirdly, his end in all is, that fruit, and more fruit might be brought forth. This is his end of planting this vine, this is the end of purging these branches of it, which he being frustrated of, in those others, is the cause why he takes them clean away. And to exhort these to fruitfulness, was one main end of Christ's using this parable, and to this tends all in the following verses, either as means or motives to fruitfulness. First, as means: 1. He assures them of their being in the state of grace, verse 3 — assurance is a means of fruitfulness. He speaks of purging them by his word, in the same verse: 'You are clean through the word I have spoken to you' — this is a means he further uses. 3. He inculcates into them the sense of their own inability to do anything without him, verse 5. 4. Therefore to abide in him, and draw from him, verse 5. 5. And to let his word abide in them, by which himself shall also abide in them, and by which they may still be purged, and so be fruitful. The motives are: 1. If not, they know their doom, to the fire with them, verse 6. 2. If they do, their prayers shall be granted, verse 7. 3. Hereby his Father is glorified, verse 8. 4. They shall show themselves his disciples, verse 8. 5. They shall continue in his love, who loves them as dearly as his Father does him, verses 9 and 10. And so you have the sum of all this parable. The principal subject I aim at in this scripture, is this main case of conscience, which is used to be the exercise, and inquiry of many good souls: how a Christian may discern his growth, both in purging out corruptions, and increase of grace, and the fruit of it. Therefore whatever other spreading fruitful observations grow upon this stock, (and this vine affords many) we will but shortly, and as men in haste, view and take notice of, but as in our way to that other which I principally intend, and only so far stay upon the observation of them, as the bare opening this similitude here used, does give sap and vigor to them.

John 15:1-2: I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that bears not fruit, He takes away: and every branch that bears fruit, He purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

This is a rich and fruitful parable, spreading out into many branches. Under the pleasant image of a vine — fitting, since the disciples had just shared in the fruit of the vine at the Last Supper — Christ elegantly describes Himself in relation to His visible church and the condition of His apostles. In them, He also speaks of all visible professors of faith until the end of the world, showing through this picture what His Father intended to do with Judas, who had just gone out to betray Him. As with all other unfruitful branches like Judas, the Father would cut them off and throw them into the fire. But He also encourages the remaining disciples, and all other fruitful branches, promising that they would continue to abide in Him and bring forth more fruit. The parable has three parts: 1. A vine — the fairest of all, in verse 1. 2. A husbandman — the most careful of all. 3. The purpose of planting this vine: fruitfulness. First, this vine, like all vines, has two kinds of branches: 1. Those that are green but bear no true fruit, producing nothing but leaves. 2. Those that bear fruit, in verse 2. Accordingly, the husbandman has two distinct duties toward each kind — to cut off and to prune — which is a clever wordplay: to lop and to cut off. First, to cut off completely those that are entirely unfruitful, who are then cast out, wither, and are gathered and thrown into the fire — as described in verses 2 and 6. This is what He intended to do with Judas. Second, to prune — only to trim back the excess growth and overly long shoots of the fruitful branches, which they are prone to develop. Third, His goal in all of this is that fruit, and more fruit, would be brought forth. This is the purpose for which He planted this vine, and the purpose behind pruning its branches. Being frustrated of this in those unfruitful ones is why He cuts them off entirely. Urging the disciples toward fruitfulness was one of the main purposes for which Christ used this parable, and everything in the following verses points to that end, either as means or motives to fruitfulness. First, as means: He assures them of their standing in grace (verse 3) — assurance is a means of fruitfulness. He speaks of purging them by His word in the same verse: 'You are clean through the word I have spoken to you' — this is a further means He employs. 3. He impresses on them their inability to do anything without Him (verse 5). 4. Therefore, to abide in Him and draw from Him (verse 5). 5. And to let His word abide in them — by which He Himself will abide in them, through which they will continue to be purged, and so become fruitful. The motives are: 1. If not, they know their fate — into the fire (verse 6). 2. If they do, their prayers will be granted (verse 7). 3. Hereby His Father is glorified (verse 8). 4. They will show themselves to be His disciples (verse 8). 5. They will continue in His love, He loving them as dearly as the Father loves Him (verses 9 and 10). And so you have the summary of the whole parable. The main subject I am aiming at in this passage is the central practical question that troubles many sincere souls: how a Christian may discern his growth, both in purging out corruptions and in the increase of grace and its fruit. Whatever other rich observations grow from this passage — and this vine does yield many — we will briefly note them as we pass, but only long enough to open up the imagery and draw from it the strength it lends to that main subject which I chiefly intend.