Every Branch Will Be Pruned

John 15:2 – “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”

Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away: The branches that are taken away were never properly abiding in the vine, demonstrated by the fact that they did not bear fruit.

There is an alternative understanding of this passage that is worthy of some consideration. James Montgomery Boice (among others) believes that the ancient Greek verb (airo), translated as “takes away,” is more accurately translated “lifts up.” The idea is that the Father lifts up unproductive vines off the ground (as was common in the ancient practices of vineyard care). Those caring for ancient grape vines made sure to lift them up off the ground that they might get more sun and bear better fruit.

Every branch that bears fruit He prunes: The Greek word for “prunes” is the same word translated “cleanse” in other places. This word could apply to either “pruning” or “cleansing” in ancient Greek. The vinedresser cleans up the fruit-bearing vine so it will bear more fruit.

Leon Morris explains, “Left to itself, a vine will produce a good deal of unproductive growth. For maximum fruitfulness, extensive pruning is essential.”

Merrill C. Tenney applies this to the Christian life: “Dead wood is worse than fruitlessness, for dead wood can harbor disease and decay…God removes the dead wood from His church and disciplines the life of the believer so that it is directed into fruitful activity.”

John Trapp summarizes, “And if it be painful to bleed, it is worse to wither. Better to be pruned to grow than cut up to burn.”

Based on The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik.