Matthew 3:7-10, Luke 3:7-14
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Matthew 3:7-10
7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 9 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10 And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” 11 And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”
Luke 3:7-14
As recorded by Matthew and Luke, John’s early ministry forced the religious mind to think. Apparent to Jewish religious elites, military solders, tax collectors, and the general public was something new. The old system of thinking and perceived security is now being called into question by John through our text reading today. I have always been thankful I was not alive during this period of time. Had I been alive during the first century I would like to think I would have been sincere in my faith, strove to obey the law, the commands, and the sacrificial system. I imagine how my perceivable view of the world would have being heavily disrupted by a charismatic wild man, known and John the Baptist, and then a completely unconventional Rabbi named Jesus. How would I think, what would I do?
As I write this so many things are occurring in our world in the name of ethical right and wrong. Similar to John’s day numerous issue of a changes in world are occurring that only a few years ago would not have even been questioned.
How is the faithful, logical, sincere person to think? My simple answer to this question is simply this, we are to think with God in His Word.
Apparent from yesterday’s reading is something we need to see. John did not come preaching a new Gospel but one that had been at work since man’s beginning. John is the last in a long line of forerunners prior to Jesus. His preaching from the book of Isaiah is in no way rewriting history but supporting it’s progression.
How then is the faithful, logical, and sincere person to think about the ongoing “moral revolution” in the United States and the current “Equality Act” bill the House of Representatives recently voted in favor of. Similar to John the Baptist’s day events in our modern day are occurring that are in a sense completely rewriting multiple generations of understanding.
As did this first century audience we must ask the question, what is right?
How are we to do this? In the same way this first audience did. Ask questions and seek guidance from God through His Word. As we continue further in our study of the gospels we are going to consider Jesus’ teachings and gain valuable insight into the current moral questions of equality, LGBTQ issues, and the modern mind. Before we address these issues we need to first understand the source of wisdom and the example we have been given to address these issue of world view, the Lord and His Word.
Do you trust God through His Word? Are you willing to seek and accept Him through His Word? The text ahead of us is going to challenge us to great degrees and before progressing in our thinking we first must understand our basis and source of understanding.
Do you trust God through Word? If not then what do you trust?
