quite rightly, upon the care of the vine by the Father. It would be strange, granting this emphasis, if the first thing mentioned is the carrying away of unproductive branches. But it is not at all strange to emphasize that the vinedresser first lifts the branches up so that they may be better exposed to the sun and so the fruit will develop properly” (Boice, IV, p. 228). 15:3. The disciples, however, needed neither cutting off nor trimming clean (a nice handling of the Greek word by the NIV) because