John 15:5-7

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 15:5

Verse 5 5.Without me you can do nothing. This is the conclusion and application of the whole parable. So long as we are separate from him, we bear no fruit that is good and acceptable to God, for we are unable to do anything good. The Papists not only extenuate this statement, but destroy its substance, and, indeed, they altogether evade it; for, though in words they acknowledge that we can do nothing without Christ, yet they foolishly imagine that they possess some power, which is not... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 15:6

Verse 6 6.If any one abide not in me. He again lays before them the punishment of ingratitude, and, by doing so, excites and urges them to perseverance. It is indeed the gift of God, but the exhortation to fear is not uncalled for, lest our flesh, through too great indulgence, should root us out. He is cast out, and withered, like a branch. Those who are cut off from Christ are said to wither like a dead branch; because, as the commencement of strength is from him, so also is its uninterrupted... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 15:7

Verse 7 7.If you abide in me. Believers often feel that they are starved, and are very far from that rich fatness which is necessary for yielding abundant fruit. For this reason it is expressly added, whatever those who are in Christ may need, there is a remedy provided for their poverty, as soon as they ask it from God. This is a very useful admonition; for the Lord often suffers us to hunger, in order to train us to earnestness in prayer. But if we fly to him, we shall never want what we ask,... read more

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 15:5

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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