Matthew 3:10Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He does not forbid them to say they are his, but to trust in that, neglecting virtues of the soul.

The herald refers to the judgment of Christ as an axe, and each of us as trees. Thus, those who lack faith are severed at their roots of disbelief and thrown into Gehenna. Every tree, regardless of its lineage from Abraham, fails to yield good fruit. He did not state: ‘that did not bear fruit,’ but rather “that does not bear fruit”; for it must continuously produce the harvest of righteousness. If you showed kindness yesterday but engage in theft today, you are offensive to God. Such a tree is chopped down and thrown into the fire, which represents the fire of Gehenna.

John refers to Christ as the axe, sharper than a two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12), through whom the unfaithful Jews are to be severed from the honor and communion of the patriarchs. These patriarchs, known as the root, include the fathers who found favor with God in earlier times—Abraham and his descendants, along with the saints who preceded them. The faithless were removed from this lineage like unfruitful branches, yet the root remains intact, to which the Gentiles have been joined. Irenaeus of Lyons likens the Word of God to an axe, in line with Jeremiah’s words: "the word of the Lord is as a hammer that breaks the rock" (Jeremiah 23:29). Why should I say that you will fall away? God has not forsaken the root.

God is described in Scripture, from some likeness of effects, not from being subject to such weakness, as being angry, and yet is He never moved by any passion. The word ‘wrath’ is applied to the effects of his vengeance, not that God suffers any disturbing affection.

He intimates God’s great power, who, as he made all things out of nothing, can make men out of the hardest stone.

The axe symbolizes the evangelical severing of the Jews, who lack righteousness and faith, from the law, yet they are not entirely eliminated. The law serves as their root, to which believers are grafted in their place, and the trees represent the Israelites. Their fear is heightened by the warning that they risk being cut off from Abraham's lineage if they do not take heed. He emphasizes that not only will they forfeit this generation, but, remaining unhealed, they will be soon removed from this life and will face judgment in the age to come. Death, as he figuratively describes it, is the axe; the wood represents humanity; the root signifies life; and the fire denotes the flames of Gehenna.

The axe resting at the base of the trees symbolizes the supremacy of Christ's dominion. The severing and incineration of the unfruitful trees represent the eradication of the harmful treachery that is destined to face the fire of divine judgment.

Indeed, the axe symbolizes the power of the divine Word, as the Lord expresses through the prophet Jeremiah, "Is not My word like fire, says the Lord, and like a hammer that shatters the rock?" (Jer. 23:29). This axe strikes at the very roots of genuine faith within the forest of humanity, constantly reminding us of the seriousness of God's judgment, which condemns unfruitful trees—representing those individuals devoid of the fruits of faith—to everlasting fire.

John observed the unfruitfulness of the Jewish people's intentions and compared them to trees that bear no fruit. He declared that an axe was positioned at their roots, symbolizing a swift and decisive division brought forth by the gospel. This gospel indicates that every tree failing to yield good fruit is destined for removal, but the roots—representing the law—remain intact as a new community is integrated.

The words of the teachers should be fitted to the quality of the hearers, that in each particular it should agree with itself and yet never depart from the fortress of general edification.

The Pharisees and Sadducees opposed to one another; Pharisee in the Hebrew signifies ‘divided;’ because choosing the justification of traditions and observances they were ‘divided’ or ‘separated’ from the people by this righteousness. Sadducee in the Hebrew means ‘just;’ for these laid claim to be what they were not, denied the resurrection of the body, and taught that the soul perished with the body; they only received the Pentateuch, and rejected the Prophets.

Of stones there were sons raised up to Abraham; forasmuch as the Gentiles by believing in Christ, who is Abraham’s seed, became his sons to whose seed they were united.

The manner of Scripture is to give names from the imitation of deeds, according to that of Ezekiel, Thy father was an Amorite; (Ezek. 16:3.) so these from following vipers are called generation of vipers.

The impending judgment is like a sharp axe poised to strike the world. But if the axe is already resting there, why does it not cut? And if it is not intended to cut, why is it positioned there? It is because trees, representing people, have the capacity for reason and can yield good fruit or none at all. When they see the axe at their roots, they are filled with dread over their potential destruction, prompting them to bear fruit. While fear may not correct the wicked, it can cause the righteous to perish if they lack it. Therefore, although the threat of judgment is ineffective on the wicked, it serves to delineate the righteous from the unrighteous.

Repent swiftly: now is the opportune moment for repentance; do not let it pass you by, for the fate of the unrepentant is imminent. The axe of Christ’s judgment is poised at the root of the tree, ready to strike; not just the branches will be severed, but the root will also be removed, and the entire unfruitful tree will be cast into the fire. No longer merely a prophet or a servant, but the Lord of all is approaching to pass judgment, wielding a fearsome and dreadful punishment. While there is still time, while the axe remains at the root, and before it makes contact, there is yet an opportunity to repent; act quickly, or be aware of this: every tree that does not yield good fruit is hewn down and thrown into the fire.

Understand that a tree that fails to produce good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire, rendering it worthless. The same fate awaits those who commit wicked acts. Urgently seek repentance and embark on a transformed life before it is too late. The axe is already poised at the base of the trees. The One who wields this axe will execute the decree of His final judgment upon you, and He is swiftly approaching.

The phrase "an axe at the root of the tree" serves as a powerful symbol, indicating the desire to entirely fell the tree rather than merely trim its overgrown branches. This represents a divine judgment upon the Jewish people, depicting a division between those deemed worthy of entering the kingdom of Christ and those who are not. Trees that bear good fruit—symbolizing righteous individuals—will remain, while those that do not produce good fruit—representing the unrighteous—will face destruction. Individuals who lack virtue, regardless of their lineage, including those who may pride themselves on being descendants of Abraham, will face condemnation as unworthy trees are removed.