What is the meaning of Matthew 3 10 11?

Answer 1

I think if you just look at the context, it will become very clear as often times The Bible explains itself. So below I included a few verses before and after.

Verse 8 explains verse 10, fruit of an individual always means their actions, the axe laid at the root of a tree means simply that it's about to get cut down, and fire always speaks of divine wrath and judgment.

Verse 12 explains verse 11, here we see the two groups of people - the wheat and the chaff, those baptized by the Holy Ghost and the others by fire, the saved and the lost.

Mat 3:7 But when he (John the baptist) saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Mat 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

Mat 3:9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

Mat 3:10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Mat 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Mat 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.