William Burkitt Notes and Observations - Luke 3:9 - 3:9

Online Resource Library

Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | Download

William Burkitt Notes and Observations - Luke 3:9 - 3:9


(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)

This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

St. John having preached the doctrine of repentance in the foregoing verses, he backs it with a powerful argument in this verse, drawn from the certainty and severity of that judgment which should come upon them, if they continued their sins: Now is the axe laid to the root of the tree.

Learn, 1. That it is not unsuitable for gospel preachers to press repentance and holiness of life upon their hearers, from arguments of terror. John does it here, and Christ elsewhere.

2. That those whose hearts are not pierced with the sword of God's word, shall certainly be cut down and destroyed by the axe of his judgments.

Observe farther, that forasmuch as the sin here specified is a sin of omission, every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, as well as that which bringeth forth evil fruit, is hewn down, and cast into the fire. We learn that sins of omission are certainly damning as well as sins of commission. The neglects of duty are as dangerous and damnable as the acts of sin. Such trees as stand in God's orchard, the church, and bring forth no good fruit, are marked out as fuel for the devil's fire.