Advent 2A - Additional Thoughts - Fruits of Repentance

Matthew 3:1-12

3:1 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming,

3:2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."

3:3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'"

3:4 Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

3:5 Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan,

3:6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

3:7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

3:8 Bear fruit worthy of repentance.

3:9 Do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

3:10 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

3:11 "I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

3:12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

One of the primary challenges with this text is that John's outburst in verses 7-12 is directed at the religious elite. The text doesn't side with the religious leaders, but sides with the laypeople and speaks out against the religious leaders. It would be a mistake to polarize the text to speak against the layperson, without first applying it to our religious leaders, teachers, and preachers.

At the same time, we must recognize that there are those in our congregations who are pleased to be considered 'sons of Abraham.' Part of the message here is that geneology, church membership, or social status are not the fruits needed to enter the Kingdom of God. Our fruit must be the sort of fruits of repentance--a changed mind or changed behavior.

I'm once again drawn back to our study on the book of James, in which I stated that "authentic saving faith is an integrated faith which informs and impacts every aspect of our lives." In other words, true faith changes us. John's message seems similar here--it's not about being dunked in the water, but receiving the sort of Baptism which changes us from the inside out.