After the introduction of John the Baptist, Matthew turns his attention to the opposition, the Pharisees and Sadducees. These were two of the religious/political parties in Israel, and were prominent in the Sanhedrin, the ruling Council of the Jewish people.

First, it’s worth taking a moment to understand just who the Pharisees and Sadducees were. Pharisees were a sect of the Jews founded in the days of Jonathan the high priest, somewhere around 159-144 BC. The word “Pharisee” means “the separate.” Originally, they were patriots and reformers. Pharisees believed in the resurrection of the dead, and in an afterlife that contained rewards and punishments. The believed in angels and spirits. In the days of Herod, there were an estimated number of around 6,000 Pharisees.

By the time of Jesus’ life, they had degenerated into a party of formalists, who paid more attention to outward forms and expressions than to the inner life. They were scrupulous in their observation of religious ceremonies, and were very orthodox. But their weakness was that they were full of spiritual pride.

The Pharisees rival in the Council were the Sadducees. Their name probably comes from their founder, Zadok, who were originally called Zadokites. This word probably eventually transitioned to Sadducees. They denied everything the Pharisees held to: the resurrection, rewards or punishments in the future life, and the reality of angels and spirits. Most Sadducees were wealthy, and they held the high priesthood. With more of a disposition for the pagans nations around Israel, the Sadducees held more favor with Rome. Anything spiritual was simply a facade, because they were filled with unbelief.

To both of these groups, John gives a solid rebuke, calling them a brood of vipers. Like the venomous snake, these two parties were full of evil; they were cunning and poisonous to all those around them. And it is a name they deserved, because it was these two parties that brought about the crucifixion of Jesus. In addition, John’s reference to a viper, or snake, draws the mind naturally to the serpent of Genesis 3.

Jesus made this same connection in John 8:44, when he stated, “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

To these Jewish leaders, John’s rebuke was stinging. “Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” Matthew describes John’s baptism as an opportunity to escape destruction, if approached with the correct mindset. It wasn’t simply an action to take to ward off evil, but was to be a sincere rejection of sin; it was to be done with an attitude of repentance.

The wrath that John refers to in Matthew 3:7 is a judgment that all must face. To the obedient, there is forgiveness; to the disobedient, there is God’s wrath. There was little doubt as to which category John insinuated the Pharisees and Sadducees belonged.

John’s call was a call to repentance, a call to a genuine change. A change of life is the proof of a change of heart. It was not simply enough to be a descendant of Abraham, which was the claim of the Jewish leaders. But John stated that useless lives, like useless trees, would be cut down and burned. However, if the repentance was real, John would offer his baptism, one of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 1:4, Luke 3:3).

Of course, this was just a forerunner of the baptism to come through Jesus. Jesus would bring a baptism of the Holy Spirit and of fire. This was foretold by the prophets, such as in Joel 2:28. And it began to be fulfilled on the day of Pentecost (Acts 1:5; 2:4).

John’s message was clear. Repentance was necessary to avoid the punishment that would come because of sin. Those who refused to repent would be separated like the chaff is separated from wheat. One would be saved, the other would be consumed.

John’s message isn’t very different from that of Jesus, as Matthew will show. Those who repent can be saved, if they put their faith in him. For those who do not, the judgment will not be pleasant.

Which will you choose?

Question: The Pharisees and Sadducees were offended by John’s call to repentance. Not much has changed today. The call to repent is offensive to many. But to those who respond, the gift of eternal life is offered. Which will you choose? You can leave a comment by clicking here.