Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance … Matthew 3:8, TLV
Ouch! You have to admire John the Immerser [a.k.a Baptist]. He never pulled any punches. Yet, this tiny clause of his comment to the Pharisees and Sadducees is filled with hope.
But when he [John] saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his immersion, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? (vs. 7, TLV)
That’s quite the greeting. But John had a lot of discernment. He could spot a phony from mid-river to shore. Might it be because he didn’t care about anything except serving the GOD of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? He certainly didn’t care about his appearance or what he ate or where he lived. It would seem the removal of those cares made it easier to hear GOD.
Perhaps today’s verse demonstrated a bit of John’s compassion. Calling the Pharisees and Sadducees a brood of vipers probably set a confrontational mood — he was a bit snarky. Still, he was warning them.
What did John mean that they — or anyone, for that matter — should produce fruit worthy of repentance? I believe he was saying that if anyone truly repented and was subsequently forgiven by the Creator of the Universe, the fruits of gratitude, compassion, grace, and mercy would show. Instead, many of the ruling class — not all — were proud and hypervigilant that everyone followed Torah, then the extra laws they created to be sure the people wouldn’t disobey the Torah. If they were the only purveyors of the Torah and not effected by the spirit of the Law which was a relationship with our Heavenly Father, then they would have no fruit.
So, what does that mean to us today? It means if we are not bearing the fruit that comes from true repentance, then we should step back and seek the Holy Spirit — get right with GOD immediately. Yesterday, there was a meme of a finger pointing. The moment we physically, verbally, or emotionally point fingers at others, we make it very difficult for someone to turn to the LORD and bear evidence that something is off, spiritually.
When they kept asking Him, He stood up and said, “The sinless one among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:7, TLV
This doesn’t mean we overlook or condone sin. Not at all. To be convicted by the Holy Spirit of our sin, is to humble us to repentance. Then, wonder of wonders our Heavenly Father forgives and restores us. How can we not bear fruit of gratitude, love, compassion, grace, and mercy if we truly accept His forgiveness?
John’s personality was a bit rough around the edges, but he knew who he was and what GOD had called him for. We are followers of our Father’s Son, Yeshua [Jesus]. His touch was a bit softer, except when it came to the proud. Then He gave old John a run for his money.
Do we struggle with condemning and judging others without the fruit of repentance? If so, then seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance in GOD’s word. All we need to find our way back on the path of righteousness is there. Then we can produce that delicious fruit of repentance.
