Matthew 3:10

Now also the axe is laid unto the root.

Laid there at hand for immediate use to destroy the tree, though as yet no blow had been struck; but laid there, also, that this sign of what is threatened may avert the fulfillment of the threat.-- Trench. There is in these words. passing on from the notion of the possibility to that of the certainty of the wrath to come. The ax laid, not near to the unfruitful branches, but to the very roots, points to the judgment of extermination about to break forth on the impenitent.-- Van Oosterzee.

Every tree.

A fruitless fig-tree was afterward made by our Lord the representative of the whole Jewish nation (Luke 13:6), but here each tree about to be hewn down denotes an impenitent individual receiving his sentence.-- Van Oosterzee.

Cast into the fire.

When. tree is not fruitful, or bears useless fruit, it is fit for nothing but to be burned. Let it be noted that fire, here, is. destroying power.