Topical Bible: Vine: Parables of

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In the Scriptures, the imagery of the vine is frequently employed in parables to convey profound spiritual truths. The vine, a common plant in the ancient Near East, serves as a powerful symbol in the teachings of Jesus Christ, illustrating the relationship between God, His people, and the Kingdom of Heaven.

The Parable of the Vineyard Workers (Matthew 20:1-16)

In this parable, Jesus likens the kingdom of heaven to a landowner who hires workers for his vineyard. Throughout the day, he hires laborers at different times, yet pays them all the same wage. This parable emphasizes the generosity and sovereignty of God in dispensing grace. The landowner's actions challenge human notions of fairness, highlighting that God's grace is not earned by works or time served but is a gift freely given to all who enter His service. The vine here represents the sphere of God's work and His kingdom, where divine grace supersedes human merit.

The Parable of the Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-32)

In this parable, a father asks his two sons to work in his vineyard. The first son initially refuses but later repents and goes, while the second son agrees to go but does not. The vineyard symbolizes the work of God and His call to obedience. This parable underscores the importance of true repentance and obedience to God's will, rather than mere lip service. The vine, as part of the vineyard, represents the setting where genuine faith and repentance are demonstrated through action.

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Matthew 21:33-46; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-19)

This parable describes a landowner who plants a vineyard and leases it to tenants. When he sends servants to collect his share of the fruit, the tenants beat and kill them. Finally, he sends his son, whom they also kill. The vineyard represents Israel, and the tenants symbolize the religious leaders who have failed in their stewardship. The sending of the son foreshadows the coming of Christ, whom the leaders would reject and crucify. This parable serves as a warning of judgment against those who reject God's messengers and His Son, and it foretells the transfer of God's kingdom to a people who will produce its fruits.

The True Vine (John 15:1-8)

In this discourse, Jesus declares, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser" (John 15:1). Here, Jesus presents Himself as the source of spiritual life and sustenance. Believers are the branches, and their fruitfulness depends on their abiding in Him. The Father, as the vinedresser, prunes the branches to increase their fruitfulness. This passage emphasizes the necessity of a close, abiding relationship with Christ for spiritual vitality and productivity. The vine imagery illustrates the intimate union between Christ and His followers, where apart from Him, they can do nothing (John 15:5).

The Parable of the Fig Tree and All the Trees (Luke 21:29-31)

While not exclusively about a vine, this parable uses the fig tree and other trees to teach about the signs of the times. Jesus instructs His disciples to observe the budding of trees as an indication that summer is near, paralleling the signs that will precede His return. The vine, as part of the broader category of trees, serves as a metaphor for recognizing the unfolding of God's redemptive plan and the nearness of His kingdom.

In these parables, the vine serves as a multifaceted symbol, representing God's kingdom, His people, and the essential relationship between Christ and believers. Through the imagery of the vine, Jesus communicates vital truths about grace, obedience, judgment, and the necessity of abiding in Him for spiritual fruitfulness.

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Psalm 80:8-14
You have brought a vine out of Egypt: you have cast out the heathen, and planted it.
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Ezekiel 17:6-10
And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and the roots thereof were under him: so it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs.
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Ezekiel 19:10-14
Your mother is like a vine in your blood, planted by the waters: she was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters.
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Library

The True vine
... WHAT suggested this lovely parable of the vine and the branches is equally ... and, no
doubt, as was the case with almost all our Lord's parables, some external ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture st john chaps xv to xxi/the true vine.htm

Similitude of the vine and Branches. --The Law of Love. (John,
... Gospels. The same demand is implied in the parables of the talents and
the pound (p. 347, 348) as in this similitude of the vine. ...
/.../section 276 similitude of the.htm

The Parables
... To this law Christ, in speaking by parables, was conscious that He conformed ... sunrise
and sunset, the hen gathering her chickens under her wing, the vine and its ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 4 12 13-oct the parables.htm

Idea of the Parable. --Distinction Between Parable, Fable, and ...
... parables which are derived entirely from the sphere of nature are grounded on the
typical relations that exist [170] between Nature and Spirit. So, in the vine ...
/.../the life of jesus christ in its historical connexion/section 68 idea of the.htm

New Teaching in Parables' - the Parables to the People by the Lake ...
... the Good Shepherd, [2810] or the Vine, [2811] in each case, only one part is selected
as parabolic. On the other hand, even in the shortest Parables, such as ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxiii new teaching in.htm

The Husbandmen
... This was achieved by speaking to them in parables. ... The psalmist had told how God
brought a vine out of Egypt, and cast out the heathen and planted it. ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 11 1-12 the husbandmen.htm

How Fruits Grow
... Whence, then, is Joy? Christ put His teaching upon this subject into one of the
most exquisite of His parables. ... It is the parable of the Vine. ...
/.../the greatest thing in the world and other addresses/how fruits grow.htm

Christ's Friendship: Its Intimacy
The True Vine: Meditations for a Month on John 15:1-16. ... apprehension of the mysteries
of the kingdom, of which He had hitherto spoken only by parables. ...
/.../christs friendship its intimacy.htm

Matt. xii. 46-49.
... the parable?" [1777] But not for this cause only doth He speak in parables, but
that ... done?" [1781] And the prophets speak of the people as of a vine; "For my ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily xliv matt xii 46-49.htm

The Barren Fig-Tree.
The Parables of Our Lord. ... In countries where the vine is cultivated, not by a few
wealthy proprietors with a view to an export trade, but by each family on a ...
/.../arnot/the parables of our lord/xx the barren fig-tree.htm