John calls for repentance - Matthew 3:1-12, Luke 3:1-19

This week's theme is Repentance, Temptation, and the Call to Discipleship. The readings will take us through Matthew 3:1-4:22, but also include a lot of selections from all over the rest of the Bible.

The Matthew passage today is repeated from last week. That's okay. Just go with it.

(Mark 1:2-8)

Luke 3:1-19 (NIV)

1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— 2 during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.
5 Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
the rough ways smooth.
6 And all people will see God’s salvation.’”

7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

10 “What should we do then?” the crowd asked.

11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”

12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.

14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”

He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”

15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.

19 But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done,

Matthew 3:1-12

1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”

4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

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Before you read, ask God to speak to you through his Word, and help you understand it and know him better.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What does this passage tell me about Jesus?

2. How is Holy Spirit encouraging me?

3. How is Holy Spirit convicting me?

4. How can I as an individual and we as the church live this out?

5. What questions do I have about this passage?

In a journal, write the date, the passages you read, and then write a sentence or two at least about the text, your thoughts from the questions above, or a prayer.

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My notes:

It's challenging to me that John did not answer the tax collectors and soldiers that they should simply quit being tax collectors and soldiers. Instead he challenged them as to what kind of tax collector or soldier they'd be. Even within their oppressive and corrupt systems, John told them that they could still repent and act righteously.

The circumstances of corruption and oppression and worldly cultural influence surrounding us may not be easily changed overnight. But whether or not they are, the call for PERSONAL repentance remains.

It's a hard road, because it means that we have no excuse not to live righteously. The tradesman can't excuse his sexist speech by complaining that everyone else in the shop talks that way. The politician cannot lie, cheat, or act in self interest, even if it's not pragmatic to do otherwise. We're called to live contrary to the culture surrounding us, even if it means being expelled from it.

It's quite radical as well. If you can imagine, of all the tax collectors in the city, there's this one that is charging half of what everyone else does. Suddenly everyone else is exposed, and the corruption in the system is laid bare.

Imagine how it could affect the provincial government if just one outspoken dude in the lej just started refusing to ever lie, and be completely honest in how he represents the people.

Or one dude in a shop who simply will not participate in mysoginist speech, and instead starts reminding his coworkers of how they love their wives and daughters by how he honours them when he speaks of his own.

Or a soldier who won't murder people.

Awkward. Or maybe strangely affecting.

Or maybe risky business with great consequences. John was arrested, after all.

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The greater truth here is not the practical consequences of John's call. His claim is that he is speaking the very words of God.

"Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near." he says.

He speaks of a consequence of "wrath" and "unquenchable fire" for those who do not obey his warning.

But for those who do, like one tax collector who suddenly starts living honestly, even if he's the only one, they'll begin to see the first little sprouts of the Kingdom poking through the soil of whatever culture they find theselves in. The Kingdom of Heaven is expressing itself through them.

Our lives of love and sacrifice will call out,

"This is what the Kingdom of Heaven looks like! Prepare the way of the Lord!".