Chapter 15:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Lightfoot
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGarvey Pendleton
| McGee
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Luke Acts
John 15
Concise Complete
Christ the true Vine. (1-8) His love to his disciples.
(9-17) foretold. (18-25) The Comforter promised. (26,27)
Verses 1-8 Jesus
Christ is the Vine, the true Vine. The union of the human and Divine natures,
and the fulness of the Spirit that is in him, resemble the root of the vine made
fruitful by the moisture from a rich soil. Believers are branches of this Vine.
The root is unseen, and our life is hid with Christ; the root bears the tree,
diffuses sap to it, and in Christ are all supports and supplies. The branches of
the vine are many, yet, meeting in the root, are all but one vine; thus all true
Christians, though in place and opinion distant from each other, meet in Christ.
Believers, like the branches of the vine, are weak, and unable to stand but as
they are borne up. The Father is the Husbandman. Never was any husbandman so
wise, so watchful, about his vineyard, as God is about his church, which
therefore must prosper. We must be fruitful. From a vine we look for grapes, and
from a Christian we look for a Christian temper, disposition, and life. We must
honour God, and do good; this is bearing fruit. The unfruitful are taken away.
And even fruitful branches need pruning; for the best have notions, passions,
and humours, that require to be taken away, which Christ has promised to forward
the sanctification of believers, they will be thankful, for them. The word of
Christ is spoken to all believers; and there is a cleansing virtue in that word,
as it works grace, and works out corruption. And the more fruit we bring forth,
the more we abound in what is good, the more our Lord is glorified. In order to
fruitfulness, we must abide in Christ, must have union with him by faith. It is
the great concern of all Christ's disciples, constantly to keep up dependence
upon Christ, and communion with him. True Christians find by experience, that
any interruption in the exercise of their faith, causes holy affections to
decline, their corruptions to revive, and their comforts to droop. Those who
abide not in Christ, though they may flourish for awhile in outward profession,
yet come to nothing. The fire is the fittest place for withered branches; they
are good for nothing else. Let us seek to live more simply on the fulness of
Christ, and to grow more fruitful in every good word and work, so may our joy in
Him and in his salvation be full.
Verses 9-17 Those
whom God loves as a Father, may despise the hatred of all the world. As the
Father loved Christ, who was most worthy, so he loved his disciples, who were
unworthy. All that love the Saviour should continue in their love to him, and
take all occasions to show it. The joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment, but
the joy of those who abide in Christ's love is a continual feast. They are to
show their love to him by keeping his commandments. If the same power that first
shed abroad the love of Christ's in our hearts, did not keep us in that love, we
should not long abide in it. Christ's love to us should direct us to love each
other. He speaks as about to give many things in charge, yet names this only; it
includes many duties.
Verses 18-25 How
little do many persons think, that in opposing the doctrine of Christ as our
Prophet, Priest, and King, they prove themselves ignorant of the one living and
true God, whom they profess to worship! The name into which Christ's disciples
were baptized, is that which they will live and die by. It is a comfort to the
greatest sufferers, if they suffer for Christ's name's sake. The world's
ignorance is the true cause of its hatred to the disciples of Jesus. The clearer
and fuller the discoveries of the grace and truth of Christ, the greater is our
sin if we do not love him and believe in him.
26,27. The blessed Spirit will maintain the cause of Christ in the world,
notwithstanding the opposition it meets with. Believers taught and encouraged by
his influences, would bear testimony to Christ and his salvation.
Chapter 15:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Lightfoot
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGarvey Pendleton
| McGee
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Luke Acts
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
