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Matthew 3-4


Were you surprised by John the Baptist calling the Pharisees and Sadducees a brood of vipers? In today’s vernacular you might say he called them a bunch of scumbags. These religious leaders had the power to make trouble for John, but he didn’t hold back. John was the forerunner of the Messiah and he didn’t compromise on the message that people needed to hear…that they needed to repent for the kingdom of heaven was near.

John knew the Pharisees and Sadducees were strict about keeping the law of Moses and observing their traditions. He also knew they were hypocrites who hadn’t come with repentance in their hearts. John boldly threw in their faces that he wouldn’t baptize them.

Additionally, he let them know it wouldn’t do them any good to claim their relationship with Abraham to save them from the coming judgement. Salvation is not given as a birthright to anyone, not even the Jews who are God’s chosen people.

Salvation comes only through faith in God’s son, Jesus Christ, who died to take the punishment for our sins on himself. Romans 6:23 tells us, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  This message is just as true today as it was when John preached in the Desert of Judea calling people to repentance and baptizing them.

Please God, may we have John’s boldness to share the message of salvation with all who will listen.
~Elsie Shepherd

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