Matthew 3:7-10
John the Baptist Prepares the Way (Part 2)
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned
you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already
at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
Have you ever asked why the Pharisees and Sadducees were following John the Baptist? Well, he is wearing
the clothes of a prophet and he is quoting the Old Testament prophets. If what he is saying is true, then that means the Messiah, the promised one, is coming. So yes, they are following John the Baptist, but from a negative perspective. They
hear John the Baptist, but they don't believe him. Because of their unbelief, John calls them a brood of vipers. They are not there to learn about the Messiah, but to trap him.
I pray: O Lord, help us to understand
and trust your Son, Jesus, to know that he is the promised Messiah. Too often we criticize things that we don't understand. Forgive us and guide us. Amen.