Matthew 3:7–8: “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, ‘Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance.'”

January 1st, 2022 by Pastor Ed in devotional

Two groups of very religious people came to listen to John the Baptist preach. The Pharisees were the legalists who prided themselves on keeping the smallest detail of the law, all the while missing the greater reason for it. The Sadducees were the materialists who thought themselves very religious, but in reality did not believe any of the supernatural events recorded in Scripture.

The old illustration of the man who fell into a pit and couldn’t get out is helpful in distinguishing between the various belief systems. A Pharisee walked by the man in the pit and said: “Only bad people fall into a pit. You deserve it.” Confucius walked by and said, “If you had listened to me, you would not be in that pit.” Buddha walked by and said, “Your pit is only a state of mind.” But Jesus, seeing the man, took him by the hand and lifted him out of the pit.

John the Baptist shouted a challenge to these approaching religious snobs to “bear fruits worthy of repentance.” What are the fruits of repentance? John actually gives 4 in this chapter. True repentance 1) does not rely on family history, 2) is aware of the seriousness of sins, 3) leads to a changed life, and 4) depends on the One who is “mightier than I” (Matt. 3:11).

“Lord, we don’t want to be a Pharisee or a Sadducee. We remember that You have died for our sins so we confess and turn from our sins now, confessing our utter dependence on You.”