Matthew 3:10 - Exposition

And now also ; Revised Version, and even now. "And" ( δὲ ), slightly adversative. In contrast to the delay supposed in Matthew 3:9 a , preparations have already been made for your destruction. The axe is laid ; Revised Version, is the axe laid ; bringing out more emphatically its present position. The American Revisers propose, "the axe lieth at," avoiding the suggestion of an agent; but κεῖμαι often implies one, being used of vessels set ready for use; e.g. John 2:6 ; John 19:29 (cf. Revelation 4:2 ). Unto ( πρὸς ); brought near to (Thayer, s.v., 1.2, a). Therefore. The axe is lying there, therefore every useless tree is sure to be cut down (cf. Winer, 40.2, a). Every tree , etc.; even the noblest (Weiss). However good the tree ought to be, from the character of its original stock (you claim to be Abraham's children, John 19:9 ), yet, if it does not bear good fruit, it is cut down ( Matthew 7:19 , note). Into the fire ( εἰς πῦρ ). Not into a fire prepared with a definite purpose, nor into any one fire pictured as burning ( Matthew 17:15 ; cf. τὸ πῦρ , John 15:6 ), but into fire generally, which may be in many different places. Worthless trees are only for burning. (For thought , cf. Hebrews 6:8 .)