English
Jesus said, ‘A grapevine has been planted apart from the Father, and it is not strong. It will be pulled up by its roots and it will die.’
Interpretation
Matthew’s version provides anti-Pharisee context, which is only implied by Saying 40’s position after Saying 39. Jesus assures his disciples that God will remove the Pharisees as a threat to their movement, possibly as part of the apocalyptic judgment.
Parallels
Matthew
15.12–13 Then the disciples approached and said to him, ‘Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?’ He answered, ‘Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.’