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Matthew 3:9
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7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, a“Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from bthe wrath to come?  
8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,
9 and do not think to say to yourselves, a‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.  
10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. aTherefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  
11 aI indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. bHe will baptize you with the Holy Spirit1 and fire.  
12 aHis winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will bburn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”  

John Baptizes Jesus

13 aThen Jesus came bfrom Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.  
14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”
Commentaries:
Forerunner Commentary
What is the Forerunner Commentary?
<< Matthew 3:8   Matthew 3:10 >>

What Does Matthew 3:9 Mean?



Matthew 3:7-10

Notice that his scathing attack is against both the Pharisees and Sadducees: The Pharisees had public power because they tended to be successful people in private life. In spite of this, they also had the admiration of the people. The Sadducees were largely from the priesthood and thus controlled the Temple. Consequently, they pretty much controlled the religious life of the people. Yet, because they also tended to be wealthy but haughty in disposition, the feelings of the people were prejudiced against them.

John courageously confronts the establishment's leadership. His was an unpopular message of judgment aimed directly at the powerful, and they did not take kindly to what he said. "And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him" (Luke 7:29-30).

Matthew 21:32 confirms John's rejection when Jesus speaks to the chief priests and elders at the Temple: "For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him." The powerful knew John was speaking about them, so in disdainful anger, they rejected him, while the publicans and harlots accepted his teaching.

John W. Ritenbaugh
Elijah and John the Baptist

Related Topics: John the Baptist | Leadership | Leadership, God's Pattern of | Leaven of the Pharisees | Leaven of the Sadducees | Pharisees | Sadducees




Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Matthew 3:9:

Matthew 13:24-30
Matthew 13:33
Romans 9:7
Galatians 3:7
Hebrews 6:19-20


 
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