The Hewn Down and Burned Tree - Luke 3:9

Luke the physician wrote how John said, “to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin 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 nine of his book Luke shared how John told the multitude who came to be baptized, “every tree therefore which brings not forth good fruit is hewn down” where we read:

And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees:

every tree therefore which brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

The verse reads, “And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees:” Luke began with the words, “and now also” or “and by this time and already even so and indeed” “the axe is laid” which means “the ax used for cutting is buried, situated and appointed” “unto the root of the trees” or “to the sprout and offshoot of the trees”. Luke shared how John told of the immediacy of the judgment of God by referring to an “ax” being prepared to cut “trees”.

The verse continues, “every tree therefore which brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” Luke added the words, “every tree therefore” which means “each, all, the whole and everyone of the trees wherefore, then, accordingly, consequently and these things being so” “which brings not forth good fruit” or “that does not produce and make ready beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, commendable and admirable fruit” “is hewn down” which means “is cut off or down”, “and cast into the fire” or “and thrown or scattered into the fiery fire”. Luke shared how John said “every tree”, which refers to people, that does not produce “good fruit” in their lives will be “cut down” and thrown into a burning fiery “fire”.

When consider Luke's words in this verse, we see how John spoke of the imminence of the judgment of God and the “fruit” which He will be looking to find. “Trees” or “people” who do not “produce” “good fruit” or “works” will be “cut down” and afterward thrown into a “burning fire”. “Fruit” is produced naturally by being connected to a “good tree”, and when people connect themselves to God through His Son Jesus Christ, they shall produce “good fruit”. Those who are not connected to God will discover the “fruit” of their lives will not be satisfactory and “good” for nothing other than being burned. God wants people to be in a relationship with Him, and those who yield their lives to His Son Jesus and abide in Him will find the “fruit” of their lives to be “good” and pleasing to God the Father. (See John 15)

Next time Luke shares how the people asked John, “what shall we do then?”, 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. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".