10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.(A)

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If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.(A)

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He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit,(A) while every branch that does bear fruit(B) he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful.

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Footnotes

  1. John 15:2 The Greek for he prunes also means he cleans.

The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”(A)

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Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any.(A) So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down!(B) Why should it use up the soil?’

“‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

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19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.(A)

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17 For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household;(A) and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?(B) 18 And,

“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
    what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”[a](C)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 4:18 Prov. 11:31 (see Septuagint)

“Son of man, how is the wood of a vine(A) different from that of a branch from any of the trees in the forest? Is wood ever taken from it to make anything useful?(B) Do they make pegs(C) from it to hang things on? And after it is thrown on the fire as fuel and the fire burns both ends and chars the middle, is it then useful for anything?(D) If it was not useful for anything when it was whole, how much less can it be made into something useful when the fire has burned it and it is charred?

“Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: As I have given the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest as fuel for the fire, so will I treat the people living in Jerusalem. I will set my face against(E) them. Although they have come out of the fire(F), the fire will yet consume them. And when I set my face against them, you will know that I am the Lord.(G)

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“I will send my messenger,(A) who will prepare the way before me.(B) Then suddenly the Lord(C) you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant,(D) whom you desire,(E) will come,” says the Lord Almighty.

But who can endure(F) the day of his coming?(G) Who can stand(H) when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire(I) or a launderer’s soap.(J) He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver;(K) he will purify(L) the Levites and refine them like gold and silver.(M) Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness,(N)

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They will be like a tree planted by the water
    that sends out its roots by the stream.(A)
It does not fear when heat comes;
    its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought(B)
    and never fails to bear fruit.”(C)

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31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”(A)

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Judgment and Covenant Renewal

[a]“Surely the day is coming;(A) it will burn like a furnace.(B) All the arrogant(C) and every evildoer will be stubble,(D) and the day that is coming will set them on fire,(E)” says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch(F) will be left to them.

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Footnotes

  1. Malachi 4:1 In Hebrew texts 4:1-6 is numbered 3:19-24.

13 planted in the house of the Lord,
    they will flourish in the courts of our God.(A)
14 They will still bear fruit(B) in old age,
    they will stay fresh and green,

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28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.(A) 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God(B) underfoot,(C) who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant(D) that sanctified them,(E) and who has insulted the Spirit(F) of grace?(G) 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[a](H) and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”[b](I) 31 It is a dreadful thing(J) to fall into the hands(K) of the living God.(L)

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 10:30 Deut. 32:35
  2. Hebrews 10:30 Deut. 32:36; Psalm 135:14

19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.(A)

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15     the root your right hand has planted,
    the son[a] you have raised up for yourself.

16 Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire;(A)
    at your rebuke(B) your people perish.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 80:15 Or branch

That person is like a tree(A) planted by streams(B) of water,(C)
    which yields its fruit(D) in season
and whose leaf(E) does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.(F)

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25 See to it that you do not refuse(A) him who speaks.(B) If they did not escape when they refused him who warned(C) them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?(D)

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But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed.(A) In the end it will be burned.

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Jesus Greater Than Moses

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters,(A) who share in the heavenly calling,(B) fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge(C) as our apostle and high priest.(D) He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house.(E) Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses,(F) just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself.

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    and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown(A) of beauty
    instead of ashes,(B)
the oil(C) of joy
    instead of mourning,(D)
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting(E) of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor.(F)

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11 When its twigs are dry, they are broken off(A)
    and women come and make fires(B) with them.
For this is a people without understanding;(C)
    so their Maker has no compassion on them,
    and their Creator(D) shows them no favor.(E)

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He dug it up and cleared it of stones
    and planted it with the choicest vines.(A)
He built a watchtower(B) in it
    and cut out a winepress(C) as well.
Then he looked for a crop of good grapes,
    but it yielded only bad fruit.(D)

“Now you dwellers in Jerusalem and people of Judah,
    judge between me and my vineyard.(E)
What more could have been done for my vineyard
    than I have done for it?(F)
When I looked for good grapes,
    why did it yield only bad?(G)
Now I will tell you
    what I am going to do to my vineyard:
I will take away its hedge,
    and it will be destroyed;(H)
I will break down its wall,(I)
    and it will be trampled.(J)
I will make it a wasteland,(K)
    neither pruned nor cultivated,
    and briers and thorns(L) will grow there.
I will command the clouds
    not to rain(M) on it.”

The vineyard(N) of the Lord Almighty
    is the nation of Israel,
and the people of Judah
    are the vines he delighted in.
And he looked for justice,(O) but saw bloodshed;
    for righteousness,(P) but heard cries of distress.(Q)

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