Luke 3:9

3:9 Even now the ax is laid at the root of the trees, 1  and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be 2  cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Luke 8:13

8:13 Those 3  on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, 4  but 5  in a time of testing 6  fall away. 7 

1 sn Even now the ax is laid at the root of the trees. The imagery of an “ax already laid at the root of the trees” is vivid, connoting sudden and catastrophic judgment for the unrepentant and unfruitful. The image of “fire” serves to further heighten the intensity of the judgment referred to. It is John’s way of summoning all people to return to God with all their heart and avoid his unquenchable wrath soon to be poured out. John’s language and imagery is probably ultimately drawn from the OT where Israel is referred to as a fruitless vine (Hos 10:1-2; Jer 2:21-22) and the image of an “ax” is used to indicate God’s judgment (Ps 74:5-6; Jer 46:22).

2 tn Grk “is”; the present tense (ἐκκόπτεται, ekkoptetai) has futuristic force here.

3 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

4 sn This time of temporary faith represented by the description believe for a while is presented rather tragically in the passage. The seed does not get a chance to do all it can.

5 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

6 tn Traditionally, “temptation.” Such a translation puts the emphasis on temptation to sin rather than testing of faith, which is what the context seems to indicate.

7 sn Fall away. On the idea of falling away and the warnings against it, see 2 Tim 3:1; Heb 3:12; Jer 3:14; Dan 9:9.