Bible Commentaries
John 15

Verse 1

The true vine ; figuratively and spiritually.

Husbandman ; keeper of the vineyard.

Verse 2

Every branch in me ; professed disciple.

That beareth not fruit ; does not live a holy life.

Purgeth it ; in the original, cleanseth it; that is, by pruning, which here represents all the discipline to which Christ subjects his disciples.

Verse 3

Now ye are clean ; pruned, and thus spiritually purified and made fruitful. The word "clean" is used with reference to the word "purgeth" or cleanseth, in verse John 15:2 .

Verse 4

Abide in me , and I in you ; the union between Christ and his disciples is mutual. They abide in him by faith, love, and obedience. He abides in them through the Holy Spirit, as the source of their spiritual life, light, and strength. Compare Philippians 2:12-13 .

Verse 5

The union of the branch to the vine by a vital communication is no more essential to its life and fruitfulness, than the union of souls to Christ, by receiving and trusting in him as the Saviour, is to their holiness and bliss.

Verse 6

Cast forth as a branch ; cut off and cast away as a useless branch. This separation of the unfruitful branches takes place in a measure only in this world. It will be completed at the judgment-day. Compare the parable of the tares in the field. Matthew 13:24-30 ; Matthew 13:36-43 .

Verse 7

It shall be done ; your prayers offered according to the will of God, shall be answered.

Verse 9

Continue ye in my love ; by continuing to obey my will.

Verse 11

That my joy might remain in you ; that you might have, in union with me, that joy which I have in union with the Father.

Might be full ; namely, by having my joy abiding in you.

Verse 12

My commandment ; chap John 13:34 .

Verse 15

I call you not servants ; do not treat you as servants in merely commanding you, but as friends, in communicating to you my plans, and the reasons of them.

Verse 16

Ye have not chosen me ; they had not first chosen him, but he had chosen them; and their choice of him was the fruit of his choice of them. 1 John 4:19 .

Ordained you ; set you apart to the work to which I have called you.

That your fruit should remain ; that the precious results of your holy labor should remain to the world for all time, and to yourselves and the souls saved by your instrumentality throughout eternity.

That whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father ; to be connected, like the preceding clause, immediately with "I have ordained you." The appointment that they should go and bring forth fruit, and that their prayers to the Father should be answered, are both parts of one whole. The originating cause of the salvation of men is not their love to God, or their choosing him as their portion, but his love to them, and his choosing them to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 ; Ephesians 1:4-5 .

Verse 19

Of the world ; governed by the principles and maxims of worldly men.

Chosen you ; to be my followers, and like me in character.

Verse 20

The servant-his lord ; Matthew 10:24-25 .

Verse 21

For my name’s sake ; on account of your likeness and attachment to me.

Know not him that sent me ; and therefore have not known me nor you. Chap John 8:19 .

Verse 22

Had not had sin ; to such a degree; because they would not have sinned against such great light. Luke 12:48 .

No cloak ; no covering or excuse.

Verses 23-24

Me-my Father ; chap John 10:30 ; John 14:7 ; John 14:9 .

Verse 24

Such is the union between Christ and the Father, that as men treat the one, so they treat the other; and the greater the light which any have as to the character and will of God, the greater will be their guilt and condemnation, if they do not love and obey him.

Verse 25

Their law ; Psalms 35:19 ; Psalms 69:4 ; Psalms 109:3 .

Verse 26

He shall testify of me ; to the integrity and divinity of my character, and to the truth and meaning of my teachings.

Verse 27

Ye also ; the apostles.

From the beginning ; the beginning of his public ministry. Matthew 4:17-22 ; Acts 1:21-22 .