The Third Sunday of Advent (GA)

Matthew 3:1-12

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, ² “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” ³ For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, 

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 

‘Prepare the way of the Lord; 

make his paths straight.’ ” 

⁴ Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, ⁶ and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 

⁷ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. ⁹ And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. ¹⁰ Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 

¹¹ “I baptize you with water for 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 fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Do You dare to call Abraham your Father?  God can make Children of Abraham out of Stones.  This either means God is the eternal creator, or God can create children of Abraham out of anything.  Thus, God can even make non-children into Children.

This should be a warning to all of us.  God has laid the ax at the root of the tree.  God is coming to Judge all people.  He will either find Children of Abraham or faithless people (unbelievers).  The trees that do not produce good fruit will be thrown into the Fire.  The chaff will also be burned in the Fire.

John the Baptist reminds of All these things.  Because he knows the Lord is coming.  He is coming to establish his Kingdom forever.  God has sent his son to earth to baptize stones and turn them into children of Abraham.  (Don't take this too far.)  God comes to purify believers in Him and make them Children of Abraham.  You have been made a child of Abraham but more importantly a good tree or wheat to be gathered into the Kingdom of Heaven.