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Selected Verse: Matthew 3:10 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Mt 3:10	Strong Concordance	And [1161] now [2235] also [2532] the axe [513] is laid [2749] unto [4314] the root [4491] of the trees [1186]: therefore [3767] every [3956] tree [1186] which bringeth [4160] not [3361] forth [4160] good [2570] fruit [2590] is hewn down [1581], and [2532] cast [906] into [1519] the fire [4442].
	King James	And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
And now also--And even already. the axe is laid unto--"lieth at." the root of the trees--as it were ready to strike: an expressive figure of impending judgment, only to be averted in the way next described. therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire--Language so personal and individual as this can scarcely be understood of any national judgment like the approaching destruction of Jerusalem, with the breaking up of the Jewish polity and the extrusion of the chosen people from their peculiar privileges which followed it; though this would serve as the dark shadow, cast before, of a more terrible retribution to come. The "fire," which in another verse is called "unquenchable," can be no other than that future "torment" of the impenitent whose "smoke ascendeth up for ever and ever," and which by the Judge Himself is styled "everlasting punishment" (Mat 25:46). What a strength, too, of just indignation is in that word "cast" or "flung into the fire!" The third Gospel here adds the following important particulars in Luk 3:10-16. Luk 3:10 : And the people--the multitudes. asked him, saying, What shall we do then?--that is, to show the sincerity of our repentance. Luk 3:11 : He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat--provisions, victuals. let him do likewise--This is directed against the reigning avarice and selfishness. (Compare the corresponding precepts of the Sermon on the Mount, Mat 5:40-42). Luk 3:12 : Then came also the publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master--Teacher. what shall we do?--In what special way is the genuineness of our repentance to be manifested? Luk 3:13 : And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you--This is directed against that extortion which made the publicans a byword. (See on Mat 5:46; Luk 15:1). Luk 3:14 : And the soldiers--rather, "And soldiers"--the word means "soldiers on active duty." likewise demanded--asked. of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man--Intimidate. The word signifies to "shake thoroughly," and refers probably to the extorting of money or other property. neither accuse any falsely--by acting as informers vexatiously on frivolous or false pretexts. and be content with your wages--or "rations." We may take this, say WEBSTER and WILKINSON, as a warning against mutiny, which the officers attempted to suppress by largesses and donations. And thus the "fruits" which would evidence their repentance were just resistance to the reigning sins--particularly of the class to which the penitent belonged--and the manifestation of an opposite spirit. Luk 3:15 : And as the people were in expectation--in a state of excitement, looking for something new and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not--rather, "whether he himself might be the Christ." The structure of this clause implies that they could hardly think it, but yet could not help asking themselves whether it might not be; showing both how successful he had been in awakening the expectation of Messiah's immediate appearing, and the high estimation and even reverence, which his own character commanded. Luk 3:16 : John answered--either to that deputation from Jerusalem, of which we read in Joh 1:19, &c., or on some other occasion, to remove impressions derogatory to his blessed Master, which he knew to be taking hold of the popular mind. saying unto them all--in solemn protestation. (We now return to the first Gospel.)

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

And now also--And even already.

the axe is laid unto--"lieth at."

the root of the trees--as it were ready to strike: an expressive figure of impending judgment, only to be averted in the way next described.

therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire--Language so personal and individual as this can scarcely be understood of any national judgment like the approaching destruction of Jerusalem, with the breaking up of the Jewish polity and the extrusion of the chosen people from their peculiar privileges which followed it; though this would serve as the dark shadow, cast before, of a more terrible retribution to come. The "fire," which in another verse is called "unquenchable," can be no other than that future "torment" of the impenitent whose "smoke ascendeth up for ever and ever," and which by the Judge Himself is styled "everlasting punishment" (Mat 25:46). What a strength, too, of just indignation is in that word "cast" or "flung into the fire!"

The third Gospel here adds the following important particulars in Luk 3:10-16.

Luk 3:10 :

And the people--the multitudes.

asked him, saying, What shall we do then?--that is, to show the sincerity of our repentance.

Luk 3:11 :

He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat--provisions, victuals.

let him do likewise--This is directed against the reigning avarice and selfishness. (Compare the corresponding precepts of the Sermon on the Mount, Mat 5:40-42).

Luk 3:12 :

Then came also the publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master--Teacher.

what shall we do?--In what special way is the genuineness of our repentance to be manifested?

Luk 3:13 :

And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you--This is directed against that extortion which made the publicans a byword. (See on Mat 5:46; Luk 15:1).

Luk 3:14 :

And the soldiers--rather, "And soldiers"--the word means "soldiers on active duty."

likewise demanded--asked.

of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man--Intimidate. The word signifies to "shake thoroughly," and refers probably to the extorting of money or other property.

neither accuse any falsely--by acting as informers vexatiously on frivolous or false pretexts.

and be content with your wages--or "rations." We may take this, say WEBSTER and WILKINSON, as a warning against mutiny, which the officers attempted to suppress by largesses and donations. And thus the "fruits" which would evidence their repentance were just resistance to the reigning sins--particularly of the class to which the penitent belonged--and the manifestation of an opposite spirit.

Luk 3:15 :

And as the people were in expectation--in a state of excitement, looking for something new

and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not--rather, "whether he himself might be the Christ." The structure of this clause implies that they could hardly think it, but yet could not help asking themselves whether it might not be; showing both how successful he had been in awakening the expectation of Messiah's immediate appearing, and the high estimation and even reverence, which his own character commanded.

Luk 3:16 :

John answered--either to that deputation from Jerusalem, of which we read in Joh 1:19, &c., or on some other occasion, to remove impressions derogatory to his blessed Master, which he knew to be taking hold of the popular mind.

saying unto them all--in solemn protestation.

(We now return to the first Gospel.)

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
The axe is laid at the root of the tree - Laying the axe at the root of a tree is intended to denote that the tree is to be cut down. It was not merely to be trimmed, or to be cut about the limbs, but the very tree itself was to be struck. That is, a searching, trying kind of preaching has been commenced. A kingdom of justice is to be set up. Principles and conduct are to be investigated. No art, no dissimulation, will be successful: People are to be tried by their lives, not by birth or profession. They who are not found to bear this test are to be rejected. The very root shall feel the blow, and the fruitless tree shall fall. This is a beautiful and very striking figure of speech, and a very direct threatening of future wrath. John regarded them as making a fair and promising profession, as trees in blossom do. But he told them, also, that they should bear fruit as well as flowers. Their professions of repentance were not enough. They should show, by a holy life, that their profession was genuine.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Is laid (καῖται) Not, is applied, as "She layeth her hands to the spindle" (Pro 31:19), but is lying. Is hewn down and east The present tense is graphic, denoting what is to happen at once and certainly.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
But the axe also already lieth - That is, there is no room for such idle pretences. Speedy execution is determined against all that do not repent. The comparison seems to be taken from a woodman that has laid down his axe to put off his coat, and then immediately goes to work to cut down the tree. This refers to the wrath to come in Mat 3:7. Is hewn down - Instantly, without farther delay.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
And now also the axe is laid - Or, Even now the axe lieth. As if he had said, There is not a moment to spare - God is about to cut off every impenitent soul - you must therefore either turn to God immediately, or be utterly and finally ruined. It was customary with the prophets to represent the kingdoms, nations, and individuals, whose ruin they predicted, under the notion of forests and trees, doomed to be cut down. See Jer 46:22, Jer 46:23; Eze 31:3, Eze 31:11, Eze 31:12. The Baptist follows the same metaphor: the Jewish nation is the tree, and the Romans the axe, which, by the just judgment of God, was speedily to cut it down. It has been well observed, that there is an allusion here to a woodman, who, having marked a tree for excision, lays his axe at its root, and strips off his outer garment, that he may wield his blows more powerfully, and that his work may be quickly performed. For about sixty years before the coming of Christ, this axe had been lying at the root of the Jewish tree, Judea having been made a province to the Roman empire, from the time that Pompey took the city of Jerusalem, during the contentions of the two brothers Hyrcanus and Aristobulus, which was about sixty-three years before the coming of Christ. See Joseph. Antiq. l. xiv. c. 1-5. But as the country might be still considered as in the hands of the Jews, though subject to the Romans, and God had waited on them now nearly ninety years from the above time, expecting them to bring forth fruit, and none was yet produced; he kept the Romans as an axe, lying at the root of this tree, who were ready to cut it down the moment God gave them the commission.

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¹⁹ And [2532] this [3778] is [2076] the record [3141] of John [2491], when [3753] the Jews [2453] sent [649] priests [2409] and [2532] Levites [3019] from [1537] Jerusalem [2414] to [2443] ask [2065] him [846], Who [5101] art [1488] thou [4771]?

¹⁶ John [2491] answered [611], saying [3004] unto them all [537], I [1473] indeed [3303] baptize [907] you [5209] with water [5204]; but [1161] one mightier than [2478] I [3450] cometh [2064], the latchet [2438] of whose [3739] [846] shoes [5266] I am [1510] not [3756] worthy [2425] to unloose [3089]: he [846] shall baptize [907] you [5209] with [1722] the Holy [40] Ghost [4151] and [2532] with fire [4442]:

¹⁵ And [1161] as the people [2992] were in expectation [4328], and [2532] all men [3956] mused [1260] in [1722] their [846] hearts [2588] of [4012] John [2491], whether [3379] he [846] were [1498] the Christ [5547], or not [3379];

¹⁴ And [1161] the soldiers [4754] likewise [2532] demanded [1905] of him [846], saying [3004], And [2532] what [5101] shall we [2249] do [4160]? And [2532] he said [2036] unto [4314] them [846], Do violence [1286] to no man [3367], neither [3366] accuse any falsely [4811]; and [2532] be content [714] with your [5216] wages [3800].

¹ Then [1161] drew near [2258] [1448] unto him [846] all [3956] the publicans [5057] and [2532] sinners [268] for to hear [191] him [846].

⁴⁶ For [1063] if [1437] ye love [25] them which [3588] love [25] you [5209], what [5101] reward [3408] have ye [2192]? do [4160] not [3780] even [2532] the publicans [5057] the same [846]?

¹³ And [1161] he said [2036] unto [4314] them [846], Exact [4238] no [3367] more [4119] than [3844] that which is appointed [1299] you [5213].

¹² Then [1161] came [2064] also [2532] publicans [5057] to be baptized [907], and [2532] said [2036] unto [4314] him [846], Master [1320], what [5101] shall we do [4160]?

⁴⁰ And [2532] if any man will [2309] sue [2919] thee [4671] at the law [2919], and [2532] take away [2983] thy [4675] coat [5509], let [863] him [846] have [863] thy cloke [2440] also [2532].
⁴¹ And [2532] whosoever [3748] shall compel [29] thee [4571] to go [29] a [1520] mile [3400], go [5217] with [3326] him [846] twain [1417].
⁴² Give [1325] to him that asketh [154] thee [4571], and [2532] from him that would [2309] borrow [1155] of [575] thee [4675] turn [654] not [3361] thou away [654].

¹¹ He answereth [611] and [1161] saith [3004] unto them [846], He that hath [2192] two [1417] coats [5509], let him impart [3330] to him that hath [2192] none [3361]; and [2532] he that hath [2192] meat [1033], let him do [4160] likewise [3668].

¹⁰ And [2532] the people [3793] asked [1905] him [846], saying [3004], What [5101] shall we do [4160] then [3767]?

¹⁰ And [2532] the people [3793] asked [1905] him [846], saying [3004], What [5101] shall we do [4160] then [3767]?
¹¹ He answereth [611] and [1161] saith [3004] unto them [846], He that hath [2192] two [1417] coats [5509], let him impart [3330] to him that hath [2192] none [3361]; and [2532] he that hath [2192] meat [1033], let him do [4160] likewise [3668].
¹² Then [1161] came [2064] also [2532] publicans [5057] to be baptized [907], and [2532] said [2036] unto [4314] him [846], Master [1320], what [5101] shall we do [4160]?
¹³ And [1161] he said [2036] unto [4314] them [846], Exact [4238] no [3367] more [4119] than [3844] that which is appointed [1299] you [5213].
¹⁴ And [1161] the soldiers [4754] likewise [2532] demanded [1905] of him [846], saying [3004], And [2532] what [5101] shall we [2249] do [4160]? And [2532] he said [2036] unto [4314] them [846], Do violence [1286] to no man [3367], neither [3366] accuse any falsely [4811]; and [2532] be content [714] with your [5216] wages [3800].
¹⁵ And [1161] as the people [2992] were in expectation [4328], and [2532] all men [3956] mused [1260] in [1722] their [846] hearts [2588] of [4012] John [2491], whether [3379] he [846] were [1498] the Christ [5547], or not [3379];
¹⁶ John [2491] answered [611], saying [3004] unto them all [537], I [1473] indeed [3303] baptize [907] you [5209] with water [5204]; but [1161] one mightier than [2478] I [3450] cometh [2064], the latchet [2438] of whose [3739] [846] shoes [5266] I am [1510] not [3756] worthy [2425] to unloose [3089]: he [846] shall baptize [907] you [5209] with [1722] the Holy [40] Ghost [4151] and [2532] with fire [4442]:

⁴⁶ And [2532] these [3778] shall go away [565] into [1519] everlasting [166] punishment [2851]: but [1161] the righteous [1342] into [1519] life [2222] eternal [166].

¹⁹ She layeth [07971] her hands [03027] to the spindle [03601], and her hands [03709] hold [08551] the distaff [06418].

⁷ But [1161] when he saw [1492] many [4183] of the Pharisees [5330] and [2532] Sadducees [4523] come [2064] to [1909] his [846] baptism [908], he said [2036] unto them [846], O generation [1081] of vipers [2191], who [5101] hath warned [5263] you [5213] to flee [5343] from [575] the wrath [3709] to come [3195]?

¹² And strangers [02114], the terrible [06184] of the nations [01471], have cut him off [03772], and have left [05203] him: upon the mountains [02022] and in all the valleys [01516] his branches [01808] are fallen [05307], and his boughs [06288] are broken [07665] by all the rivers [0650] of the land [0776]; and all the people [05971] of the earth [0776] are gone down [03381] from his shadow [06738], and have left [05203] him.

¹¹ I have therefore delivered [05414] him into the hand [03027] of the mighty one [0410] of the heathen [01471]; he shall surely [06213] deal [06213] with him: I have driven him out [01644] for his wickedness [07562].

³ Behold, the Assyrian [0804] was a cedar [0730] in Lebanon [03844] with fair [03303] branches [06057], and with a shadowing [06751] shroud [02793], and of an high [01362] stature [06967]; and his top [06788] was among the thick boughs [05688].

²³ They shall cut down [03772] her forest [03293], saith [05002] the LORD [03068], though it cannot be searched [02713]; because they are more [07231] than the grasshoppers [0697], and are innumerable [0369] [04557].

²² The voice [06963] thereof shall go [03212] like a serpent [05175]; for they shall march [03212] with an army [02428], and come [0935] against her with axes [07134], as hewers [02404] of wood [06086].