Bible Commentaries
John 15

Verse 1

John 15:1

Jesus spoke of Himself as the light (John 8:12, John 9:5, John 12:46), the bread (John 6:32-35, John 6:48, John 6:51, the door (John 10:7-9), the good shepherd (John 10:11-14), the Son of God (John 8:54, John 9:35-37, John 10:36), the resurrection and the life (John 11:25), Master and Lord (John 13:13) and the way (John 14:6). In this verse, Jesus is the “true vine.” He is not an imitation or merely the branch off the true vine, but he is the vine planted by God, the Father Himself (Psalms 80:15-19, Isaiah 53:2, Ezekiel 17:22-24). We, the people of God, are the branches (Isaiah 5:7, Isaiah 60:21, Hosea 10:1) growing out of the “BRANCH” (Zechariah 3:8, Zechariah 6:12, Isaiah 11:1, Jeremiah 23:5, Jeremiah 33:15), Jesus.

God, the Father, takes care of the vineyard (Isaiah 27:3, Isaiah 58:11). A husbandman is “a land worker, that is, farmer.” ^G1092 God, the Farmer, wants us to bear fruit (John 15:5, John 15:8).

Verse 2

John 15:2

One of a vineyard farmer’s (see notes on John 15:1) many tasks, is to prune the vines. Unproductive or corrupted branches with their bad seed are cut off (Genesis 6:3, Genesis 17:14, Leviticus 18:29, Leviticus 22:3, Numbers 15:31, 1 Kings 9:7, Job 11:10, Job 18:16, Job 24:24, Psalms 12:3, Psalms 37:28, Proverbs 2:22, Isaiah 9:14, Isaiah 18:5, Ezekiel 17:9, Matthew 3:10, Matthew 7:9, Luke 3:9, Luke 13:6-9, John 15:6, Romans 11:22, Hebrews 6:8), and fruitful ones are trimmed to eliminate waste and encourage new growth (Psalms 51:7-13, Isaiah 27:9, Matthew 3:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 1 Thessalonians 5:24, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 6:7, Hebrews 12:10).

When we are born again, we are grafted into “the true vine” (Romans 11:17-24, James 1:21). Grafted into the body of Christ (Romans 7:4, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Colossians 2:19, Hebrews 3:13), and now a part of the vine, if we abide in Christ (Psalms 37:9, Psalms 37:34, John 15:4-5), if we don’t give up and leave the body, we will grow and produce the fruit of the Spirit in our lives (John 15:4, Galatians 5:22-23, Philippians 1:11).

Part of the Christian growing process involves “pruning.” The Lord will purge us of things that He doesn’t want in our lives, and He will encourage us to grow and change and produce more fruit (2 Kings 19:30, Isaiah 37:31, Isaiah 60:21, Ezekiel 17:8, Ezekiel 17:23, John 15:8).

Are souls the fruit of which Jesus spoke? The fruit we are to bear is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 5:9, Colossians 1:5-6, Hebrews 12:11, James 3:18). Souls are the natural result of bearing fruit, because our fruit will glorify God (John 15:8). If the fruit of our lives lifts up Jesus, people will be drawn to Christ through our example (John 12:32). If we have no fruit, the lost will find more reason for excuse through us to avoid the cross.

Verse 3

John 15:3

The scriptures have the power to purge us of our sinful ways (Matthew 13:23, Mark 4:20, Luke 8:15, John 1:14, John 17:17, Acts 10:44, Acts 12:24, Acts 19:20, Romans 10:17, Ephesians 1:13, Ephesians 5:26, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 Timothy 4:5, 2 Timothy 2:15, Hebrews 1:3, Hebrews 4:12, James 1:18-22, 1 Peter 1:23, 1 Peter 2:2, 1 John 2:14, Revelation 3:10) and leave the new transformed self (Psalms 51:10, Ezekiel 18:31, Ezekiel 36:26, Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 4:22-24, Colossians 1:21, Colossians 1:22, Colossians 3:10, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Titus 3:5).

Verse 4

John 15:4

How can anything that is cut off from its source bear fruit? The power both to live and bear fruit comes from the root of the vine. The root is the source, and Jesus is our source (Isaiah 11:1-10, Romans 15:12, Revelation 5:5, Revelation 22:16). Alone and cut off we can do nothing (John 15:5, Romans 11:18), but we can do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13).

It won’t always be easy. There will be suffering (Romans 8:17-18, 2 Corinthians 1:6-7, Philippians 1:29, 1 Thessalonians 3:4, 2 Thessalonians 1:5, 2 Timothy 2:12, 2 Timothy 3:12, James 5:10, 1 Peter 2:20, 1 Peter 3:14, 1 Peter 4:16, Revelation 2:10) and persecution (Matthew 5:10-12, Matthew 10:22-25, John 15:19-21, John 16:33, 1 Corinthians 4:12, 2 Timothy 3:12,) and tests of our faith (Hebrews 11:32-38). Tribulation causes many to quit and they break themselves from the vine. In the face of trouble though, stay grafted into Christ (Acts 14:22, Colossians 1:22-24, 1 Thessalonians 3:3-4, 1 Peter 5:9-10). Stay vitally connected to our source, Jesus Christ.

Verse 5

John 15:5

See notes on John 15:1-4.

Jesus said, “… without me ye can do nothing.” Although it is true that without the Lord giving us physical life we couldn’t do anything on Earth as mortal people, in this verse Jesus wasn’t talking about physical abilities. He didn’t mean you would cease to function, for we too were once branches not grafted to the vine, and we still did things. Jesus was talking about spiritual life and activities (Acts 17:28).

Spiritually speaking, as far as the ability to do anything consequential in the kingdom of God, that is, to bear fruit, we are insufficient without Christ (Job 8:11-13, 2 Corinthians 3:5). If we try to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit without the help of the Spirit, we will fail miserably. Our flesh is too weak to produce true fruit (Matthew 26:41, Mark 14:38, Romans 8:3-4, Galatians 5:17), but His grace, through the Holy Spirit, supports us with the power to do His will (2 Corinthians 3:5, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Ephesians 3:16, Colossians 1:10-12).

Verse 6

John 15:6

A vine branch’s purpose is to bear fruit. The branch cut off from the vine is unable to bear any more fruit, and it withers in death (Job 8:11-13). Separated from Christ, we are as worthless as cut off branches (see notes on John 15:5). Those who are cut off from Christ are spiritually dead (see notes on John 5:24), and they are not fulfilling their purposes.

A branch that has separated itself from the vine, and the source of life (see notes on John 15:4), deserves a withering death. However, since God’s mercy and kindness are unfailing, He will still gladly recover the repentant backslidden sinner and graft them back into the vine (Romans 11:23).

Verse 7

John 15:7

The incredible promise that anything we ask will be done for us was accompanied with an “if.” “If” we want our requests fulfilled, then fulfill His request and abide in Him (John 15:4), and commit the scriptures into your mind and heart (John 15:3).

The “if” is historically consistent with the Lord’s promises. Even the promise of salvation comes with an “if.” We can be saved from sure destruction, “if” we confess Jesus and believe (Romans 10:9). Don’t foolishly focus on the promises of God, and forget the “ifs.” The “if” part of God’s promise is what God is requiring of you.

Verse 8

John 15:8

God, the Father, will handle all branches on the vine (John 15:1). If we abide in Christ, as a good branch abides on the vine, we will bear fruit (John 15:4-5, Romans 6:22, Galatians 5:22-23). Some branches bear more fruit than others (Matthew 13:8). However, branches not bearing fruit at all will be cut off (Matthew 3:10, John 15:6, Hebrews 6:8).

Branches bearing fruit will be pruned to promote new growth and more fruit (John 15:2). When we, as fruitful branches, produce abundant fruit, the Father is glorified (Matthew 5:16, Romans 15:5-6, Philippians 1:11).

Jesus said to His disciples, “so shall ye be my disciples.” Were they not already His disciples? Yes, they already were His disciples (John 2:2, John 3:22, John 4:31, John 6:3, John 6:60-66, John 7:3, John 9:2, John 11:7, John 13:5, John 13:23). What then did Jesus mean? Jesus’ words were spoken in the future tense ... “shall ye be,” because discipleship today doesn’t necessarily mean discipleship tomorrow. Some choose to walk away (John 6:66, John 12:4, 1 John 2:19). To continue as a disciple of Christ is to continually abide in Him and His word.

How does one become a disciple of anyone else? One listens to the teacher’s words (John 15:3), takes the teachings to heart (John 8:31, John 15:7) and puts the lessons into practice (John 13:35). Jesus told us to abide in Him by continually doing these things.

Verse 9

John 15:9

God, is love (1 John 4:8), and God, the Father, loves Jesus (John 3:35, John 5:20, 2 Peter 1:17). Those around the area when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist had heard a voice from heaven declaring the Father’s love for His son (Matthew 3:17, Mark 1:11, Luke 3:22). Peter, James and John had heard a similar declaration of the Father’s love for Jesus at another time (Matthew 17:5, Mark 9:7, Luke 9:34-35). Consequently, the disciples didn’t doubt the Father’s love for Jesus.

With such a sure knowledge of the love relationship between Jesus and the Father, Jesus encouraged His disciples to continue as a part of the Holy Family (Romans 8:15-17, Galatians 4:6, Titus 3:7, James 2:5) and stay on the vine (John 15:4). Love is the tie that binds the grafted branches to the vine (1 John 4:16). Love God (Deuteronomy 6:5, Deuteronomy 10:12, Deuteronomy 11:1, Deuteronomy 11:13, Deuteronomy 11:22, Deuteronomy 19:9, Deuteronomy 30:6, Deuteronomy 30:16-20, Joshua 22:5, Joshua 23:11, Nehemiah 1:5, Daniel 9:4, Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, Luke 10:26-28, 2 Thessalonians 3:5), and love one another (John 13:34-35, John 15:12, John 15:17, Romans 12:10, Romans 13:8, Galatians 5:13, Ephesians 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 4:9, Hebrews 10:24, 1 Peter 1:22, 1 Peter 3:8, 1 John 3:11, 1 John 3:23, 1 John 4:7-11, 2 John 1:5).

Verse 10

John 15:10

Love is the force that binds us to the vine (see notes on John 15:9). If we love Jesus, we will do as He instructed us to do (John 14:15), and loving and obeying Him is what helps us to abide in Him and He in us (John 14:23, John 15:4).

Verse 11

John 15:11

Jesus found joy in the midst of looming trouble (Luke 24:26, John 12:24, John 12:32, Acts 2:25-28, Hebrews 12:2, 1 Peter 1:11), and the Lord’s joy is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). We receive His strength as we abide in Him (Psalms 16:11, John 15:4-5, John 15:7-8). As we abide in Him we abide in the Spirit (see notes on John 15:5), and joy is part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

Verse 12

John 15:12

See notes on John 15:10.

God is a spirit (John 4:24, 2 Corinthians 3:17) whose essence is an all consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24, Ezekiel 1:26-28, Ezekiel 8:2, Hebrews 12:29, Revelation 1:14-16) of love (1 John 4:8, 1 John 4:16). When we love, we share in the divine nature (2 Peter 1:3-4). That is why we are commanded to love (Leviticus 19:34, Deuteronomy 6:5, Matthew 22:37-40, Mark 12:30-31, Luke 10:27-28, and see notes on John 15:9).

Verse 13

John 15:13

The disciples were told to love one another (see notes on John 15:9) as Jesus loved them (John 13:34-35, John 15:12). Jesus loved them so much that He was about to die in their place. Our love towards one another ought also to be a sacrificial love that gives of ourselves for the greater good (Romans 12:10, Galatians 5:13, 1 Peter 1:22, 1 John 4:11-12, 1 John 5:2).

This is true power; the incredible power to love without limits (John 10:17-18). Jesus’ demonstration of awesome love made our adoption by the Father into the family of God possible (Romans 8:29, Hebrews 2:11-15, Revelation 1:5-6). Jesus’ death and burial was a planting (John 12:24) of Holy Seed (Galatians 3:16) to produce an abundant harvest of God’s children (Romans 8:16, Galatians 3:26, 1 John 3:10) that would all bear fruit (see notes on John 15:1).

Verse 14

John 15:14

See notes on John 15:12-13.

He called His disciples friends (John 15:15). Notice that there was an “if” (see notes on John 15:7).

Verse 15

John 15:15

An employer would likely not share confidential secrets with an employee, unless the employee became a friend of the employer. The disciples had become Jesus’ friends, and we tell our friends what we wouldn’t share with everyone else. The stronger and more dependable the friendship, the deeper and more intimate our disclosures become.

Jesus had held nothing back, and he told them everything the Father had told him to say.

Verse 16

John 15:16

Their ordinations are written about in Matthew 10:1-6, Mark 3:14-15, Luke 6:13). The purpose for their being chosen (John 6:70, John 15:19) and ordained was to produce a harvest (Matthew 9:37, Mark 4:29, John 4:35), and the ultimate aim is that the harvest isn’t lost (Matthew 13:3-35, Mark 4:3-20, Luke 8:5-15).

The harvest isn’t just new converts to the faith. To harvest a crop is to cut it off from the root and separate it from the field. Believers are suppose to stay grafted to the root (John 15:4-6), and we are needed in the field (John 17:15). What then is the harvest? The harvest is fruit. We are to bear fruit in our lives (John 15:2). What fruit? The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). By living a life of abundant fruit produced by the Spirit, God is lifted up and glorified (John 15:8). The glory of God attracts new believers (John 12:32). Therefore, we know that a harvest of souls is the natural byproduct of living a spirit filled life. We are told to go into the world and preach the gospel (Mark 16:15). Our fruit of the Spirit laden lives are a loud broadcast of God’s redemptive power to change those that were once lost (Proverbs 4:18, Isaiah 49:9-10, Matthew 5:14, Romans 2:19-20, Ephesians 5:8-14, Philippians 2:15, 1 Thessalonians 5:5).

At the end of this verse is a great key. We pray, as people that worship different God’s also pray. However, our prayers to our God do not fall upon ears of clay or wood or stone or even gold (1 Kings 18:26-29, Psalms 115:4-8, Psalms 135:15-17, Isaiah 37:19, Isaiah 46:6-7, Habakkuk 2:18, Daniel 5:23, Habakkuk 2:19). The Christian and the Jew pray to the very real God (Exodus 3:14-15, Deuteronomy 4:35, Isaiah 45:5-21, Psalms 46:10, 1 Corinthians 8:4) of Abraham. The Christian though has been given the key to the heavenly storehouse, and our prayers, spoken in Jesus’ name (see notes on John 14:13-14), carry the weight of favor and grace from the Father afforded to Christ Himself (see notes on John 16:23-24).

Verse 17

John 15:17

See notes on John 15:9-13.

Note that it isn’t an option to love others. It is a commandment.

Verse 18

John 15:18

It is comforting to know during times of persecution and prejudice, that Jesus was hated first for teaching what we now believe. When hated then (Matthew 5:11, Matthew 10:22, Mark 13:13, Luke 6:22), we know that we are not alone in our pain. Jesus went through it too (Isaiah 53:3, John 7:7, John 15:25, 1 John 3:13), and He is with us even now (Deuteronomy 31:6, Proverbs 18:24, John 15:14, Hebrews 13:5). When we suffer for His sake, we share in His sufferings (Philippians 3:10).

Verse 19

John 15:19

We believers are still in the world, that is, on the Earth, and we are needed among the lost (John 17:15), as lights in the darkness (Matthew 5:14). Otherwise, at the moment of our conversion we would have been translated directly into Heaven.

We are on the world, but we no longer belong to the world (Job 19:15, Ephesians 1:3-11, 1 Peter 2:9-11). We were citizens of Earth, and a human kingdom here upon the Earth, but now we are citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven (Acts 2:39, 2 Corinthians 5:1, Ephesians 2:12, Ephesians 2:19, Philippians 3:20, Colossians 1:21, Hebrews 12:22-23). We are aliens in a foreign land (Psalms 119:19), and the natives hate us. Our ways are not their ways (1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 1 Corinthians 12:31, Ephesians 2:1-3, Colossians 1:21, Titus 3:1-7, 1 Peter 1:11-16, 1 Peter 4:1-4).

Verse 20

John 15:20

Jesus reminded His disciples of what He had told them in John 13:16, and He added that we will be persecuted (Acts 7:52, 1 Corinthians 4:12, Galatians 5:11, 2 Timothy 3:12). If you were never persecuted for being a Christian, your never were a Christian. Believers will suffer for their faith (Acts 5:41, Acts 9:16, 1 Corinthians 12:26, 2 Corinthians 11:20, Romans 8:17, Philippians 1:29, 1 Thessalonians 2:15, 1 Thessalonians 3:4, 2 Thessalonians 1:5, 2 Timothy 1:11-12, 2 Timothy 2:12, Hebrews 11:25, 1 Peter 3:14, 1 Peter 4:16-19, Revelation 2:10).

Verse 21

John 15:21

See notes on John 15:20.

Verse 22

John 15:22

Wages are paid as a result of a legal agreement between employer and employee. When the employee performs functions under the authority of the employer, the employer MUST pay the previously agreed upon wage for performance of the function. Since we are subject to God and are under His ultimate authority, everything we do is done under His authority. When we make the decision to sin, we agree to accept the consequences that MUST be paid according to the law. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23, 1 Corinthians 15:56, James 1:15). Unfortunately, when Adam and Eve sinned, we all inherited their reward for sin ... death (Romans 5:12, Romans 5:19). We are born in sin, and we all sin (Ecclesiastes 7:20, Romans 3:9, Romans 3:19, Romans 3:23, Romans 11:32, Galatians 3:22, 1 John 1:8-10).

Mankind has been in sin since the Garden of Eden (Romans 5:13-14). Sin is breaking the law of God (James 2:10, 1 John 3:4), regardless of whether one knows it or not. Sin, therefore, isn’t born when the law of God is known, it is revealed (Romans 3:20, Romans 7:7). Without the law sin was dead (Romans 7:8), but even in the Garden of Eden there was law (Genesis 2:17). So, what did Jesus mean then when He said, “If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin?”

By hating Him without cause (John 15:25), they were breaking the law (James 2:9, 1 John 2:9-11, 1 John 3:15, 1 John 4:20). They might have tried to obey every bit of the law, as they knew it, before He came (Matthew 19:18-21, Matthew 23:23, Luke 11:42, Luke 18:19-22), but now they were guilty of hating Jesus. They would have been innocent of hating Jesus, had He never come and said the things that stirred their anger (Mark 12:12, John 7:7, John 7:25, John 8:37-40, John 10:38-39, John 15:24), but now they hated Him.

According to the law, we are to love God (Deuteronomy 6:5). By hating Him they broke the greatest commandment of all (Matthew 22:36-38). Since both Moses and Jesus had told them about the law of love, the sin of their hatred had been revealed to them. Their sin was fully exposed, and Jesus said, “… now they have no cloak for their sin.”

Without even being born in sin, which they were, they broke the law and deserved to die by hating Jesus, but, and thank God, He was there to set them and us free from the law of sin and death (Acts 13:39, Romans 8:2, Galatians 2:16, Galatians 3:10-13).

Verse 23

John 15:23

The two, Father and Son, are one (John 12:45, John 17:11, John 17:22, Colossians 2:8-9, 1 John 5:7). To believe the one, is to believe the other (John 5:24, John 12:44, John 14:1). To receive the one, is to receive the other (Mark 9:37, John 5:23, John 13:20). To love the one, is to love the other (John 8:42, John 14:23, 1 John 5:1-2). However, to hate the one, is to hate the other also (Luke 10:16, 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8).

Verse 24

John 15:24

See notes on John 15:22.

Verse 25

John 15:25

Everything prophesied about Jesus in the scriptures had to be fulfilled (Luke 21:22, Luke 24:44, Acts 3:18, Acts 13:29), because God is not a liar (Numbers 23:19, 1 Samuel 15:29, Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:18).

The “they hated me without a cause” scriptures Jesus referred to are in the book of Psalms (Psalms 35:19, Psalms 69:4, Psalms 109:3).

Verse 26

John 15:26

See notes on John 14:17.

Some hate Jesus without cause (John 15:25), because they are in darkness (Matthew 4:16, John 1:4-5, John 3:19), and because of disbelief (Luke 22:67, John 3:12, John 4:48, John 5:37-38, John 5:47, John 6:36, John 8:24, John 8:45-46, 2 Corinthians 4:4, 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11). They are lost (John 8:12, John 12:35, 2 Corinthians 4:3). For some of the lost, their disbelief will be broken through the conviction of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7-9, Acts 2:36-37, Acts 11:16).

Verse 27

John 15:27

The Apostles were certainly “special witnesses,” in that they lived and walked with Jesus since the beginning of His public ministry and could personally testify of His mighty works (Luke 1:2, 1 John 1:1-3). However, we all serve as witnesses of what He has done for each of us personally (1 Corinthians 14:24).