From Nave’s Topical Bible
Unfruitfulness
Every passage the 1896 Nave’s Topical Biblegathers under this heading, in Nave’s own arrangement and then in Bible order. MannaFest has not written this page — it is the older index, transcribed, with the Word travelling beside each reference.
- 12Passages listed
- 5Books of the 66
- 1896Nave's edition
How Nave’s arranged it
- General scriptures concerningIsaiah 5:2Matthew 3:10Matthew 7:19Matthew 13:4–7Matthew 21:19Matthew 21:20Mark 11:13Luke 3:9Luke 13:6–9John 15:2John 15:4John 15:6
- See Sin, Fruits of
- See Unfaithfulness
- Also see [4097]RIGHTEOUSNESS, FRUITS OF
The passages, in Bible order (12)
The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 12 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.
- Isaiah 5:2
He dug it up and cleared the stones and planted the finest vines. He built a watchtower in the middle and dug out a winepress as well. He waited for the vineyard to yield good grapes, but the fruit it produced was sour!
Commentary on Isaiah 5:21 voice
(Verse 2.) And he fenced it, and picked stones from it, and planted the vineyard of Sorec, and built a tower in its midst, and constructed a winepress in it. In metaphor, as we said before, the vineyard represents the Jewish people, whom God protected with the help of angels. And he picked stones from it, meaning idols or anything that could hinder the worship of God. And he planted the vineyard of Sorec, which Symmachus alone interpreted as chosen, not expressing the word for word, as it seems to me, but the meaning that is held in the word.
Jerome· Commentary on Isaiah, 420Patristic
- Matthew 3:10
The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
Commentary on Matthew 3:101 voice
(Verse 10, 11.) For now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I. The preaching of the Gospel word, which is sharp on both sides, is called an axe, according to the prophet Jeremiah, who compares the word of the Lord to an axe cutting through a rock (Jeremiah 46). Whose shoes I am not worthy to bear.
Jerome· Commentary on Matthew, 420Patristic
- Matthew 7:19
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Commentary on Matthew 7:192 voices
Others maintain that these things are said with reference to teachers of foreign doctrines and to people who mingle lies with the truth. Just as one cannot gather evil fruit from a tree that produces good fruit, neither can one gather grapes or figs from …
Theodore of Mopsuestia· FRAGMENT 38.17, 428Patristic
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit,....
John Gill· Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748)Reformed
- Matthew 13:4–7
And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.
Commentary on Matthew 13:4–71 voice
(Version 4.) Behold, he who sows went out to sow. And while he was sowing, he was inside, at home, speaking to the disciples the mysteries. Therefore, he who sows the word of God went out from his house, in order to sow in the crowds. But this sower who sows is signified to be the Son of God, and to sow the word of the Father among the people. And at the same time, observe that this is the first parable, which is placed with its interpretation.
Jerome· Commentary on Matthew, 420Patristic
- Matthew 21:19
Seeing a fig tree by the road, He went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. “May you never bear fruit again!” He said. And immediately the tree withered.
Commentary on Matthew 21:191 voice
(Verse 19) And seeing a fig tree by the road, he went to it and found nothing on it except leaves. And he said to it, 'May no fruit ever come from you again!' And immediately the fig tree withered.
Jerome· Commentary on Matthew, 420Patristic
- Matthew 21:20
When the disciples saw this, they marveled and asked, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?”
Commentary on Matthew 21:201 voice
(Verse 20) And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, 'How did the fig tree wither at once?' However, according to the letter, the Lord, who was to suffer among the peoples and bear the scandal of the cross, had to strengthen the hearts of his disciples with the anticipation of a sign. And the disciples were amazed, saying: How did it wither immediately? Therefore, by the same power, could the Savior also dry up his enemies, unless he had awaited their salvation through repentance.
Jerome· Commentary on Matthew, 420Patristic
- Mark 11:13
Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if there was any fruit on it. But when He reached it, He found nothing on it except leaves, since it was not the season for figs.
Commentary on Mark 11:131 voice
For, as to what you have said about the fig-tree, Augustine speaks aptly in the same sense; for, when the evangelist subjoined, For the time of figs was not yet, it is plainly shown that the figs which the Lord had sought were fruit in the synagogue, which had the leaves of the Law, but not the fruit of works. For the Creator of all things could not be ignorant that the fig-tree had no fruit; which was a thing that all might know, since it was not the time of figs.
Gregory the Dialogist· Register of Epistles, Book 10, Epistle 39, 604Patristic
- Luke 3:9
The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
Commentary on Luke 3:92 voices
But although God can alter and change the most diverse natures, yet in my mind a mystery is of more avail than a miracle. For what else than stones were they who bowed down to stones, like indeed to them who made them. It is prophesied therefore that faith shall be poured into the stony hearts of the Gentiles, and through faith the oracles promise that Abraham shall have sons.
Ambrose of Milan· Catena Aurea by Aquinas, 397Patristic
If the completion of all things had been then already begun, and the end of time close at hand, I should have no question but that the prophecy was given, because at that time it was to be fulfilled. But now that many ages have elapsed since the Spirit spoke this, I think it was prophesied to the people of Israel, because their cutting off was approaching. For to those that went out to him that they should be baptized, he gave this warning among others.
Origen of Alexandria· Catena Aurea by Aquinas, 253Patristic
- Luke 13:6–9
Then Jesus told this parable: “A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any.
Commentary on Luke 13:6–92 voices
He spoke also this parable,.... That is, Jesus spake, as the Persic version expresses it, that which follows; and at the same time, and upon the above occasion; setting forth the patience of God towards the Jewish nation, their unfruitfulness, and the danger of their being destroyed, in case of non-amendment: a certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard.
John Gill· Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748)Reformed
Then, again, this truth was clearly shown forth by the parable of the fig-tree, of which the Lord says, "Behold, now these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig-tree, but I find none" (pointing onwards, by the prophets, to His advent, by whom He came from time to time, seeking the fruit of righteousness from them, which he did not find), and also by the circumstance that, for the reason already mentioned, the fig-tree should be hewn down.
Irenaeus· Against Heresies Book IV, 202Patristic
- John 15:2
He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful.
Commentary on John 15:21 voice
Further, also, concerning Jerusalem and the Lord, they venture to assert that, if it had been "the city of the great King," it would not have been deserted. This is just as if any one should say, that if straw were a creation of God, it would never part company with the wheat; and that the vine twigs, if made by God, never would be lopped away and deprived of the clusters.
Irenaeus· Against Heresies Book IV, 202Patristic
- John 15:4
Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.
Commentary on John 15:41 voice
Therefore, the vine has clearly indicated itself as an example to be drawn upon for the establishment of our way of life, which is first said to bud when warmed by the temperature of spring: then to produce fruit from the very joints of its branches, from which the budding grape is formed, and gradually growing, it retains the bitterness of its immature offspring, and can only become sweet when fully ripe and cooked. Meanwhile, the vine is covered with flourishing tendrils, which provide considerable support against the cold and protect it from the heat of the sun.
Ambrose of Milan· The Six Days of Creation, Book 3, Chapter 12, 397Patristic
- John 15:6
If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned.
Commentary on John 15:61 voice
Our Lord Jesus Christ openly says that He has been called the Vine for this reason, and this reason only, that we may clearly understand, and not merely perceive with the eyes of the body, as by a palpable, sensible, and most visible figure, that to those who are eager to be closely |387 joined to Him, and who choose to enjoy a close union with His nature, will be added the capacity and the conditions requisite for the production of virtue and spiritual fruit-bearing; since they are evidently provided, from its source, as from the vine their mother, with a potential and an actual force.
Cyril of Alexandria· Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 10, 444Patristic