Matthew 3:10

Ax] a frequent and expressive type of imminent judgment (Matthew 7:19; Luke 13:7 : cp. Romans 11:17). The trees] i.e. individual Jews, not the nation, though, as a matter of fact, judgment overtook the nation also for its rejection of Christ: cp. John 7:19. The fire] see on Matthew 3:12.

11, 12. Here is emphatic testimony of John to the Messiahship of Jesus. Jesus is so great that John is unworthy to perform for Him the function of the meanest slave. Jesus is the dispenser of divine sanctification (the Holy Ghost). Jesus is the absolute judge of the human race, with power to reward the good in heaven and to punish the guilty in hell (Matthew 3:12). Nothing of importance is really added to this testimony in the Fourth Gospel. There, indeed, the Baptist calls Jesus the Lamb of God and the Son of God, and is aware of His prëexistence; but these things follow naturally from the tremendous prerogatives which even in the Synoptics John assigns to Him. If it be remembered that the synoptic testimony is given before, and the testimony in the Fourth Gospel after Christ's Baptism, all difficulty disappears: see John 1:6; John 1:15; John 1:19; John 3:27.