Matthew 3:7-10, Luke 3:7-14 (John's preaching of repentance), (John replies to questioners)

Rachel Workman:

Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee God’s coming wrath? 8 Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. 9 Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. This verse tells me that John knew the very nature of God. And he knew exactly what God was capable of. 10 Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire. This is one of those scary verses. God's judgment is poised and ready to sever the roots of the trees. What trees? The tress that don't produce good fruit. Do I produce good fruit? Some days it doesn't feel like it. God's word says we will be known by our fruit. And here is says God judgment is upon those that don't produce good fruit. I need to put a lot more effort into the fruit I'm producing.		7 When the crowds came to John for baptism, he said, “You brood of snakes! Who warned you to flee God’s coming wrath? 8 Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. 9 Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.” (John replies to Questioners) 10 The crowds asked, “What should we do?” 11 John replied, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.” 12 Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13 He replied, “Collect no more taxes than the government requires.” 14 “What should we do?” asked some soldiers. John replied, “Don’t extort money or make false accusations. And be content with your pay.” John's theme here is to do the right thing. It's not hard. Make a choice to do what is right in God's eyes and do it. I know there are plenty of times that I had the opportunity to do the right thing and did not. There is also an equal amount of times that I did choose to do the right thing. The more Christ is in me the less I have the ability to do what is wrong.

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John Burnett:  Matthew 3:7-10

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?  That sure does sound judgmental of John and who is John to judge the Pharisees and Sadducees.  It is not coincidence that John calls them vipers.  The one they were following was fond of snakes. 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.  This is proof that not all Jews will be saved.   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 3:7-14

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?  This version sounds much more controversial and the context shows makes it seem as though he is addressing everyone there instead of just the Pharisees and Sadducees 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?”   …to bear good fruit in keeping with repentance.  Again repentance is the key here, Satan believes that Jesus died on the cross and was raised from the dead, but he will not repent and will cut down and thrown into the lake of fire.  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.”