Plants and Foods of the Bible · The Vineyard and the Olive Tree · Fruit of the vine
Grapes
The rich clusters of the promised land and the picture through which Jesus calls us to stay in Him
- Key verse
- Numbers 13:23
- Where we find it
- The vineyards on the sunny hills of Judea and the valley of Eshcol
- What it reminds us of
- Rich fruit and joy when we stay in Jesus
Stories from Scripture
Grapes in the stories of the Bible
The twelve spies
The huge cluster from the valley of Eshcol
The spies Moses sent cut down from the valley of Eshcol a branch with one cluster of grapes so big that two men carried it on a pole. Back home, they said, “surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.”
Numbers 13:23-27The prophet Isaiah
The song about the beloved vineyard
The prophet Isaiah sings about an owner who dug his vineyard, cleared it of stones, planted it with the choicest vine, built a tower and made a winepress, expecting good grapes. But the vineyard brought forth wild grapes. The song shows that God takes care of His people and expects good fruit from them.
Isaiah 5:1-2Jesus and His disciples
I am the vine, ye are the branches
On the evening before the crucifixion, Jesus told His disciples that He is the vine and they are the branches. Whoever stays in Him bears much fruit, but apart from Him they can do nothing.
John 15:1-5
From the world of the Bible
Did you know?
The grapevine has thin tendrils that it uses to cling to stakes, fences or walls so that it can climb toward the sun.
In Bible times grapes were eaten fresh, dried as raisins or pressed in winepresses cut into the rock.
The vine must be pruned every year: the vinedresser cuts off the dry branches so that the vine will give more and better grapes.
From the Holy Scriptures
What do we read in the Bible about grapes?
23 And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs.
In kids’ words: The huge cluster showed the Israelites how good the land was that God was giving them.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
In kids’ words: A branch broken off from the vine dries up. When we stay close to Jesus, through prayer and obedience, our lives bring fruit.
Verses are quoted from the King James Version (KJV). Read each passage in the context of its chapter in the Bible.
What grapes teaches us
God gives rich fruit
A branch cannot make grapes by itself: it needs to stay joined to the vine, where it gets sap and strength. Jesus teaches us that we need to stay in Him too. Then He makes good fruit grow in us: love, joy, peace and kindness.
How we can live this out today
Stay close to Jesus every day: say “good morning” to Him in a short prayer and read a verse together with your family.
Mini-Quiz
What did you learn about grapes?
What did the spies bring back from Canaan?
For parents and children
At home and in Sunday school
A question for parents and children
What helps us, as a family, “stay in Jesus” even on busy days? What small habit could we start?
“Lord Jesus, You are the Vine and I am a small branch. Keep me close to You, so that my life will bring good fruit and joy. Amen.”
Activity at home
A cluster on the table
Put a bunch of grapes on the table and share it. Talk about the promised land and about God’s generosity.