Catholic Commentary on Ezekiel 15

“As I have given the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest as fuel for fire, so will I treat the people living in Jerusalem.” (Ezekiel 15:6)

Jerusalem as a Useless Vine

The word of the LORD comes: son of man, how is the wood of a vine different from that of a branch from any of the trees in the forest? Is wood ever taken from it to make anything useful? Do they make pegs from it to hang things on? And after it is thrown into the fire as fuel and the fire burns both ends and chars the middle, is it then useful for anything? As I have given the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest as fuel for fire, so will I treat the people living in Jerusalem. I will make the land desolate because they have been unfaithful, declares the Sovereign LORD.

The Catechism draws from the vineyard and vine imagery in Ezekiel the same principle established in Isaiah 5: the covenant community that produces no fruit has no value independent of its fruitfulness (CCC 755).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, the vine wood is valuable only for its fruit, not for its timber. When the vine produces no fruit, it has no use. Israel's election was not for her own sake but for the fruit of blessing to the nations. The church that produces no fruit has misunderstood its election. The vine exists for the wine, not for the wood.

Prayer

Lord God, let us produce the fruit that justifies the vine's existence. Let us not mistake our election for permission to be fruitless. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

15
Jerusalem the Useless Vine
1 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, how does the wood of the vine surpass any other branch among the trees in the forest? 3 Can wood be taken from it to make something useful? Or can one make from it a peg on which to hang utensils?
 
4 No, it is cast into the fire for fuel. The fire devours both ends, and the middle is charred. Can it be useful for anything? 5 Even when it was whole, it could not be made useful. How much less can it ever be useful when the fire has consumed it and charred it!
 
6 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so I will give up the people of Jerusalem. 7 And I will set My face against them. Though they may have escaped the fire, yet another fire will consume them. And when I set My face against them, you will know that I am the LORD.
 
8 Thus I will make the land desolate, because they have acted unfaithfully,’ declares the Lord GOD.”

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