Matthew 3:1, 8,9
NCV: v1. About that time John the Baptist began preaching in the desert area of Judea. v8. Do the things that show you really have changed your hearts and lives. v9. And don’t think you can say to yourselves, ‘Abraham is our father.’ I tell you that God could make children for Abraham from these rocks.
Matt. 3:9 AMP: And do not presume to say to yourselves, We have Abraham for our forefather; for I tell you God is able to raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones!
John the Baptist began his ministry as ‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness’ and he was bringing attention to the people to get ready for the Messiah to come. He was quoting from Isaiah, the prophet prophesied about him. This brought attention to many of the Pharisees and Sadducees and other religious leaders who came to hear him preach. As they were listening to John the Baptist’s preaching about ‘bring forth fruits meet for repentance,’ they thought to themselves and said, ‘We are descendants of Abraham. We are important people. We do not need to repent and be water baptized. We just came to find out if he is the Messiah and would help Israel to rule the nations and force all people to obey God’s law. We have the law of Moses as well.’
John the Baptist, the prophet had an insight of their thoughts. God opened his spiritual eyes and John the Baptist read their thoughts. He rebuked them for thinking that just because they were from ‘Abraham’s descendants, they did not need to repent or change their lives.’ Do you ever wonder what John the Baptist meant when he quoted, “God is able to raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones?” This was really an insult to the religious leaders. It meant that God can turn the stones which are nothing to become people and to say they were from Abraham. Their being so religious that kept them from repentance do not save them from the ‘wrath of God.’ John the Baptist warned them that if they do not repent and show forth good fruit, they would be cut down and cast into hell. This is an ‘ouch, ouch’!
John the Baptist as a prophet had an insight of their thoughts and nothing was hidden from God. This story reminds us that our hidden thoughts are open to God and let us repent whatever our thoughts may not be pleasing to God. My favorite verse from the Bible: James 4:10 “Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He shall lift you up.” Holy Spirit often reminds me of James 4:10 to correct my secret thoughts and keep me from judging others. Keep yourself humble before the Lord even if others have wrong you or hurt you. The Lord will bless you and He will lift you up into His presence of joy.
