And the word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, how does the wood of the vine surpass any wood, the vine branch that is among the trees of the forest? 3 Is wood taken from it to make anything? Do people take a peg from it to hang any vessel on it? 4 Behold, it is given to the fire for fuel. When the fire has consumed both ends of it, and the middle of it is charred, is it useful for anything? 5 Behold, when it was whole, it was used for nothing. How much less, when the fire has consumed it and it is charred, can it ever be used for anything! 6 Therefore thus says the Lord God: Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so have I given up the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 7 And I will set my face against them. Though they escape from the fire, the fire shall yet consume them, and you will know that I am the Lord, when I set my face against them. 8 And I will make the land desolate, because they have acted faithlessly, declares the Lord God.” Ezekiel 15 ESV
Ezekiel 15 Kindling Vine
…18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20So then, by their fruit you will recognize them.… Matthew 7: 18-20
How does the wood of the vine surpass any wood - The concept of the vine would not be lost on such an audience. They were familiar with vineyards, and they would be familiar with wild vines, but also with the writings of Isaiah in the song of the vineyard - see link above for sour grapes. In Isaiah's illustration Israel is the vineyard that though greatly cared for, ideally located, ground tilled and regularly watered, yet it did not produce good fruit. Note here that the word fruit is not even mentioned, so what is left but to judge her upon the quality of her wood.
The word parable is derived from two Greek words (para = beside and ballo = to cast or throw) and so literally means a throwing beside, in order that the truth about one may throw light on the other. In other words, something familiar is used to illustrate some truth which is less familiar. - Precept Austin
Is wood taken from it to make anything - What is the vine sought for? In a vineyard it would be desired for its grapes, but a wild vine, growing on and clinging to the trees of the forest, what is it's worth to you? The cedars of Lebanon were famous and sought out for their wood, even to build the houses of kings, but what of this dry, fruitless vine? Jerusalem, the city set high on a hill, Israel, described as the vineyard of the Beloved, yet here compared to a feral vine.
"Jerusalem was planted a choice and noble vine, wholly a right seed (Jer2:21) and, if it had brought forth fruit suitable to its character as a holy city, it would have been the glory both of God and Israel. It was a vine which God's right hand had planted, a branch out of a dry ground, which, though its original was mean and despicable, God had made strong for himself (Ps80:15), to be to him for a name and for a praise (Jer13:11, KJV). - Matthew Henry
Do people take a peg from it - In the middle and near east people would have pegs on their walls or supporting beams, and on them would hang things that they wanted ready access to, like pots and pans. For it to be useful as a peg the wood would have to be sturdy, so it is a rhetorical question which is easy for his listeners to answer. "No, we would not use that because it is too soft when it is alive and tender and too weak and brittle when it is dry." The image of what wood they would use would be something always other than this type of vine.
Behold, it is given to the fire for fuel - Here is it's known use for them; it is kindling to keep a fire fed till it takes hold of a more substantial, longer burning wood.
When it was whole it was used for nothing - No one used it for much more than fuel, and when it was whole it was not used for carpentry, so now that it is burned what is it good for? The fire did not improve it because it was reduced to ashes. The better vine is not the feral vine, but the regenerate vine, grafted into the life giving vine, producing the fruits of repentance. My Savior uses the vine in a perfect illustration of it's value, and where that can be found.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15: 1-11
So I have given up the inhabitants of Jerusalem - The city set high on a hill, that which was supposed to be a lamp in the dark, pointing the way to salvation, bringing forth fruit. Now hers will be a quick light, a flash in the pan, the glow that comes from a consuming fire, like Sodom but more drawn out and delayed, for her wickedness exceeded the pagans that looked on. Jerusalem is the vine in this parable, and contrary to popular opinion at that time, Babylon was coming to burn her down.
The fire shall yet consume them - This had literal implications in the escape of the puppet king, who was made blind while his sons were killed in front of him. Also, many of the elders and leaders of the people were captured and killed outside the city. Their escape was fruitless as well.
8 You brought a vine out of Egypt;
you drove out the nations and planted it.
9 You cleared the ground for it;
it took deep root and filled the land.
10 The mountains were covered with its shade,
the mighty cedars with its branches.
11 It sent out its branches to the sea
and its shoots to the River.
12 Why then have you broken down its walls,
so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit?
13 The boar from the forest ravages it,
and all that move in the field feed on it.
14 Turn again, O God of hosts!
Look down from heaven, and see;
have regard for this vine,
15 the stock that your right hand planted,
and for the son whom you made strong for yourself.
16 They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down;
may they perish at the rebuke of your face!
17 But let your hand be on the man of your right hand,
the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself!
18 Then we shall not turn back from you;
give us life, and we will call upon your name!
19 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts!
Let your face shine, that we may be saved! Psalm 80: 8-19 ESV
"If a vine be fruitful, it is valuable. But if not fruitful, it is worthless and useless, it is cast into the fire. Thus man is capable of yielding a precious fruit, in living to God; this is the sole end of his existence; and if he fails in this, he is of no use but to be destroyed. What blindness then attaches to those who live in the total neglect of God and of true religion! This similitude is applied to Jerusalem. Let us beware of an unfruitful profession. Let us come to Christ, and seek to abide in him, and to have his words abide in us." - Matthew Henry
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