Matius 3:8-10

3:8 Therefore produce fruit ¹  that proves your ²  repentance, 3:9 and don’t think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones! 3:10 Even now the ax is laid at ³  the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

Matius 16:24

16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to become my follower, ⁴  he must deny ⁵  himself, take up his cross, ⁶  and follow me.

[3:8]  ¹ sn Fruit worthy of repentance refers to the deeds that indicate a change of attitude (heart) on the part of John’s hearers.

[3:8]  ² tn Grk “fruit worthy of.”

[3:10]  ³ sn Laid at the root. That is, placed and aimed, ready to begin cutting.

[16:24]  ⁴ tn Grk “to come after me.”

[16:24]  ⁵ tn This translation better expresses the force of the Greek third person imperative than the traditional “let him deny,” which could be understood as merely permissive.

[16:24]  ⁶ sn To bear the cross means to accept the rejection of the world for turning to Jesus and following him. Discipleship involves a death that is like a crucifixion; see Gal 6:14.