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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
"Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit the Father taketh away." Here He alludeth to the manner of life, showing that without works it is not possible to be in Him. "And every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it." That is, "causeth it to enjoy great care." Yet the root requires care rather than the branches, in being dug about, and cleared, yet about this He saith nothing here, but all about the branches. …
Cyril of Alexandria
For God works with those who have chosen to live the best and most perfect life, and to do good works so far as in them lies, and have elected to seek perfection as citizens of God. He, as it were, uses the working-power of the Spirit as a pruning-hook, and circumcising in them sometimes the pleasures which are always calling us to fleshly lusts and bodily passions, and sometimes all those temptations which are wont to assail the souls of men, defiling the mind by divers kinds of evils. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
For, He says, "every branch not bearing fruit, He cuts off," that is, every person who through faith has become part of the root, has been united with the Lord and made a member of His body, must also bear fruit, that is, lead a virtuous life, so that if someone has only a mere profession of faith, but does not bear fruit through the keeping of the commandments, he becomes a dead branch; for "faith, if it has no works, is dead" (James 2:17). So then, every believer remains in Christ as long as he believes. …
Western Saints
Hilary of Poitiers
The useless and deceitful branches He cuts down for burning.
Thomas Aquinas
1983 The vinedresser is concerned about two things: the vine and its branches. Now the vine considered here was perfect, and did not need care by the vinedresser. And so the entire care of the vinedresser will be directed to the branches. He says, every branch of mine and so forth. The branches of a vine, however, have the nature of the vine; and so those united to Christ are branches of this vine: "The vine brought forth branches" [Ez 17:6]. …
Bonaventure
Every branch in me not bearing fruit, he shall take away: Matthew three: "The axe is laid to the root of the tree: every tree that does not bear good fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire." And every one that bears fruit, he shall purge it, that it may bring forth more fruit. …
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