Worthy
Does one need to be worthy of repentance?
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'" Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor' for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. "I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." - Matt. 3:1-12
John gets annoyed with the Pharisees and Sadducees for coming to him, telling them they need to bear fruit worthy of repentance.
Doesn't Jesus teach that all are worthy of repentance? Isn't it that we are all sinners, and we can all come to be forgiven?
So, John singles these religious leaders out, knowing they are not coming to repent.
Still, it sounds like unless they bear the right fruits, they cannot be worthy.
Jesus touches on this when he talks about causing people to stumble. This is what he accused the religious leaders of. They were not just breaking the laws of Moses by ignoring the needs of the poor, they were leading people astray.
So, where are we today?
Are our religious leaders guiding us along the way? Or are they leading us astray?
Jesus calls us sheep, relying on our shepherd's voice to guide us. But we might want to help ourselves along as well.
As we mature in our faith, as Paul tells us we have, we should be able to tell right from wrong, good from evil, and know when we are leading others away from the truth.
Our job is to do what Jesus said. Use our ears to listen and our eyes to see. Wisdom comes from growing closer to God.
That's what the Pharisees and Sadducees failed to help people do.
More to come...