The Bible presents a variety of images or analogies of God’s people. They are viewed as His field and flock, as well as His building and household. This week we consider the people of God as His vineyard. Such was one of the images used to refer to God’s Old Covenant nation Israel, voiced in Isaiah 5:7: “For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel.”
Jesus is on record in Matthew, Mark and Luke speaking His well-known parable about workers in a vineyard. The phrase “the lord of the vineyard” is in all three books (Matt. 20:8, Mark 12:9, Luke 20:13), putting the focus on a human owner of a literal vineyard.
With greater detail, the imagery of a vineyard occurs in Christ’s well-known analogy in John 15:1–8 where He asserted, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.” As the Owner and Vinedresser of His vineyard, God makes it His business to provide care. In doing so, His purpose is that His vineyard should bear much fruit.
Fruitfulness
From this latter passage we learn several important truths about being God’s vineyard. First, we note that bearing fruit is the vineyard’s primary purpose. Healthy vines and beautiful leaves are not the ultimate goal for a vineyard owner. His focus is the quantity and quality of the clusters of grapes.
In the application of this analogy to Jesus’ human hearers, He says fruit-bearing brings glory to God: “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit” (v. 8). A vineyard full of fruitless vines brings no glory or profit to its owner. In the same breath, Jesus declared that fruit-bearing is a primary evidence of discipleship: “So you will be My disciples” (v. 8). Furthermore, a bearing fruit vineyard brings much joy to all who have an interest in it — the owner, the workers and the consumers of the grapes.
Preachers often make the declaration that the proper fruit of Christians is more Christians. It is an agricultural truism that plants bring forth others of their own kind if they are allowed to go to seed. Jesus voiced this truism in the Sermon on the Mount when He asked, “Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?” (Matt. 7:16).
Fruitfulness includes both the production of Christlike character and the winning of others to follow Christ. Both kinds of fruitfulness require maintaining a vital union with Him.
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