axe

Matthew 3:10&11

"10 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.

11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:"

John the Baptizer is severely criticizes the Sadducees and Pharisees. They came to the banks of the Jordan river, where the Baptizer was preaching and teaching. John has NOT been kind to them, he probably jokingly asks them "you must WANT TO repent."

John also cautions them on their assumption of their privileges of birth. It is not by our genealogy that we are saved. GOD does give to us everything we experience. We need to make every step in our lives with gratitude to our GOD. The second that we let our pride guide us or inform us; we are done. We are out of sync with GOD'S plan.

It's all GOD'S plan that John shares in today's verses; "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." The "now" might be better exprssed as "already." The act of judgment is NOT in the future. It is Biblical symbolism to have “trees” as the representatives of human characters, nations, and institutions. The judgments are usually corrective, as the pruning of the branches. Now the axe was laid to the root, for the unfruitful tree there is the DOOM of fire, destruction. John is all fire and brimstone to the Sadducees and Pharisees.

John then blesses them with more insights on GOD'S plan; "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is MIGHTIER than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with FIRE:" Of course he is speaking of Jesus Christ, who has come to be the Deliverer and the Judge. Our Lord and Savior will baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with FIRE. This baptism will destroy evil and purify good! The Baptizer is clear and direct with his audience. These Sadducees and Pharisees were better people than many we face in our modern culture wars. We can follow John's example and be more frank and honest when addressing our counterparts.