Fruit Worthy of Repentance

Reading: Matt. 3:7-10

"But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, 'Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance... and even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.'" Matt 3:7-10

These men were the religious leaders of the day, the most knowledgeable about the scriptures among the people. Why did John use such strong words against them? What was their sin? What did Jesus have to say about them?

"... a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! 

How can you, being evil, speak good things? 

For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart 
brings forth good things, 

and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things."
Matt. 12:33-37 NKJ

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! 
For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, 
and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: 
justice and mercy and faith."
Matt. 23:23 NKJ

Being students of the scriptures, they would have known the following two OT verses:

"He has shown you, O man, 

what is good and what does the Lord require of you... 

but to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God?"
Micah 6:8

"For I desire mercy and not sacrifice,
and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings."
Hosea 6:6

They looked impressive in their fine clothes, but the question is what was in their hearts? Jesus had a way of cutting through the external and going directly to the central issue of what was in their hearts. Did they even know God, His Nature and heart as a Father? (Ex 34:6) Some how they arrogantly sought to produce the appearance of righteousness by following every little part of the law and in so doing forgot the most important part... to humbly love God and love people. Jesus calls us to a simple life of faith, not following an infinite number of laws. One of them asked Him,

"'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?' 

Jesus said to him, 

'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, 

with all your soul, and with all your mind. 

This is the first and the great commandment. 

And the second is like it: 
You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 

On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.'" 

Matt. 22:34-40 NKJ

What would fruit worthy of repentance look like?

Paul said to the Ephesian Church:

"Therefore I,, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, 

for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. 

Be patient with each other, making allowances for each other's faults because of your love. 

Make every effort to keep yourselves united together in the Spirit, 

binding yourselves together with peace." 

Ephesians 4:1-3 NLT

Also see "A Beautiful, Honest Heart:"  "Fruit of a Beautiful, Honest Heart" How do we bear worthy fruit? See John 15:1-8

What fruit is the church in our country bearing? Are we salt and light? Why has our nation devolved into such spiritual darkness? What is our place in reaching our nation? (2 Chron 7:14, Dan 9) And how do we find the balance of love and mercy, yet at the same time speak of the repentance that is the first entry point into the kingdom of heaven and is the transformation out of bondage of sin that creates so much human misery?