John’s Message

John’s Message, Matthew 3:7-10; Luke 3:7-14

Matthew 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; 9 and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. 10 The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Luke 3:7 So he began saying to the crowds who were going out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say [a]to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. 9 Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” 10 And the crowds were questioning him, saying, “Then what shall we do?” 11 And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.” 12 And some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “[b]Collect no more than what you have been ordered to.” 14 Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, “And what about us, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.”

Footnotes:

 

• Luke 3:8 Or in

 

• Luke 3:13 Or Exact

 

 

Commentary

At the beginning of the passage in Matthew, we see a reference to the Pharisees and Sadducees. Of note, the Pharisees and Sadducees were both religious and political groups, who were in opposition to each other, based on their differing beliefs. However, they are often portrayed as united in their opposition to the messianic ministry, in part, I assume, because both John and Jesus tend to group them together when condemning their religious piety and superiority, and also because both groups had a lot to lose if their position were compromised by the revelation of the Messiah. The Pharisees and Sadducees were present because of the overwhelming early success of John’s ministry (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1168), and the passage tells us they were not only there to observe and critique, but were seeking to be baptized. John speaks boldly, but he uses some puzzling metaphors to illustrate his point. This can make his message challenging to decipher today; although one can probably surmise that calling the assembly a “brood of vipers” was not a compliment. His aggressive style is, in fact, one of the ways his life and ministry recall the prophet Elijah.

Why would he call them a brood of vipers? A brood implies the group of offspring from a hatch or delivery. Later in the NT, Jesus uses the phrase “brood of vipers”, as well as “generation of vipers”, which would also imply the hatchlings, or next generation, of snakes. There are four references to vipers in the OT (Job 20:16; Ps 140:3; Isa 30:6; Isa 59:5), and many of them refer to the tongue, or speech. Of the five viper references in the NT, John’s is the first, and all but one are used as a remonstration of a group of people. The fifth reference, in Acts, is a literal reference when Paul is bitten by a snake (The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible Vol 5, pg. 885). This literal reference, in fact, gives us some insight into the prevailing perceptions about vipers, since the snake that bit Paul was hiding in the firewood and slithered out because of the heat of the fire. Vipers were not only known to be deadly, but were believed to be devious, hiding in wait for victims. They were also recognized as part of the species of animal condemned to crawl on its belly for its role in devising the fall of man in Genesis. By calling these men the children of vipers, John may even have implied they were offspring of the devil, which Jesus later blatantly states in John 8:44. To be clear, this was an insult of the highest order. He follows by asking, “who warned you to flee”, which is likely another reference to the fire that would consume them. It was a well-known phenomenon that farmers would burn old crops, in preparation for new planting, and that this would cause dens of snakes to flee their homes as the fire came closer. Their attempts at salvation, however, were often too little too late, and they would perish (https://www.gotquestions.org/brood-of-vipers.html).

John calls out the prevalent belief in “nationalistic salvation” in an almost mocking way, telling them God could make sons of Abraham out of anything He wants, even the worthless stones, so the Pharisees have nothing to be proud of. His focus on repentance, as we studied before, centers on the concept of turning from sin, rather than a simple remorse. His allusion to “fruit”, therefore, implies evidence of a repentant lifestyle, which John apparently did not see in their behavior or attitudes. Back to nationalistic salvation, John goes on to say that the ax is laid at the root of the trees, which is a reference to coming judgment against the nation of Israel (see God’s chosen tree Romans 11). Not only will their nationality not save them if they do not succeed in bearing fruit, but they will soon be burned in the fire (Nelson KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1168).

The other groups recorded in John’s audience were the multitude, the tax collectors, and the soldiers, all of whom he instructs based on their position. The soldiers, in particular, receive multiple instructions from John, regarding many aspects of their position of power. This is still relevant today for those in positions of power, who are tempted to abuse their rank. The practices of intimidation, false accusation, and discontent are often the natural yield of unchecked power, and we would do well to recognize our human inclination toward these sinful behaviors, if we are to avoid them (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1771).

See the next post here https://onthepath.online/2019/05/01/20-jesus-baptized-john-testifies/

Scripture References

Mt 16:1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and testing Jesus, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 But He replied to them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 3 And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times?

Mt 23:13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.

Mt 23:15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

Mt 22:23 On that day some Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection) came to Jesus and questioned Him,

Ac 4:1 As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them,

Ac 5:17 But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy.

Ac 23:6-8 But perceiving that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began crying out in the Council, “Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!” 7 As he said this, there occurred a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

Mt 12:34 You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.

Mt 23:33 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?

1 Th 1:10 and to wait for His Son from [a]heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.

Lk 3:8 Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.

Eph 5:8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),

Ac 26:20 but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.

Lk 16:24 And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’

Jn 8:33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?”

Jn 8:39 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus *said to them, “If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham.

Jn 8:53 Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too; whom do You make Yourself out to be?”

Ac 13:26 “Brethren, sons of Abraham’s family, and those among you who fear God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent.

Ro 4:1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?

Ro 9:7 nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “through Isaac your descendants will be named.” 8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.

Gal 3:29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.

Lk 3:9 Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Ps 92:12 The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 Planted in the house of the Lord, They will flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They will still yield fruit in old age; They shall be full of sap and very green,

Mt 7:19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Jn 15:2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.

Mt 12:34 You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.

Mt 23:33 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?

Lk 5:21 The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?”

Lk 13:25 Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up to us!’ then He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets’;

Lk 14:9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then in disgrace you proceed to occupy the last place.

Lk 13:6 And He began telling this parable: “A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. 7 And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’ 8 And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; 9 and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’”

Lk 3:12 And some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”

Lk 3:14 Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, “And what about us, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.”

Ac 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Is 58:7 “Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry And bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the naked, to cover him; And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

1 Ti 6:17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,

James 2:14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. 18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?

Lk 7:29 When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they acknowledged God’s justice, having been baptized with the baptism of John.

Ex 20:16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Ex 23:1 “You shall not bear a false report; do not join your hand with a wicked man to be a malicious witness.

Php 4:11 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

Job 20:16 “He sucks the poison of cobras; The viper’s tongue slays him.

Ps 140:3 They sharpen their tongues as a serpent; Poison of a viper is under their lips. Selah.

Isa 30:6 The oracle concerning the beasts of the Negev. Through a land of distress and anguish, From where come lioness and lion, viper and flying serpent, They carry their riches on the backs of young donkeys And their treasures on camels’ humps, To a people who cannot profit them;

Isa 59:5 They hatch adders’ eggs and weave the spider’s web; He who eats of their eggs dies, And from that which is crushed a snake breaks forth.

Acts 28:3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand.

John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.