John 15:1
Jesus talked to us as we were walking along. Speaking figuratively of the need for us to live in a way that God wants us to, he said, “I am like [MET] a genuine vine, not like those Jewish leaders who do not teach the truth. My father is like [MET] a gardener who works to take care of a vineyard.
Translation for Translators
In The King James Version
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
In Context
Cross References
Genesis 49:10There will always be a ruler [MTY] from the descendants of Judah [MTY]. Each one will hold a scepter/staff to show that he has authority as a king. He will do that until the one to whom the scepter belongs comes, the one to whom the nations will bring tribute and show that they will obey him.
Song of Solomon 7:12And let’s go early to the vineyards to see if the grapevines have budded and if there are blossoms on them that have opened, and to see if the pomegranate trees are blooming, and there I will make love to you.
Isaiah 4:2But some day, Israel [MTY] will be very beautiful and great/glorious. The people of Israel who will still be there will be very proud of the wonderful fruit that grows in their land.
Isaiah 27:2At that time, Yahweh will say, “You Israeli people, who are like [MET] a fruitful vineyard, must sing!
Isaiah 61:3To all those in Jerusalem who mourn, he will give flower necklaces to wear; instead of ashes that they put on their heads to show that they are sad; he will cause them to rejoice [MTY] instead of being sad; he will enable them to be [MET] happy instead of being discouraged. They will be called “people who continually do what is right, people who are like tall/strong oak trees that Yahweh has planted” to show others that he is very great.
Jeremiah 12:10Many rulers from other countries have come with their armies and devastated/destroyed my people whom I care for like a farmer takes care of his vineyard. They have caused my beautiful land to become a barren desert where no one lives.
Matthew Henry on John 15:1
It is generally agreed that Christ's discourse in this and the next chapter was at the close of the last supper, the night in which he was betrayed, and it is a continued discourse, not interrupted as that in the foregoing chapter was; and what he chooses to discourse of is very pertinent to the present sad occasion of a farewell sermon. Now that he was about to leave them, I. They would be tempted to leave him, and return to Moses again; and therefore he tells them how necessary it was that they should by faith… Read the whole commentary →