What does it mean that every tree that does not bear fruit is cut down (Matthew 3:10)?

In Matthew 3, John the Baptist begins preparing the way for the Messiah’s coming. He focuses first on the Jewish people, calling them to repent of their sins and rededicate their hearts to God through the outward demonstration of water baptism. John aims his stern message of judgment squarely at Israel’s religious leaders (the Pharisees and Sadducees), who had traded personal dedication for empty ritualism: “You brood of vipers! . . . Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matthew 3:7–10, ESV).

John confronts the hypocrisy of Israel’s spiritual leaders, who thought they were automatically saved from God’s wrath merely by inheriting a religious pedigree. John tells them that being Abraham’s descendants was not enough. Their hearts must be transformed and turned away from sin to receive spiritual life in the Messiah’s kingdom. True repentance involves a changed mind that produces a lifestyle of changed actions. These actions are the fruits of repentance. Repentance is not merely being sorry but being sorry enough to stop sinning and dedicate one’s whole life to God.

Using the imagery of fruit trees, John the Baptist regards the religious leaders as devoid of good fruit. A fruit tree’s appropriate “action” is to bear good fruit. Because their hearts and minds were unchanged, these hypocritical leaders could not bear the fruit of righteousness and repentance. They could not prove the genuineness of their faith with righteous actions and good deeds. Instead, their faith was dead (see James 2:14–26). They preached one thing but lived another.

Jesus would later declare a similar judgment on false prophets and teachers. He said both genuine and hypocritical followers can be identified “by their fruit, that is, by how they act” (Matthew 7:16, NLT). “So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:17–20, ESV).

Both John and Jesus compared religious hypocrites to dead trees. Therefore, the ax of God’s judgment was “poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.” (Matthew 3:10, NLT). There is no hope for a tree that does not bear good fruit. John’s warning to the Pharisees and Sadducees was severe. Their eternal destinies were at stake. Because of their spiritual insincerity, they were in danger of being cut down and thrown into the fire. If they did not repent, God’s fiery judgment would come for them. Jesus would expound on that judgment later (see Matthew 23:31–38; Matthew 24:1—25:46).

“Every tree” means there are no exceptions. Every sinner, from the most powerful leader to the lowest slave, must repent. If he does not bear fruit, he will be “cut down” and destroyed by fire. John’s message is clear: those who reject God’s call to repentance will face judgment and eternal punishment.

John continued his warning, saying that Messiah is “ready to separate the chaff [hypocrites] from the wheat [true believers] with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire” (Matthew 3:12, NLT). Again, Jesus issued a similar warning later in Matthew 13:30, 37–43.

People of every era should carefully consider John’s warning that every tree that does not bear fruit is cut down. We cannot rest on our family credentials or religious heritage. Attending church or even holding a leadership position does not ensure our salvation. We can confess our sins and claim to be born again, but it means nothing unless a changed way of life accompanies our repentance.

Our salvation is secure when we abide in Jesus, who said, “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit. . . . Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. . . . For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. . . . When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples” (John 15:1–8, NLT).