Matthew 3:7 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.
When we read the words that John the Baptist spoke to these religious leaders when they showed up at his special meetings by the riverside, we may wonder: "Did he really need to be so harsh? Wouldn't it be better for him to use some of his honey to make things sweeter?" In short, no. These leaders were much too comfortable and entrenched in their self-righteousness and heritage, thinking they did not need what John (and God) was offering. If he were to offer a "warm" welcome now, God would have a much warmer welcome to eternity. John was preparing the way for the king, and that meant getting people ready to receive Him and His offer. That would require honesty, humility, repentance, and faith. Most of these leaders demonstrated none of the above. Lest we be too critical, may we examine our lives for the same.
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