15:2 he taketh away. The true Christian will bear good fruit; the pseudo-Christian will not bear good, lasting fruit, and will therefore ultimately be cast into the fire and burned (John 15:6), just like the pseudo-wheat in the parable of wheat and tares (Matthew 13:28-30,41-42).

15:2 beareth fruit. Note the threefold categories of Christians: (1) fruit-bearing (John 15:2); (2) more fruit-bearing (John 15:2); (3) much fruit-bearing (John 15:5). These seem to correspond to the three categories of wheat-producing Christians—those producing thirtyfold, sixtyfold and hundredfold returns (Matthew 13:8,23).

15:2 purgeth it. The “purging” or “pruning” obviously refers to bringing whatever pressures on the believer may be needed in order to lead him into a more fruitful Christian life and witness.