(Matthew 3:1-12)
Remember the name George Santos? He was viewed by some as a rising star in his political party. And, despite concerns that were expressed about the reliability of his biography and past track record (including those claiming that already in childhood he had a reputation for being deceitful and untrustworthy), he did end up being elected into office. Eventually, though, it was discovered that Santos had in fact lied about a number of details about his past, including his education and employment history. Many of his business dealings and financial history were also found to be inconsistent and fraudulent as well. As it turned out, George Santos was not at all who he made himself out to be. It took official legal action and investigations to eventually discover the truth and convict him.
John the Baptist, preacher of repentance, reminds us this morning that judgment is also imminent for each of us. But it won’t be an investigation or any legal action that will determine our judgment; it will be the Lord Jesus himself. Like Santos, we might be able to fool or deceive others – and even ourselves – for a time, but when it comes to the judgment of Jesus, the truth about each of us will come out.
For some, that day will be terrifying. The Pharisees and Sadducees of Jesus’ day would be among them. Notice how suddenly the tone of Matthew’s account turns harsh as he records for us how John addressed them. “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’” (Matthew 3:7-10).
“Brood of vipers” was a loaded term! First of all, one can hardly miss the connection between viper and the Satanic serpent back in Eden. And John doesn’t just call them “vipers,” either, but a “brood” of vipers. By referring to them as a brood, or offspring, John was also making a clear connection with their wicked ancestors, those who persecuted and even put to death God’s prophets in Old Testament times.
His follow up question – “Who wanted you to flee from the coming wrath?” – was intended as a satirical shake-up, since their soaring confidence in their own self-righteousness had them convinced that, unlike everyone else flocking to John the Baptist, they actually had nothing to be afraid of. So although they weren’t really concerned about that wrath, John was plainly telling them they very much needed to be!
To emphasize his point, he used additional illustrations. First, they weren’t the ones who got to determine what kind of fruit they were going to produce. That was their entire modus operandi when it came to religion – delighting in defining what they considered to be appropriate fruit. “We’ll just insert a few extra requirements here and sprinkle some added laws in over there.” But John was specific: fruit “in keeping with repentance.” In other words, contrition that was accompanied by appropriate actions. Not just, “I’m sorry you were offended or hurt,” but “I’m sorry for what I did, and I want to make it right.” That’s fruit in keeping with repentance. It’s fruit that reinforces the remorse of repentance.
Then John reminded them that their religious version of “Who’s who” would get them nowhere. When it comes to name-dropping before God, there’s only One name that matters, and it wasn’t Abraham – or any of the patriarchs or OT prophets, but the name of Jesus.
Next, John raised the level of urgency by warning them that the ax wasn’t in the shop somewhere being sharpened, nor was it off in the distance somewhere being given a few warm-up swings. Rather, it was already at the root of the tree, ready to take out all trees without good fruit. And he wasn’t talking about pruning, mind you, to provide another opportunity to bear fruit, but utter destruction right at the roots, where, the tree would be hacked away from any chance at life and burned up in a fire!
That same picture of fire was what would happen to all of the chaff – unbelievers – after having been separated from the wheat with the winnowing fork. There was no doubt remaining as to what warning John was giving: that time of judgment is imminent, and it is going to be an eternal disaster for all who ignore John’s message of repentance.
Thankfully, we see others also flocking to John. We see others who have nothing to fear. They heeded John’s urging to repent. “People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River” (v.5-6). It’s a small phrase, but with huge implications: “confessing their sins.” That phrase was absent in Matthew’s description of the Pharisees and Sadducees. But without it, baptism is nothing special, it is a splash of water or a quick wash. There’s nothing more to it if there is no sin to be washed away.
Those other people going to John did so with purpose. They brought their filth with them. They dragged their shame along. They confessed it, demonstrating their understanding of and need for baptism. They had real sins that really needed to be washed away. They took to heart the words of the Baptist and the prophet Isaiah, who foreshadowed him. In repentance they prepared the way for the Lord and his gracious forgiveness.
In biblical narratives like this one, when different groups or types of people are present, we naturally identify with a certain individual or group, or at the very least rule out any association with one. Isn’t it safe to say that wherever the Pharisees or Sadducees are present, we pretty much rule out any association with them? After all, we don’t pretend we’re saved by our own righteous good works, like the Pharisees, and we don’t deny the supernatural, like angels or resurrection and an afterlife, like the Sadducees do. Therefore, John’s warnings aren’t addressed to us, right?
Permit me to encourage a different approach to Scripture. Do we truly wish to avoid ending up on the same path as the Pharisees? If so, then whenever we see a warning in Scripture, let’s first assume that it’s a warning that is in place for our benefit and one which we need to hear.
In other words, rather than writing off every warning in Scripture as being directed at someone else, first consider how it might apply to me. Does John’s general warning about a coming wrath have anything to do with me? It absolutely does, if it exposes me as a fraud, a fake, or a false follower. But how would we know?
That’s where it gets tricky, because when a person falls into that dangerous category, or even anywhere near it, he usually isn’t aware of it. The individual who has become disengaged from the local church, disconnected from the Bible, and is devoid of any displays of the Christian faith, yet still wholeheartedly identifies himself as a Christian, needs to hear John’s warning about the judgment of unquenchable fire that is waiting for fruitless trees and chaff. The believer who wants to selectively pick and choose certain teachings from Scripture and discard others, may align more with the Sadducees than she is aware, and needs to hear John’s warning. The believer whose idea of repentance involves merely the lip service of “I’m sorry” without any change in actions or attitude, needs to hear John’s warning. The believer clinging to the lie that grace and forgiveness are a license to sin as freely as he wants to because no matter what, he’s covered by Jesus, needs to hear John’s warning.
Consider a church member who hasn’t been in church for a year or more. In his mind, he hasn’t necessarily done anything wrong. He hasn’t committed a crime. He’s not absent because of some division or doctrinal disagreement. When the topic of church membership comes up, he struggles to see why his church membership should be questioned. “Isn’t it only those who disagree or have done something wrong who get dropped from church membership?”
But here’s the thing: if it doesn’t concern you that you haven’t desired to be in church, to receive the sacrament, to hear the absolution, to receive the encouragement of fellowship with other believers, and to want to serve and be served by them, that should be a red flag! John has something to say to you: judgment is imminent!
And because it is, how necessary it is for us to cling to the part of John’s message that came after the word repent. He promised, “the kingdom of heaven has come near” (v.3). What is the kingdom of heaven? When Scripture uses the term “kingdom,” it is not a reference to a physical location, with borders that can be drawn on a map. It is instead referring to the unique activity of the gospel as God’s Word rules in people’s hearts, bringing them to faith and sustaining and strengthening them in the faith. It’s the work of grace changing and transforming us from the inside out. It’s the peace of forgiveness that softens our hearts and equips us with patient compassion toward others. It’s the joy of salvation shaping our speech and aligning our attitudes more and more with Jesus. All of that, and so much more is included in Christ’s kingdom work.
And take note, for even in his own lifetime, John pointed out that the kingdom “has come near.” To put the word “near” into proper perspective, look who John quotes immediately following – the prophet Isaiah, who was preaching the same message as John, but 700 years earlier than John. Yes, “near” had finally arrived. Not only had God’s people been waiting those 700 years since Isaiah, but also for the centuries that were stacked up long before Isaiah even came along!
Yes, “near” was imminent. Jesus had arrived on the scene, born some thirty years ago by the time John the Baptist started proclaiming. Now, through his own public ministry, Jesus was going to continue carrying out and completing the saving work he came to do. That would ensure that his kingdom would be established and continue to grow and be strengthened through the work of the gospel – even to this day. John was the one preparing the way for him. And, if he was near then to carry out that work, then his return to judge on the last day was also that much nearer!
What was true of John’s day is even more true in ours: Jesus’ return is even nearer. Remember Paul’s encouragement from Philippians in recent weeks? “The Lord is near!” Rejoice! Always (cf. Philippians 4). It’s still true, isn’t it?
John’s warnings are not worrisome for repentant sinners who know that Jesus’ righteous blood solidifies our status as saints. We don’t have to fabricate our past or falsify our biography to somehow pretend we can fool the righteous Judge, Jesus. We come clean to him in confession, confident of his unconditional grace, and absolutely assured of the joy that accompanies Jesus’ judgment: not guilty.
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