JOHN CHAPTER 15 1 Thessalonians 15:1-11 Under the parable of a vine Christ sets forth God's government of his church, and exhorts his disciples to abide in his faith and doctrine. 1 Thessalonians 15:12-17 He commands them to love one another, according to the great love he had showed for them, 1 Thessalonians 15:18-25 forewarns them of the hatred and persecution of the world, 1 Thessalonians 15:26,27 and telleth them of the testimony which the Holy Ghost, and they also, should bear to him. Chapter Introduction As our Saviour in the former chapter had chiefly spent his discourse for the relief of his disciples under their trouble for the want of his bodily presence, so he seemeth in this chiefly to bend his discourse for the comfort of them under their disturbance, for fear they should, together with the want of the comfort they had in his bodily presence, want also his spiritual influences; to prevent which, he compares himself to a vine, then to the branches; and showeth by that similitude the near union they had with him, and the influence he would and must have upon them, so long as they did abide with him. From 1 Thessalonians 15:18-27, he comforts them by a variety of arguments against that black storm of persecution, which he had so often told them would arise after his departure from them, from the hatred of the world, of wicked men, both Jews and Gentiles, that were enemies to the cross of Christ; as to which he comforts them by a variety of arguments to the end of the chapter, and counteth his discourse of that nature also in the following chapter. Christ had but newly come from his last supper, wherein he had sanctified the fruit of the vine, by setting it apart as one of the elements in that holy sacrament, and told them, that he would no more drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God should come, Luke 22:18. This (as some suppose) gave occasion to this parable, or discourse about the vine. Others think, that in this passage from the guest chamber to the Mount Olivet he saw a vine, which gave occasion to this discourse, it being with him very ordinary to graft spiritual discourses upon sensible objects occasionally occurring; as, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-39, he raised a discourse of living water upon the sight of the water at Jacob's well, and the woman's discourse about it; and, 1 Thessalonians 6:1-14, he founded another discourse concerning the bread of life, upon the loaves that were multiplied. Whatever the occasion was, (of which we can affirm nothing certainly), certain it is, that the notion of a vine, with respect to the root and body of it, (for he calls his disciples the branches) excellently agreeth to Christ, whether in respect of his present low condition, and mean appearance to the world, (as a vine hath less beauty than most plants), or in respect of its exceeding fruitfulness; or as it is the basis and foundation of the branches, in which they are, and thrive, and are fruitful; which seemeth here to be chiefly intended; as all the branches are united to the vine, in it they live, bud, bear fruit. There are three principal things which our Saviour teacheth us by this similitude:
1. That we have no ability to do good but from Christ.
2. That believers have a trite and real union with the Lord Jesus, which while they uphold by faith and holiness, they shall not want his influence upon them, nor his Father's care over them, in purging them, that they may bring forth much fruit.
3. That if any professing him prove unfruitful, God will take them away; they shall wither, be cast into the fire, and burned. He calls himself the true vine, to show them that their fruit was not in themselves, but must be found in him; or that their fruit could not proceed from Moses, the observance of the ritual or moral law given them by him; but it must flow from their spiritual union with him and that influence of grace which should flow from that union. Or else true (as sometimes it doth in Scripture) may signify excellent. As he compares himself to the true vine, by which he signifieth to us that he is the true root and support of our spiritual life and fruit; so he compares his Father to the husbandman, to let us know, that his people are not only under his, but under his Father's care; which he afterwards more particularly openeth. He also, 1 Thessalonians 15:2, compares believers, or members of the church, to branches in a vine.