A teenager walked into the local Catholic church and sat down in the confessional booth. He wanted to talk about how strict his mother had been with discipline, as he was seeking a sympathetic ear. The session began with the priest asking, “What would you like to confess, my son?” The young man opened by saying, “My mom is a strict believer in baptism by fire!” Well, thinking that the youth was requesting to be baptized, the priest replied, “My son, you have to use water for that.” I know; that was lame; but it was the best joke I could find to start off our message!
“Baptism by fire” is an expression meant to convey undergoing something for the very first time and finding it to be overwhelming. We may learn a lot, but it is very difficult.(1) This phrase is derived from a passage that we are going to be looking at this morning. Fire is a fierce, frightening force in the world, and we do not usually associate it with Jesus;(2) but today, we are going to learn how Jesus came into the world bringing with Him what John the Baptist calls an “unquenchable fire” (v. 12). So, what is this all about? Well, let us get started as we stand in honor of the reading of God’s Word.
Warning to the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 3:7-12)
7 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? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Beginning in verse 7, we see how the Pharisees and Sadducees showed up where John the Baptist was baptizing people, and how he laid into them as being a “brood of vipers.” If you have ever watched “The Visual Bible” or “The Chosen” on television, then these programs bring to light something I think we often overlook; and that is the fact that the Pharisees and Sadducees were always snooping around where God was at work and being jealous and critical of His servants. You even see this in the way they followed Jesus around!
So, what do we know about the Pharisees? “Some derive this word from pharatz, to ‘divide’ [and] to ‘make a breach’ . . . The Pharisees, who separated themselves from the people as righteous persons, were called ‘divisi, [or] the divided’ . . . [The church father] Origen says, ‘The Pharisees, according to their name, were certain divided and seditious persons’.”(3) The Pharisees were strict observers of the traditions of the elders. They believed in the resurrection of the dead, and that there were angels and spirits – in which they differed from the Sadducees. They were rigid defenders of the doctrine of rewards and punishments in a future state, which the Sadducees denied.(4)
So, what do we know about the Sadducees? Well, we can surmise that they were depressed, for “they were sad, you see.” No . . . That is a joke! The Sadducees derive their name “from Sadok or Saduk, a disciple of Antigonus, a man of Socho.”(5) “These men held the Scriptures only, rejecting the traditions of the elders . . . They affirmed that there is no resurrection of the dead; that the soul dies with the body; that there is no future state after this life, and that there are neither angels nor spirits.”(6) This is confirmed by Acts 23:8, which says, “For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection – and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.”
John called the Pharisees and Sadducees a “brood of vipers.” “The viper . . . is full of poison; it looks harmless and innocent . . . [with] its teeth being hidden, but [it] is a most deadly and [harmful] creature. So, these men, though they [pretended to be religious and holy] were full of the deadly poison of hypocrisy [and] malice,”(7) and they were always slithering about, looking to ensnare someone in their trap.
When John said, “Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” (v. 7), he implied that “they were like snakes fleeing for their lives from a desert fire.”(8) You see, John knew the desert. The desert had in places thin, short, dried-up grass, which was brittle for lack of moisture. Sometimes a desert fire would break out; and when that happened, the fire swept like a river of flame across the grass, as it was so dry. And in front of the fire there would come scurrying the snakes and other living creatures who found their shelter in the grass. They were driven from their lairs by this river of flame and they ran for their lives.(9)
“The wrath to come” (v. 7) speaks of judgement, and John the Baptist implied that these religious snakes were fleeing from judgement by fire. One commentary tells us that it does not mean hell fire, but calamity and destruction in this present life; the wrath, which would come upon that nation for rejecting the Messiah.(10) Whether the Pharisees and Sadducees were fleeing judgement, we do not know; or whether they were seeking to repent and be baptized, we do not know this either. But there is a point being made about repentance that we cannot miss. John was inferring that fear and not true repentance was their only motive in showing up. Perhaps it was judgement they feared; but most likely, they feared losing their popularity and following.
Fear might lead to a profession of faith, in order to get our fire insurance, but without true repentance we will fall back into our former life of sin. In verse 8, John told them, “Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance.” If we are un-repentant, perhaps having made a profession of faith out of fear, then we will bring forth bad fruits. We will continue living in sin and become a bad witness for Christ. But if we have truly repented, then we will bring forth fruits worthy of repentance; those that demonstrate our repentance. This will be good fruits that identify us as true followers of Jesus.
The Pharisees and Sadducees did not care about repentance. They did not feel that repentance was necessary in order to escape God’s fiery judgement. They, “along with other Jews, believed that Abraham’s righteousness was enough to save them from judgement, [both here and] in the life to come.”(11) They also believed that keeping the commandments and the law would save them. “But John the Baptist insisted that they could take no refuge in the fact that Abraham was their ancestor. [Salvation] would be on an individual basis.”(12) John knew what they were thinking. He knew the prevailing opinion they had given into, and that is why he said in verse 9, “Do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’.”
Being born Jewish or having rigorously studied the Jewish law “would [hold] no weight with [John], nor give them any right to the ordinance he administered. Hence . . . it is not a person’s being born of believing parents that can entitle him to water baptism; or be a reason why it ought to be administered to him”(13) – just as being born into a Christian home, attending church throughout one’s childhood, and doing good works cannot earn a person salvation and eternal life. We read in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (see Titus 3:5).
John’s reply to “Abraham can save us!” was to declare, “For I say to you” – “I assure you of it; you may depend on it as a certain truth”(14) – “that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones” (v. 9). Now, some understand the phrase “these stones” as being a reference to the Gentiles, who were comparable to stones, both for the hardness of their hearts, and their idolatry in worshipping rocks and stones; of whom God was able to raise up spiritual seed to Abraham (Galatians 3:28; 1 Peter 2:5).(15)
Now, even though the phrase “these stones” could refer to the Gentiles, it is suggested that this phrase should be taken literally; that John probably pointed to some rocks lying around where he was baptizing.(16) In the book of Luke, we read that when the Pharisees told Jesus to silence His disciples for worshipping Him as Lord, that “He answered and said to them, ‘I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out’” (Luke 19:39-40). You see, God would rather have genuine praise from lifeless stones, then lifeless praise from stone-cold hearts (Hosea 6:6; Amos 5:22-23).
The Pharisees and Sadducees were dead inside and rotten to the core. They knew nothing of repentance. They were depending on their heritage and their works to save them; and the same can be said of modern-day church-goers who believe that being raised in church, attending church regularly, and doing good works in the community will save them. They are like lifeless rocks and dead on the inside, as they have never had a genuine encounter with the Lord resulting in true repentance. Jesus once said that not everyone who calls Him Lord or who does good works will enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 7:21-23).
So, the Pharisees and Sadducees were rotten to the core and so was the nation; and as a result, they would be cut down. Ed was telling me recently how he cut down some apple trees in his yard. He took a chainsaw to them because they were rotten. They were still standing, but they posed a risk of falling and hurting both people and property. The Pharisees and Sadducees were harming people with their venomous judgmentalism and toxic faith. We read in verse 10 that “even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” John was referring to how “at the end of the season the keeper of the vineyards and the fig trees would look at his vines and his trees; and those which were fruitless and useless would be rooted out, [as] they only cumbered the ground.”(17)
The axe of God’s judgment and vengeance is what is pictured here.(18) It will be laid “to the root of all their privileges, [both] civil and ecclesiastical.”(19) “The Romans, who were already among them and over them, would very quickly . . . cut them off root and branch; and utterly destroy their temple, [their] city and [their] nation; and this ruin and destruction was levelled not at a single tree, a single person, or [a single] family only . . . but at the root of the trees [plural]: of all the trees of the whole body of the people; [because] the covenant which was made with them all . . . which was their hedge and [protection, had been broken].”(20)
In verse 11, John told them, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance.” “Not that John baptized them, in order to bring them to repentance . . . but that he had baptized them upon the foot of their repentance . . . thus: ‘I baptize you upon the profession of repentance which [you] make’.”(21) Repentance results in God’s forgiveness and salvation. But what we need to understand is that baptism does not “come before” repentance, it does not “make us” repent, and it is not “a substitute” for repentance. Repentance enters our heart when we realize how God loves us even while we are yet sinners (Romans 5:8).
In Romans 2:4, we read that when we come to understand “the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering . . . that the goodness of God [will lead us] to repentance” – and in realizing God’s goodness, we will be humbled and experience genuine sorrow on account of our sins. 2 Corinthians 7:10 says, “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation.” But as John emphasized, repentance must occur before baptism; and repentance must be accompanied by a profession of faith in Christ. We read in Acts 19:4 that “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe . . . on Christ Jesus.”
John proceeds to preach about Jesus, as he declares, “He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry” (v. 11). John describes carrying the shoes of a master, which was a task reserved only for a Hebrew servant; and yet, John felt too unworthy to perform it.(22) This “shows the great humility of John.”(23) It takes humility to acknowledge Jesus as Lord; and if He is Lord, then we are His servants – humble servants.
It also takes humility to repent. James declared, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble . . . Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts . . . Lament and mourn and weep! . . . Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:6-10). Peter, echoing James, said, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5) – saving grace, that is; His amazing grace that saved a wretch like me.
John told the Pharisees and Sadducees that when Jesus comes, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (v. 11). This statement has a two-fold meaning. One meaning is spiritual, and applies to new believers; and the other meaning refers to God’s judgment. So, let us first look at the spiritual meaning. In order to experience salvation, one must first experience genuine sorrow for their sin; secondly, be humble enough to admit their sin; thirdly, confess Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord (the ABC’s); and fourthly, be baptized. There is a “baptism by fire,” which represents the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and then a “baptism by water,” which is believer’s baptism by immersion. If you have confessed Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, then you already have the Holy Spirit; and what you need to do next is be baptized by water.
Let us now look at the other meaning. Being baptized “with the Holy Spirit and fire” (v. 11) can, on the one hand, refer to the bestowal of the Holy Spirit; or, on the other hand, “the awful judgments which [would] be inflicted by [God] on the Jewish nation” as the “refiner’s fire” and “the day of the Lord” that should “burn as an oven,”(24) which are all mentioned by the Old Testament prophets.
In verse 12, “John used the symbolism of the threshing floor to describe the Messiah’s judgement [by fire].”(25) He spoke of how “His winnowing fan is in His hand” (v. 12). “The fan was the great wooden winnowing shovel. With it, the grain was lifted from the threshing floor and tossed into the air. When that was done, the heavy grain fell to the ground, but the light chaff was blown away by the wind. The grain was then collected and stored in the barns, while any chaff which remained was used as fuel for the fire.”(26)
The threshing floor represents the land of Israel. In Isaiah 21:10, the Lord declared of His people Israel, “Oh, my threshing and the grain of my floor!” The wheat represents “His elect among the Jews.” The chaff represents “wicked and ungodly persons . . . being empty, barren, and unfruitful; and so good for nothing but the fire”(27) – again, not hell fire, but purification by fire. “In this sense, purification involves destruction; for the purifying flame burns away the false and leaves the true . . . The evil dross is purged away.”(28)
The winnowing fan could represent two actions. First, Jesus “call[s] His chosen people [from] among the Jews, and so distinguish[es] and separate[s] them from others;” and secondly, Jesus seeks to “purify and cleanse.”(29) The Pharisees and Sadducees would not be among those chosen from among the Jews, because they would soon come to reject Christ; and the same goes for all who reject Jesus as the Messiah – they will not be among the chosen. The Pharisees and Sadducees would, however, be candidates for either purification or judgement by fire; and this was John’s warning to them.
Time of Reflection
In Isaiah 5:24, we read, “Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble, and the flame consumes the chaff, so their root will be as rottenness, and their blossom will ascend like dust; because they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.” “Many of the Jews [including the Pharisees and Sadducees] thought they were destined for heaven simply because they were descendants of Abraham. John reminded them that God gets to the root of things and is not impressed with religious profession [of faith] that does not produce fruit. In the last judgment, the true believers (wheat) will be gathered by God, while the lost sinners (chaff) will be burned in the fire”(30) – and in the last judgement, that fire will indeed be the fires of hell.
I want to leave you with a quote by Bible commentator William Barclay about this passage. He says, “The coming of Christ . . . involves a separation. Either men accept Him or reject Him. When they are confronted with Him, they are confronted with a choice which cannot be avoided. They are either for or against. And it is precisely that choice which settles destiny. Men are separated by their reaction to Jesus Christ.”(31)
So, what is your reaction? Are you appalled at the idea of confessing Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord, believing that your good works and church attendance will save you? Or, do you realize that you are a sinner and you can’t save yourself? Have you experienced a godly sorrow for your sins? Remember, the Bible says that “godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation” (2 Corinthians 7:10). If you find yourself under deep conviction for your sins, it means the Holy Spirit is turning up the heat; and the correct response is to repent of your sins and confess Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. When you do, you will receive the forgiveness of sins, salvation, and eternal life.
NOTES
(1) Penny Holste, “Baptism by Fire,” Christ Lutheran Church: https://www.christwg.org/sermons/baptism-fire/ (Accessed April 14, 2023).
(2) Ibid.
(3) John Gill, John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible: https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/matthew-3-7.html (Accessed April 11, 2023).
(4) Ibid.
(5) Ibid.
(6) Ibid.
(7) Ibid.
(8) Clair M. Crissey, “Matthew,” Layman’s Bible Book Commentary (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1981), p. 23.
(9) William Barclay, “The Gospel of Matthew,” The Daily Study Bible (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1958), p. 38.
(10) Gill, https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/matthew-3-7.html.
(11) Crissey, p. 23.
(12) Ibid., p. 23.
(13) Gill, https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/matthew-3-9.html.
(14) Ibid.
(15) Ibid.
(16) Ibid.
(17) Barclay, p. 40.
(18) Gill, https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/matthew-3-10.html.
(19) Ibid.
(20) Ibid.
(21) Gill, https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/matthew-3-11.html.
(22) Ibid. In an ancient Jewish work called the Talmud, it is asked, “What is the [work] of servants?” The answer provided is this: “He buckles his master’s shoes; he unlooses his shoes; and carries them before him to the bath.” This work “was thought too [demeaning] for a scholar or a disciple to do; for it is said [in the Talmud], ‘all services which a servant does for his master, a disciple does for his master, except unloosing his shoes’.”
(23) Ibid.
(24) Ibid.
(25) Crissey, p. 24.
(26) Barclay, p. 43.
(27) Gill, https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/matthew-3-12.html.
(28) Barclay, pp. 42-43.
(29) Gill, https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/matthew-3-12.html.
(30) Wiersbe, p 146.
(31) Barclay, p. 43
