SCRIPTURE: Matthew 3:10 "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."
PROPOSITION: to use this text and others to show that the root determines the fruit of the tree and that when the great God rises up and unveils his terrible majesty and mighty power his hand will take hold of judgement, his axe will be laid at the root (heart) of the trees and he will leave the wicked with neither root nor branch they will be utterly destroyed. and also to show that God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked but desires that all men be saved through Christ, and bring forth fruits worthy of repentance.
1.) Why is the axe laid at the root of the tree and not at the trunk or the branches?
A. Because it is the root (heart) that is the cause for this bitter and poisonous fruit, so it is only fitting that God take vengence upon this proud and evil essence. Matthew 15:19 "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:"
B. Because it is with the heart man believes unto righteousness, and it is also with the heart that man refuses to believe unto righteousness, which shows that the root (heart) is evil and is deserving of the axe and the fire.
Zechariah 7:12 "Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts."
Hebrews 3:12 "...lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief..."
C. It is with the heart that man has contrived evil imaginations, and warred against God, so by God taking an axe to the root shows his absolute triumph over evil.
1 Corinthians 15:25 "For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet."
D. Because the root is what stabilizes the tree so proud and tall, and when the tree is severed from the root its power and strength is taken away it can never grow again. sinners may find power and strength in their own schemes and wisdom or in their possessions and position , but when judgement comes and the axe is laid to their root then they will know that their righteousness was nothing and less than nothing and all their vain schemes were weeker than the thin air found on the highest hills.
Psalms 37:17 "For the arms of the wicked shall be broken..."
2.) Will the tree be axed, and where the tree falleth there shall it lie?
A.No, not in this case the tree represents the wicked, weather they be worldlings or religionists, they will not be a brand plucked from the burning, but will yeild to the flames of hell in the same way a loathsome poisonous insect would yeild to a furnace if it was cast into it and humbled by it.
Isaiah 5:14-15 "Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.
And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled"
B. Wood is fuel for fire in this world but sin seems to be a sort of fuel for hell fire in the world to come.
Isaiah 33:12-14 "And the people shall be as the burnings of lime: as thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire.
Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; and, ye that are near, acknowledge my might. The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?"
C. NONE who bring forth poisonous fruit will escape the axe or the fire. "EVERY TREE that brings not forth good fruit shall be hewn down and cast into the fire"
Ecclesiastes 12:14 "For God shall bring EVERY work into judgment, with EVERY secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil."
3.) Is it God's will that sinners perish in this dreadful manor that we read in our text?
A. No, it is God's will that all should be brought to repentance and that sinners would place 100% trust in Christ ALONE and that Christ would be their ONLY Saviour.
Ezekiel 33:11 "Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?"
2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
4.) Is it possible for worldlings and wicked religionists who have spent their precious years as trees growing in Satans orchard to become a tree that brings forth good fruit?
A. Yes, when sinners are converted, and Christ becomes their ONLY Saviour they become as a tree PLANTED by the rivers of water, but the ungodly are not so.
Psalms 1:1-3 "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree PLANTED by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."
Matthew 15:13 "But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not PLANTED, shall be rooted up."
CONCLUSION: "Every tree is known by his own fruit..." and the ONLY way that you or I can bear good fruit is if we are a tree planted. when a sinner comes to Christ he recieves a new nature and the Holy Spirit makes his home within him, God's Spirit produces the fruit and we bear it, this is the only fruit worthy of repentance.
Galatians 5:22-24 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts."
Mark 1:15 "And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."
