John the Baptist Confronts the Pharisees

Take Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels
^{Friday May 31, 2024}

Matthew 3:7-10, Luke 3:7-14

Father, I can imagine a rumor was circulating around the religious elite, the Pharisees and Sadducees of Jerusalem :

“There’s some guy out in the wilderness named John who everyone is going to see. He’s calling people to confess their sins and repent. Many say he is the Elijah of Malachi 4. He is claiming the Messiah, the Son of God, is about to be revealed and that Jesus, that troublemaker we worry about, is that Messiah.”

“This isn’t good, dudes. If people continue to hear what this guy is saying, they might follow this Jesus. We will lose our power and authority over the people. We have got to put a stop to this. Let’s go out to him, pretend we want to be baptized, but we will cause trouble for him, so the people turn against him.”

John was not caught off guard. He was ready for them:

1. He called them snakes, vipers to be specific. Viper bites in Biblical lands were often lethal. John is suggesting the influence of the legalistic Pharisees and Sadducees on the people was deadly, leading them to spiritual death and eternal damnation.
2. They claimed they were there to receive salvation. However, his response implied that it wasn’t the Holy Spirit who led them to be saved but demonic forces who led them to disrupt the gospel message.
3. They must have argued to John that they are somehow special because they are descendants of Abraham. John countered by stating they aren’t special in Your eyes. You could turn these “stones”, the unbelieving people who have come into the wilderness to be saved, into Your children by faith (Ezekiel 11:19, 36:26). The Pharisees and Sadducees aren’t necessary.
4. If you are truly of God, we would expect to see evidence. Where is the evidence? If there is no evidence of salvation, you are destined to be cut down (the executioner already has his ax in his hand) and sent to hell.

While John spoke to the Pharisees and Sadducees, the crowd, which included tax collectors and soldiers, were listening as well. They became concerned when they heard they will be thrown into hell because they have not exhibited spiritual fruit in their lives. They asked John to clarify what is the fruit that gives evidence that someone is genuinely saved (see the book of James). He told them the fruit that indicates salvation is real includes three key measures:

1. Love for your neighbor. How much do you provide for your neighbor in their time of need? Do you try to rip them off or to take advantage of them?
2. Integrity. Are honesty and truthfulness important to you? Do you love justice?
3. Contentment. Are you satisfied with what you have? Are you thankful for what you have received from God?

Amen.