John 15:1-8

Expanded Bible

Jesus Is Like a Vine

15 “I am the ·true vine [^Ccontrast Israel, the unreliable vine; Ps. 80:8–18; Is. 5:1–7]; my Father is the ·gardener [farmer; vinedresser]. ² He ·cuts off [or takes away] every branch ·of mine [^Lin me] that does not produce fruit [^Cwhose lives bear no indication of a relationship with Christ]. And he ·trims and cleans [prunes; ^Cthe verb implies both trimming and cleaning] every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce even more fruit [Heb. 12:4–11]. ³ You are already ·clean [or pruned] because of the words I have spoken to you. ⁴ ·Remain [Abide] in me, and I will ·remain [abide] in you. A branch cannot produce fruit ·alone [by itself] but must ·remain [abide] in the vine. In the same way, you cannot produce fruit alone but must ·remain [abide] in me.

⁵ “I am the vine, and you are the branches. If any ·remain [abide] in me and I ·remain [abide] in them, they produce much fruit. But ·without [apart from] me they can do nothing. ⁶ If any do not ·remain [abide] in me, they are like a branch that is thrown away and then ·dies [withers; dries up]. People ·pick up [gather together] dead branches, throw them into the fire, and burn them. ⁷ If you ·remain [abide] in me and ·follow my teachings [^Lmy words abide/remain in you], you can ask anything you want, and it will ·be given to [be done for; come to] you. ⁸ You should produce much fruit and ·show that you are [or become] my ·followers [disciples], which ·brings glory to [glorifies] my Father.