Vineyard Symbolism in the Bible: Neville Goddard’s Interpretation

Interpreting the Bible’s Parables about Vineyards, Vines, and Grapes through Neville Goddard’s Teachings reveals a deep connection to imagination, consciousness, and the power of belief. The symbolism of vines often relates to growth, creation, and the unfolding of a person’s inner reality. Here's an overview of the key parables that involve vineyards and how Neville might interpret them:

1. The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1–16)
   In this parable, Jesus tells of a vineyard owner who hires workers at different times of the day, yet pays them all the same wage. This is often understood as a story about grace, but from Neville’s perspective, it speaks to the principle of assumption and how everyone has access to the creative power of imagination.

The vineyard is the field of consciousness, where we plant the seeds of our thoughts (our assumptions).

The workers represent individuals at various stages of awareness or understanding. Some may begin their journey later in life, but all are equally rewarded when they align with the assumption that they have what they desire.

The wage symbolises the fruit of imagination—the manifestation of the assumed state, regardless of when one comes to realise their creative power.

The message is clear: whether you begin your journey of manifesting later or earlier, the reward is the same—the fulfilment of your assumed desires. Everyone has access to the same power of imagination.

2. The Parable of the Vine and the Branches (John 15:1–8)
   In this well-known passage, Jesus compares himself to the true vine and his followers to the branches. He says that those who remain in him will bear much fruit, but those who do not will be cut off.

The vine represents the central imaginative power—the source of all creation, which is within each of us.

The branches represent our individual consciousness and how it connects to the vine of imagination.

Bearing fruit symbolises the manifestations of our assumed desires in the external world.

Neville would interpret this as the necessity to remain rooted in the assumption of the fulfilled desire. Just as the branches cannot bear fruit apart from the vine, our desires cannot manifest unless they are anchored in the imaginative assumption. The fruit represents the tangible outcome of our belief and assumption.

When the branches are not bearing fruit, it means they are disconnected from the assumption or not fully aligned with the desired outcome. The pruning of the branches symbolises releasing old assumptions and mental patterns that no longer serve us, allowing new beliefs and manifestations to grow.

3. The Parable of the Vineyard and the Tenants (Matthew 21:33–44)
   This parable tells of a vineyard owner who leases his vineyard to tenants, but when he sends servants (representing prophets) to collect fruit, they are mistreated. Finally, the owner sends his son, and he too is killed. Jesus ends the parable by saying that the kingdom of God will be given to others who will produce its fruits.

The vineyard here again represents the field of consciousness where the imagination produces results.

The tenants represent those who have control over their own consciousness but fail to use it properly. They reject the true power of imagination (represented by the son) and fail to manifest positive results.

The son is symbolic of the imagination itself—how we must come to recognise that all manifestations spring from the assumption of the wish fulfilled.

Neville would interpret this as a warning to those who fail to use the power of their imagination correctly. The kingdom of God, in Neville’s interpretation, refers to the realm of consciousness—we must take responsibility for our thoughts and assumptions, as they shape our world. If we neglect this, we forfeit the power to manifest the life we want.

4. The Parable of the Vineyard in Isaiah 5:1–7
   In this passage, the prophet Isaiah sings a song about a vineyard that was carefully cultivated, but instead of producing good fruit, it produced wild grapes. God compares this vineyard to Israel, and the parable speaks of how the people have failed to live up to God’s expectations.

The vineyard represents the consciousness of the people or the state of mind.

The good fruit represents the positive, fruitful results of living in alignment with divine principles or the assumption of the fulfilled desire.

The wild grapes represent misaligned assumptions or negative thought patterns that lead to undesirable outcomes.

Neville would interpret this as a lesson about the importance of guarding your consciousness. The fruit of the vineyard is directly related to the assumptions and beliefs planted within it. Just as a vineyard is carefully tended to, we must cultivate our minds and only allow thoughts that align with our desires to take root.

5. The Parable of the Vinegar and the Fig Tree (Mark 11:12–14, 20–21)
   In this story, Jesus curses a barren fig tree because it had no fruit. He says that no one will eat from it again, symbolising a lack of spiritual awareness or connection to the true source of creation.

The fig tree represents the potential of consciousness—our capacity to create and manifest through imagination.

The barren tree is symbolic of an unfruitful mind—one that is not rooted in the assumption of the desired state.

Neville’s interpretation would focus on the importance of living in the assumption of the fulfilled wish. Just as the fig tree failed to bear fruit because it wasn’t properly nourished, our desires will not manifest unless we nourish them with faith and imagination. If we remain disconnected from the assumption of our desires, we too will produce no fruit.

---

Conclusion: Vineyards as Symbols of Consciousness
Across these parables, the vineyard and vines consistently represent the field of consciousness, the source of all creation through imagination. The fruit of the vineyard is the manifestation of our assumptions, whether they are positive or negative. Neville Goddard teaches that our world is created through our assumptions and the use of imagination, and the parables about vineyards remind us to stay rooted in the assumption of our desires. Whether the vineyard yields good fruit or wild grapes depends on what we plant and nurture within our minds.

By staying mindful of the power of imagination and the assumptions we live by, we can ensure that the fruit of our consciousness is sweet, plentiful, and in alignment with our true desires.