Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
John Ch.15 / 21 Ch.s
JOH:15
* Christ the true Vine. (1-8) His love to his disciples. (9-17)
foretold. (18-25) The Comforter promised. (26,27)
#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.
#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.
#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.