7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 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. 10 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.
11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
The Baptism of Jesus
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3: 7-17 ESV
Matthew 3: 7-12
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees - What is a Pharisee? In English it has become slang for hypocrite, and many were that, but it is a term that also defines a sect of the Jewish, religious elite. They were separatists, who believed that a man could be made righteous by works, through the law. For them, ritual and tradition were very important, much like the Roman Catholic church today, who put their traditions above God's word. Some will try to argue, "on par with God's word", but when the two things are saying distinctly different things, and you choose the way of your tradition, you are putting that above God's word. Pharisees believed the OT writings to be from God, and they believed in the existence of the spiritual, in angels, and the resurrection, but they struggled in discerning the Spirit and the Letter, siding with long standing traditions that were either additions to the law, or subtractions from it's real meaning.
…23Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. 25Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.… Matthew 23: 23-25
…8You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition of men.” 9 He went on to say, “ You neatly set aside the command of God to maintain your own tradition. 10For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’…
…11But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever you would have received from me is Corban’ (that is, a gift devoted to God), 12he is no longer permitted to do anything for his father or mother. 13Thus you nullify the word of God by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so in many such matters.”… Mark 7: 8-13
Even when Jesus appeals to God's original intent and design, they reject it in favor of their tradition and want.
…7“Why then,” they asked, “did Moses order a man to give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” 8Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of your hardness of heart; but it was not this way from the beginning. 9Now I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman, commits adultery.”… Matthew 19: 7-9
What is a Sadducee? Well, when I was little we remembered it by saying, "they don't believe in the resurrection, so that is why they are sad you see." This is true, they were more materialist, liberals, not believing in the existence of angels or in the resurrection. They blended easily into Greek and Roman culture, denying much of the OT, like many so called evangelicals today, who say Genesis is poetry, and have to check with the current culture to find out what they believe. They were "moral" people in their own minds, politically correct "intellectuals".
Spurgeon - It was strange to see the proud Separatists and the sceptical Moralists come to be baptized; and therefore, as a test, John addressed them with scorching words. He saw that they were serpentine in their motives and viperish in their tempers, and so he calls them “Progeny of vipers”: thus would he see whether they were sincere or not. He asks who suggested to them to flee from that wrath of which he was the forerunner, according to the closing words of the Old Testament (Malachi 4:5-6+). This enquiry was not complimentary; but it is no business of the Lord’s servants to make themselves pleasing: they must be faithful, and especially so to the great and learned. Thus faithful was John the Baptist, and he was honoured for it by him that sent him.
D A Carson - “Many Pharisees and Sadducees may have come for baptism with the ostentation that characterized their other religious activities … they were showing the world how ready they were for Messiah, though they had not truly repented.” (EBC) - Precept Austin
Spurgeon brings up a good point, why are these, with such opposing views, coming here together? This will show you how narrow a place it is, to stand for the Author's intent. We have an ecumenical movement here, as well as in every day, where those that stand on the authority of Scripture, who see God's word with His name, as He has said it is, they are the common enemy of all else. The ecumenical movement will cry of politeness, will say it's not right to focus upon our differences, even when they are about salvation itself, or the supremacy of Scripture, it's authority in doctrine. These two groups could come together and yet still be wrong, both the Pharisees and the Sadducees will find a common enemy in the gospel preaching of repentance. That same leaven has worked it's way into many so called churches today. I have seen many lay aside the truth in the name of unity, so that unity becomes the tradition that takes the place of Scriptural authority. When I was young I went to churches where feeling and emotions overrode the discipline of study and sound teaching, and differing opinions were all thrown out there, but went unchallenged in the name of unity and politeness. The litmus test of Scripture has been replaced with that of culture, and with suggesting that my feelings, desires and "good intentions", are equal to, but actually greater when they disagree, than sound doctrine. We no longer care who god is, but do you believe in a god, or a higher power, anything? If you do, and your belief is sincere, then the ecumenical movement will embrace you. Who is Jesus? If you acknowledge the guy in sandals, who said some cool things, and if you accept any one of the cool things he said, then you're in. I have talked to many in the watered down church today who don't believe in the deity of Christ, or don't see it as an issue that another group's definition of who Jesus is, is based on extrabiblical tradition, passed down by false teachers, like Joseph Smith, Muhammad, Charles Russel, or any of the Roman Catholic popes. As long as you use the name Jesus then you're in, or as long as we have a common enemy, then you're in. Many groups have come together in the name of conservativism or liberalism, and voting the same has taken priority over what the Bible says. Yet, the Scriptures warn us of false gospels, false Christs and Jesus did not shy away from making the most exclusive statements in all of Scripture.
5“Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7If you had known Me, you would know My Father as well. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”… John 14: 5-7
…21Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’… Matthew 7: 21-23
You brood of vipers - That's not very nice, and especially to the Pharisees, who believe the OT, that would be like relating them to the devil, who would say something so inappropriate?
…43Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to accept My message. 44You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies. 45But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me!… John 8: 43-45
The viper is like the leaven as well, it only takes a small puncture to deliver it's venom, and it only takes a small amount of this venom to cause incredible amounts of damage, just like the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, a little of their leaven infiltrates the whole lump of dough.
Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come - They knew of the teachings about the Day of the Lord, but in their self righteous opinions, they would not see themselves as needing to have any trepidation about such matters.
From the wrath to come - There is another touch of sarcasm, for most the Jews believed in the wrath to come but they falsely believed it was reserved for the pagan, heathen Gentiles! They needed to look in the mirror! Paul described that in contrast to most of the Jews, many of these despised Gentiles had "turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God (PICTURE OF REPENTANCE), and to wait for His Son from heaven (PICTURE OF BRINGING FORTH FRUIT IN KEEPING WITH REPENTANCE), Whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, Who rescues (rhuomai = RESCUE FROM DANGER!) us from the wrath to come (present tense)." (1 Th 1:9-10+) Paul's description of the Gentile rescue by Jesus was identical to John's description in this passage, which reads more literally "the (present tense - continually) coming wrath." In short, the picture is that God's wrath is already "on its way!" (cf Jn 3:18+) It is imminent! The present tense is used in a proleptic sense for so certain is the wrath of God to come to pass at some time in the future. This phrase is reminiscent of Romans 1:18+ where Paul writes that "For the wrath (orge) of God is (present tense - continually being) revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who (CONTINUALLY, ACTIVELY, WILLFULLY) suppress the truth in unrighteousness." - Precept Austin
Bear fruit in keeping with repentance - This is the sort of talk that has made John Macarthur an enemy of many in our day. The truth, and adherence to it, has not been on the popular side in any age for very long. People always sought to kill it's messengers.
Repentance itself is not a work, but works are its inevitable fruit. Repentance and faith are inextricably linked in Scripture. Repentance means turning from one's sin, and faith is turning to God. They are like opposite sides of the same coin. That is why both are linked to conversion. Notice that the works John demanded to see were "fruit" of repentance. But repentance itself is no more a "work" than faith is.
…18But in this way God has fulfilled what He foretold through all the prophets, saying that His Christ would suffer. 19Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away, 20that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus, the Christ, who has been appointed for you.… Acts 3: 18-20
…20I did not shrink back from declaring anything that was helpful to you as I taught you publicly and from house to house, 21testifying to Jews and Greeks alike about repentance to God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.… Acts 20: 20-22
We have Abraham for our father - They put a lot on tradition, but also on lineage. This would be the equivalent of asking someone, "what do you believe", and having them answer, "I was raised this way, or my grandfather is a pastor, or I was born protestant, baptized Anglican", as if salvation had to do with proximity.
God is able from these stones - In other words, God is not impressed by lineage, in fact, all you or I have inherited from that is a sinful nature, and the wages of sin is death. That is all He owes you.
The axe is laid to the root of the trees - Judgment is coming.
The axe is already laid at the root of the trees - In the Greek text already is in an emphatic position to get across the sense of urgency inherent in John's message! It pictures the axe poised to chop down the trees (the non-repenters). NLT paraphrases it "Even now the ax of God's judgment is poised." In keeping with the previous passage, John's metaphor is depicting the people's repentance as like "fruit trees." No spiritual fruit indicates no real repentance. Robertson says the axe "is there ready for business." The axe is placed and lain, ready to chop!
Earlier John had declared "the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand" (Mt 3:2) and now he couples the nearness of the Kingdom with the warning that the judgment is also near, which is logical because failure to enter the Kingdom of Heaven/God (cf Jn 3:3+) will leave judgment as the only viable (really "non-viable" because it brings eternal death) alternative! - Precept Austin
…16But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear that name. 17For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God? 18And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”… 1 Peter 4: 16-18
…18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20So then, by their fruit you will recognize them.… Matthew 7: 18-20
I baptize you with water for repentance - This takes us back to the priest as they prepared with ceremonial cleanings at the temple. They were Levites, they were priests, yet they needed to be cleansed. Here, these are Jews, coming down to the water to receive full immersion, a one time public dunking, the same received by gentiles, who were outside of the lineage, coming into the covenant. It would be a confession, as we saw in the last post, of sin, saying, "I am a Jew by birth, I go to synagogue, to the feasts, I tithe, but I am not right with God in my life, I want to be cleansed of my sin, I want to walk as God has told us to, to worship Him in spirit and in truth." Repentance is a change of mind, a turning away from idols, not like a summer camp confession, a one time emotional event, it is a radical turning away from empty rituals, from the pride of "living a good life", or just "wanting everyone to be happy", it is self denial, a new person. John can't give them this, and false professors probably abounded, the experiential are always among us.
Whose sandals I am not worthy to carry - This isn't just because of a title placed upon the Messiah, but Who He was at His core, His being, God the Son, the eternal Lord, the Lamb without spot. What a build up to what is fast approaching.
With the Holy Spirit - So is everyone who is born of the Spirit. The link to Ezekiel above will help with this.
12The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ. 13For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink. 14For the body does not consist of one part, but of many.…1 Corinthians 12: 12-14
And fire - This is the baptism of judgment. Verse 12 explains it neatly.
His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
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