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Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 15:1-6

The vine and the branches. I. THE STATEMENT OF CONNECTION BETWEEN JESUS AND HIS PEOPLE . The connection is neither nominal nor artificial; it is a living union. The life of our Lord goes out to us every day. He is full of the noblest life—that which is nourished and developed by Divine love; and because he lives, we are to live also. There is to be the most entire community of life between Jesus and us; his affairs are our affairs, and our affairs are his affairs. He is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 15:1-8

The vine and the branches. This discourse of our Lord had relation to the new position of the disciples that would be created by his departure. I. THE NATURE OF THE NEW SITUATION CREATED BY PENTECOST . "I am the true vine, and my Father is the Husbandman." 1. Christ is the true and essential Life of his people . He lives in his people by his Spirit. He is at once the Root and the Stock from which the branches derive their sap and nourishment. 2. The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 15:1-8

The vine and the branches. If these words were spoken in the house, they may have been suggested by a creeping, Clinging vine trained against the wall; if upon the footpath, by the vineyards on the slope of Olivet; if in the temple, by the golden vine wrought upon the gates. I. THE VINE IN ITSELF IS A SUITABLE EMBLEM OF CHRIST . Its beauty, as planted, trained, or trellised; its grateful shade; its fruit, whether fresh and luscious or dried; its wine," that maketh... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 15:1-10

(7) The parable of the vine and its branches . Incorporation of the disciples into one personality with himself . The image of the vine may have been suggested by some visible object. Either of the hypotheses of place would furnish a reminder of the nature and culture of the vine. Thus around the windows of the guest-chamber the vine may have thrown its tendrils, or on the slopes of Olivet the vineyards may have been prominent objects, or the burning heaps of vine-prunings may have... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 15:2

Every branch in me ; i.e. this unity of life between me and mine is graciously handled by the Father—my Father! The branches are of two kinds—unfruitful and fruitful. The indefinite statement, in nominative absolute, calls great attention to it. "Every branch in me that beareth no fruit ." Then it is possible to come into this organic relation with the true vine, to be in it and to be a part of it, and to bring forth no fruit. If it were not for John 15:5 we might say that these... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 15:3

Now ye are clean —pruned, purged, cleansed, of the Divine Owner— by reason of the word ( λόγον ) which I have spoken to you . The Father has been operating this cleansing process upon you by the whole of the ῥήματά (see John 15:7 ), which are gathered together into one mighty, quick, and active Loges . As we find in Hebrews 4:12 , the Word is sharper than a two-edged sword, and capable of dealing summarily with "thoughts and intents of the heart." Augustine, on this... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 15:4

But there is a continuance of most intimate relations to be sustained between Christ and his disciples. If the two clauses are "imperative," or rather concessive, as many suppose, the finest meaning is evolved. Let these be the reciprocal conditions, let it be that you abide in me, and I in you. (Meyer and Lange add to the second clause μενῶ , "I will abide in you," making it into a promise following a command, and involving a very strong synergistic thought.) There is a mutual abiding or... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 15:5

Christ returns to the main theme of the previous verse, but here discriminates more forcibly the vine from the branches, and yet holds and binds them into a unity. I am the vine, ye are the branches ; which shows that he treated the disciples themselves as the organs of his earthly fruit-bearing; and then draws a larger circle and makes a complete and comprehensive statement on which the very existence of the "true vine," the "body of Christ, including the Head," depends, viz. He that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 15:5

Apart from Christ. Our Lord does not say, "Apart from my doctrine ye can do nothing;" important though it is that Christian people should apprehend and receive his truth. Nor does he say, "Apart from my Church ye can do nothing;" though, if we understand the term "Church" aright, this would be manifestly true. But he says, "Apart from me." Christ is, then, himself everything to his people. He is the Power, the Wisdom, the Salvation, of God, and consequently, could we be sundered from... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 15:5-8

The union of Christ and believers. Notice this union— I. IN ITS NATURE AND SOME OF ITS LEADING FEATURES . 1. It is spiritual It is not physical and material, neither is it based on the same principles as the unions of this world, which are carnal and corrupt; but the principles of this union are spiritual, such as love, faith, and hope. It is the union of the human with the Divine, the spirit of man with the great Father of spirits—the union of life with... read more

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