The Axe of Acts 3:22-23

Stephen Sizer

Israel and the Church: Who are God’s Chosen People? pp. 12-13

Bruce Milne, in his helpful commentary on John 15, notes that ‘Israel has failed God in the long-term role she was called to fulfil, that of being “a light for the Gentiles” (Is. 49:6), to bring God’s salvation “to the ends of the earth”. [Bruce Milne, The Message of John (Leicester, Inter-Varsity Press, 1993), p. 219.]

Israel, however, was more attracted by the gods of the surrounding nations than by her potential for penetrating them as a missionary… But God’s purpose, from which Israel turns in final apostasy, does not fall to the ground. It is grasped anew by the one who stands in the midst of Israel, and among the disciples. In contrast to the vine which has destroyed itself by disobedience, Jesus is the ‘true vine’. He is the obedient Son through whose sacrifice and consequent mission the age-old purpose of Israel would find fulfilment, the nations would be reached, and ‘all the families of the earth shall bless themselves’ (Gen. 12:3). [Milne, The Message of John, p. 219.]

Therefore, Jesus is the true vine, not Israel. He is the faithful Israelite who will accomplish all that the nation of Israel failed to do. And in this reinvigorated analogy, Jesus describes his followers as the living, fruit bearing branches of the vine. Remaining part of the vine and bearing fruit depends on our abiding in Christ. Here Jesus is echoing not only the language of Psalm 80 and Isaiah 5 but also that of John the Baptist who warned:

‘The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.’ (Matthew 3:10).

Similarly, Luke records how Peter uses the same imagery in his sermon in Acts 3. Citing the words of Moses in Deuteronomy 18 concerning Jesus Christ, Peter warns:

‘Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people’ (Acts 3:23).

The Apostle Paul develops the analogy of the vine and branches further in his letter to the Romans. In chapter 11 he explains the relationship of the natural branches (Israel) to the wild branches (Gentiles). His purpose is to curb any arrogance on the part of Gentile believers:

If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in." Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. (Romans 11:17-21)

Paul’s use of the same analogy reinforces Jesus’ own teaching in John 15. In the following verses Paul offers the hope that the Jewish people may once again be grafted in but only through faith in Jesus. (Romans 11:22-24)