Matthew 3:7-12
In Matthew Chapter 3, we see John the Baptist coming on the scene and preaching in the wilderness or desert area of Judaea. He preaches, “Repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” We went over that in detail.
This means John the Baptist is preaching to change your mind and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Don’t believe in yourself to get to heaven. Don’t believe in your own good works. Don’t believe in you repenting of your sin. Instead, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
John the Baptist is wearing clothing made of camel’s hair. He is wearing leather around his loins. He is eating locusts and wild honey. Locusts are grasshoppers. He was eating grasshoppers and honey. He was out in the wilderness. He wasn’t a smooth man. He was a rough man. He didn’t wear soft clothing.
Preparing the Way of the Lord Jesus Christ
John the Baptist is the voice of one crying in the wilderness, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”
He’s out there preaching in the wilderness. People are coming from everywhere to hear his preaching.
Matthew 3:5-6
Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, 6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
They would hear his preaching. He was preaching to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus forgives sin. Nothing else. When someone gets baptized in water, they are confessing that they are a sinner.
Now, we started out reading today at verse 7 of Matthew Chapter 3. This is what I want to focus on today.
Matthew 3:7-9
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
The Pharisees and the Sadducees, the religious people who believe themselves to be good, come to where John the Baptist is preaching and baptizing people. People are coming from all over the region round about the Jordan River.
Religious People Think They Are Good
These very religious people who believe that they are good because they supposedly follow all the commandments of God come to John the Baptist. He is filled with the Holy Spirit of God. John the Baptist preaches the truth. We are men and women just as John the Baptist was a man. We follow his example in the Bible. We call ourselves Baptist.
Matthew 11:11
Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Whose the greatest man to ever live besides Jesus Christ? John the Baptist. Jesus was perfect. John the Baptist wasn’t perfect. He was a sinner. But among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist.
Was John the Baptist better than the Pharisees and Saducess that came to hear his preaching? Yes he was. Did John the Baptist have more knowledge and wisdom than the Pharisees, Saducees, and all the other religious people? Yes he did.
Big Titles, Big Heads, High & Lifted Up
You’ll find a lot of people out there who call themselves all kinds of great things. They have great titles. They lift themselves up. They think they are very intelligent. They would look at someone like John the Baptist and think he was absolutely dirt compared to their greatness.
And we see this right here in Matthew Chapter 3. Let’s read it again and pay close attention to what’s happening here.
Matthew 3:7-9
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
John the Baptist knows what the Pharisees and Sadducees believe. He knows that they believe they are God’s people because they physically came from Abraham. They come from the physical line of Abraham so they believe themselves to be God’s people.
He says, “And think not within yourselves, we have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.”
It doesn’t matter who your Dad and Mom is or where you came from physically. Some people might say, “Well my Daddy is Reverend Cobsy. I know I’m going to heaven. We are God’s chosen people. Well, I go to St. Stephens Baptist Church in Louisville. I know I’m going to heaven. I’m good.” That’s what most of those people are like. They believe themselves to be good.
Does Your Church Get You To Heaven?
There are many, many people out there who think that their church is getting them to heaven. They think that they’re good. I’ve been told these things over and over again when out soul winning. “Well, my boyfriend is Catholic. I’m good. I go to that church. I’m good. I went to John MacArthur’s college. I’m good. I went to this Seminary. I’m good.” And so on and on and on.
They are very high and lifted up. It’s the same thing you see here.
For example, you need to stay away from Black Hebrew Israelites. They believe themselves to be the physical descendants of Abraham. And because of that, they believe they are God’s chosen people. Since my skin color is a little lighter, they believe I am of the devil. And they will tell me that. Since their skin color is a little darker, they think they are going to heaven.
Listen, this is real all over this world. People believe themselves to be something better because of their skin color. And that’s complete and utter nonsense. They believe themselves to be the chosen race. I’ve talked to all kinds of people and there’s always a group within that kind of people who believe themselves to be better.
Does Your Skin Color Matter to God?
But here’s the truth, and a quote from a book titled: “Woke Injustice:”
“People will ask, ‘But if there’s just one race then why are people different colors?” The answer: They’re not. All people are basically the same color: brown. They’re just different shades of brown from dark to light. In simplified terms, this shading is mostly based on a brown pigment in human skin called melanin. If you have more melanin, you’re a darker shade of brown. If you have less melanin, you’re a lighter shade of brown. We’re all the same color, just various shades. Our awesome God placed in Adam and Eve all the genetic information necessary to produce all the beautiful variations we see in humanity.”
For example, I’m not white. My skin isn’t white. You know what pure white looks like. Some of you might be called black. But you aren’t black. You know what pure black looks like. We’re all brown, some darker, some lighter.
The Jews in Israel today believe themselves to be God’s chosen people because they came from Abraham. Well, I want to show you a man who physically came from Abraham in the Bible. And let’s see where he went when he died.
Luke 16:19-21
There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
The Rich Man vs. The Poor Man
Look what we have here. We have a rich man clothed in purple and fine linen. He lives every day taking part in expensive things. In today’s world, that might mean he has a driver to drive him around. He has a cook that makes him gourmet meals. He has a maid to clean his home. He might have 10 bathrooms in his home. He’s rich. He fared sumptuously every day.
And then we have a beggar. He was full of sores. He was sick. He desired to just have the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. The dogs came and licked his sores.
In today’s world, what do people do? I’ve seen it all before. I’ve seen this exact thing in the churches. Church people will go out into the world, look at people just like this beggar in this story, and flip their nose up at them.
People in East Louisville will hear that we’re in West Louisville and they will flip their noses up at us. That’s an indication that they believe themselves to be higher and better. Why? Because they have more money. So they look at others and talk trash about them. And I’m sick of it.
I want you to see the Scriptures closely. We see a rich man. And we see a poor man.
Luke 16:22
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
Death Will Come For Every Man
Look, and this will come to pass for every one us, death will come. Will your riches help you when death comes for you? “The beggar died and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom in heaven.” The rich man also died and was buried. Where does the rich man go?
Luke 16:23-24
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
The rich man went to hell. And he was physically from the line of Abraham. He cries out and says, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me!!! Send Lazarus and cool my tongue. For I am tormented in this flame.”
Luke 16:25
But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
This rich man physically came from Abraham. He calls Abraham “Father.” Abraham calls him “Son.” Did that automatically mean he was going to heaven? No. This rich man trusted in his riches. That beggar trusted in Jesus Christ. That’s the difference.
Where you come from physically has nothing to do with you going to heaven. NOTHING. The only difference in people in heaven and hell is that the people in heaven have believed “IN” the Lord Jesus Christ.
Physical Descendants of Abraham are in Hell
The rich man is a specific example of a physical descendant of Abraham going to hell. And that’s not all the proof. We see the greatest man to ever live besides Jesus Christ, telling the Pharisees and Sadducees the exact same thing. These Pharisees and Sadducees are like the rich man.
Jesus says, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” Is every rich man evil? No, but in general, Jesus is saying they are evil. Abraham was rich and he wasn’t evil. Riches can turn you away from God.
Riches don’t get you to heaven. Your skin color doesn’t get you to heaven. Your famiyl doesn’t get yout there. Your Dad doesn’t. Your Mom doesn’t. I’ve had people tell me that their brother is a pastor so they’re good. But they don’t know how to get to heaven. Your brother can’t save you. And this is what John the Baptist is preaching.
Matthew 3:7-9
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
The “Good” People Were Called Vipers By The Greatest Man
“O generation of vipers.” Everyone else thought those people were good. John the Baptist calls them vipers or snakes. Jesus said the same thing to the Pharisees in Matthew Chapter 12 and Matthew Chapter 23.
“O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell.”
John the Baptist knows those people are evil. He says “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.” And don’t forget there’s a colon there. I’ve seen all kinds of pastors attempt to explain this verse differently.
After the colon, you see: “And think not to say within yourselves, we have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” In other words, Abraham isn’t saving you. Abraham isn’t the Savior. There’s another Savior. And it’s not Abraham. There is no other Savior.
Fruits Meet for Repentance? What’s That Mean?
John the Baptist knows that they believe “IN” Abraham and his physical seed.
John the Baptist says to “bring forth fruits meet for repentance.” What comes out of your mouth is the fruit of your lips. These people aren’t going to bring anything good with their speaking. They don’t believe in Jesus Christ. They won’t believe in Jesus Christ.
For example, as the leader of this church, I love the Bible. If you bring something in the Bible to me, I would love to hear it. If you say, “Josh, look at what the Bible says right here. I think God means this or God means that.” I would love to see the Bible. “Yes, please show me.”
But, as we go out soul winning, for example, we go out in an attempt to preach the Gospel just like John the Baptist was preaching the Gospel right there. The religious people show up to John the Baptist. Sometimes we run into the religious people.
A Deacon Says the Bible is Full of Lies?
For example, we were in the area of West Oak Street, Northeast of here, close to Dixie Chicken. I saw an older man sitting out on his front porch. I walk across the street in an attempt to preach the Gospel to him. He ends up telling me he believes osme of the Bible is true and some of it is lies. He then tells me he’s a Deacon at St. Stephen Baptist Church.
The fruit of his lips is telling me that he doesn’t believe in Jesus Christ and he’s never believed in Jesus Christ. I tried some more. I tried for a while as some people will change their mind. But the fruit of his lips continued to mock the word of God.
He’s a religious man who believes he is good. Same day I run into an older man who told me his name was Don sitting outside on the ramp at Saint William Apartments on S 17th Street. He told me he repented of all his sin. But then he told me has a drinking problem. And I said but you repented of all your sin? And he said yes. He told me that’s why he’s saved.
I tried to get more information and explained repentance. And told him that it’s only beleiving in the Lord Jesus Christ that saves him. But the fruit of his lips was not good. He told me that I would never change his mind.
The Fruit of the Lips = What’s Coming Out of Your Mouth
When we go to people, the fruit of their lips will tell us if they are going to repent and believe the Gospel. The fruit of their lips will tell us if they are going to change their mind and believe in Jesus Christ.
“Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.” Bring it out of your mouth. Jesus says later in Matthew, “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”
When we go out and preach the Gospel, we don’t continue if someone mocks Jesus. If someone is bringing forth evil out of their mouth, we don’t continue. For example, if someone doesn’t believe the Bible, we’ll try to convince them that the Bible is true but if they still won’t believe, we move on. Why? Because they aren’t bringing forth fruit meet for repentance.
They aren’t going to change their mind. Just like the man that said, “You aren’t going to change my mind.”
Confess With Thy Mouth the Lord Jesus
Romans 10:9-10
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
John the Baptist knew the Pharisees and Sadducees weren’t going to believe. They weren’t going to confess with their mouth the Lord Jesus. That is what the Bible means when John the Baptist said, “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.”
When you change your mind, you say it. When we preach the Gospel, we ask questions. And you answer with your mouth. The fruit of your mouth. Is it good? Are you believing? Or is it bad, and you aren’t believing?
Fruits meet for repentance are coming out of your mouth. The humble person who isn’t saved will tell you they don’t know how to get to heaven. The prideful person who isn’t saved will tell you that they are good enough to get to heaven.
The religious people in churches who know it all are blinded, high, lifted up, and they do not bring forth fruits from their mouth that are worthy for repentance or a change of mind.
Now, you should be able to answer anyone on what it means to bring forth fruits meet for repentance.
Let’s pray.
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