The Ax is Laid to the Root of the Trees Matthew 3:10

Matthew shared how Joseph after being in Egypt with Mary and Jesus, “came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene. Matthew continued, “In those days came John the Baptist, and saying, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leather girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance. And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you,

that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham”, and in chapter three and verse ten of his book, John the Baptist tells the Pharisees and Sadducees, “the ax is laid unto the root of the trees” where we read:

And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

The verse reads, “And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees:” Matthew began with the words, “and now also” which means “and even already, indeed, verily and therefore” “the ax” or “the breaking or cutting ax” “is laid” which means “is put, set, appointed and destined” “to the root” or “toward the sprout, shoot, offspring and progeny” “of the trees” which means “belonging to the trees”. Matthew shared how John the Baptist referred the Pharisees and Sadducees to the pending judgment of God that was to be upon the “trees” of doctrine and living which were presented by them.

The verse continues, “... therefore every tree which brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” Matthew added the word, “therefore” which means “then, accordingly, consequently and these things being so” “every tree” or “each, the whole, all and everyone of the trees” “which brings forth” which refers to “that produce, construct, form and fashion” “good fruit” or “beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable and admirable effects, results, works, acts and deeds” “is hewn down” which means “is cut down” “and cast” or “and thrown, thrust, struck and poured out” “unto the fire” which means “in the fiery fire”. John the Baptist told how “every tree” that does not “bear good fruit” is “cut down” and “thrown into the fire” .

When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see how John the Baptist told the Pharisees and Sadducees there was a day of reckoning at hand. Picture a harvester prepared with ax in hand and ready to strike the “trees” that did not bear “good fruit”. Though the Pharisees and Sadducees presented themselves as having “good fruit or works”, their actions, attitudes and lives were contrary. God knows the true “fruit” that a person bears, and His desire is to “save” people who bear “bad fruit”. However, if they resist His invitation, the “ax” will be “laid” at the “root” of their tree, and if they do not bear “good fruit”, they will be cut down and burned in the “fire”.

Next time John the Baptist declares about the Messiah, “whose shoes I am not worthy to bear” so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.