1 The LORD’s word came to me, saying, 2 Son of man, what is the vine tree more than any tree, the vine-branch which is amongst the trees of the forest? 3 Will wood be taken of it to make anything? Will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel on it? 4 Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire has devoured both its ends, and the middle of it is burnt: is it profitable for any work? 5 Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less, when the fire has devoured it, and it is burnt, shall it yet be meet for any work! 6 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: as the vine tree amongst the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 7 I will set my face against them; they shall go out from the fire, but the fire shall devour them; and you shall know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them. 8 I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, says the Lord GOD.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary, 1706
Verses 1-8
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.