And now also; Revised Version, and even now. "And" ( δὲ), slightly adversative. In contrast to the delay supposed in Matthew 3:9 a, preparations have already been made for your destruction. The axe is laid; Revised Version, is the axe laid; bringing out more emphatically its present position.
The American Revisers propose, "the axe lieth at," avoiding the suggestion of an agent; but κεῖμαι often implies one, being used of vessels set ready for use; e.g. John 2:6; John 19:29 (cf. Revelation 4:2).
Unto ( πρὸς); brought near to (Thayer, s.v., 1.2, a). Therefore. The axe is lying there, therefore every useless tree is sure to be cut down (cf. Winer, 40.2, a). Every tree, etc.; even the noblest (Weiss).
However good the tree ought to be, from the character of its original stock (you claim to be Abraham's children, John 19:9), yet, if it does not bear good fruit, it is cut down (Matthew 7:19, note). Into the fire ( εἰς πῦρ).
Not into a fire prepared with a definite purpose, nor into any one fire pictured as burning (Matthew 17:15; cf. τὸ πῦρ, John 15:6), but into fire generally, which may be in many different places. Worthless trees are only for burning.
(For thought, cf. Hebrews 6:8.