The preparation and maintenance of a vineyard has remained almost unchanged from the earliest of times. The ground is cleared of large stones, which are used to make a rough fence upon which the vines may grow. A permanent enclosure is built along with a watchtower from which thieves and jackals may be spotted. The winepress is located in the vicinity to eliminate transporting and thus bruising the grapes. It was cut from the solid stone, consisting of one perforated channel above another that is intact (Isa 5:2). The grapes are put into the top conduit and trod upon, the juice of which flows into the lower trough. The slips of the vine are set in the ground 8 to 10 feet apart. The young vine is not allowed to produce fruit for the first 3 years, even in commercial operations in the U.S. today, to allow it to conserve its energy and develop a strong main stem, resembling a small tree trunk, which is able to stand by itself. This is accomplished by severe pruning. The process in the states is that all the shoots except the strongest one on the vine are pruned; and the remaining shoot is cut back to two or three buds.  After the fruit-producing stage is reached, the vines are carefully pruned to reduce the number of buds. Shoots that develop from the remaining buds are more prolific and bear grapes of high quality. The only part today eliminated from God’s command to the Israelites before they came to inherit a land filled with vineyards was God’s part (Lev 19:23-25).

Isaiah 5:2  He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines. He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well. Then he looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit.

Leviticus 19:23-25  “‘When you enter the land and plant any kind of fruit tree, regard its fruit as forbidden. For three years you are to consider it forbidden; it must not be eaten.  In the fourth year all its fruit will be holy, an offering of praise to the LORD.  But in the fifth year you may eat its fruit. In this way your harvest will be increased. I am the LORD your God.

Pruning is necessary to develop fruit of high quality and large quantity. The pruning in Israel is done in December and January and the harvest begins in September and is a time of great joy (Jer 25:30). The harvested grapes were put into baskets and carried to the winepress. The mature vines produced two types of branches: ones that produced fruit and those that did not. The latter were severely pruned back to save all the energy and life for the fruit-producing branches. Left to itself, a vine will produce a great deal of useless growth which will sap away the strength of the entire vine. The only way it can produce the crop of which it is capable is by severe pruning (Matt 3:10).

Jeremiah 25:30  “Now prophesy all these words against them and say to them: “‘The LORD will roar from on high; he will thunder from his holy dwelling and roar mightily against his land. He will shout like those who tread the grapes, shout against all who live on the earth.

Matthew 3:10  The axe 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.

Another interesting aspect of a grape vine is that its wood is good for nothing. Even though the Israelites were to bring offerings of wood to the Temple to keep the altar fires burning (Neh 10:34), the wood of the vine was not to be used, probably because it was too soft to make a good fire. The only thing that could be done with the branches pruned away from the vine was to destroy it in a bonfire. Barclay warns us that “uselessness invites disaster”. Just who are the fruitless branches?

Nehemiah 10:34  “We—the priests, the Levites and the people—have cast lots to determine when each of our families is to bring to the house of our God at set times each year a contribution of wood to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the Law.

“prunes” (NIV) = “purgeth” (KJV) = kathairo (Greek) which means to cleanse from impurities. Jesus’ use of this word indicates that He has moved from the physical realm into the spiritual. He is interested in what happens to people, not vines. The action of the Father is to cleanse His people so that they will live fruitful lives. Jesus doesn’t tell us exactly what fruit is expected but it is probably along the lines of (Matt 3:8, 7:20, Rom 6:22, Gal 5:22-23, Eph 5:9, Php 1:11). Note that pruning would not be a pleasant thing for the branch, but it does result in a blessed end.

Matthew 3:8  Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

Matthew 7:20  Thus, by their fruit you will recognise them.

Romans 6:22  But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

Galatians 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Ephesians 5:9  (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)

Philippians 1:11  filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.