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KEY VERSE:
Matthew 3:7-12 ESV
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.”
INTRODUCTION:
John’s message is one of HOPE and of WARNING. The hope is we have a way to God through Christ. The Warning is that without Him we will perish.
I. JOHN PREACHES TO THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS.
Matthew 3:7-10
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.
A. John was talking to both of the major religious groups of his day.
John had authority to rebuke the leaders of his day.
Luke 7:28
I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John.
B. First the Pharisees. They were smug, self-righteous, self-centered, intolerant, judgmental extremist.
C. The Pharisees to not truly know God and rejected John’s preaching and did not repent.
D. The Pharisees forgot that God is truly in control. The power they enjoyed over the people, would one day come to an end as the Truth of Christ set people free.
E. The Sadducees were of priestly descent and no better than the Pharisees.
F. They used religion as a means to advance themselves. They took advantage of the people while profiting.
G. The Pharisees and Sadducees did not like one another, yet stood united in their hatred for Christ.
H. John called it right when he called them vipers. When being still, these small snakes looked like harmless twigs on the ground. But if one got a hold of you, you were dead!
I. Verse 8: “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.” John was speaking of Spiritual Fruit that produces Good Works. We are Saved by Grace through Faith and our Salvation produces Spiritual Fruits that in turn produce Good Works.
J. “God being able to raise up children of Abraham out of stones”, is a reminder of God’s Power and a reminder that belonging to a group of people or club or having a title does not get you into the Kingdom of God.
II. JOHN SPEAKS OF HOPE AND OF A WARNING.
Matthew 3:11-12 ESV
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.”
A. John was humble and knew his place. He did not overreach his authority. He was happy being second, third or even last as long as he was serving Christ!
B. Baptism means to dip. So John was playing on the word Baptize. John was saying that when Jesus comes He will offer two types of baptism.
C. It other words, people can receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit or they can be dipped in the consuming fire of Hell.
D. John’s message was one of Hope and of warning. Today we have the very same message. It has not changed one bit.
E. Those who repent will be gathered into heaven or the barn with the winnowing fork. The others will be cast into the fire.
CONCLUSION:
Today we have many false religions and many people who fake their relationship with God. But Christ is true forever more. And His message is one of Hope and of Eternal Life. We must heed His Words, repent and come to Him through Faith.