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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mat_3:7-10
7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; 9and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father'; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. 10The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."
Mat_3:7 "But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them" John's statements to these religious leaders are shocking in their intensity (i.e., "you brood of vipers," cf. Luk_3:7; and used by Jesus in Mat_12:34; Mat_23:33). Several theories have been advanced about why he reacted so strongly.
1. he saw them as Satanic agents
2. he saw them as spiritually dead to the true faith
3. he saw them as fakes
4. he saw them as being manipulative leaders whose public professions did not match their attitudes and motives
It is significant that these leaders were considering baptism themselves. Possibly they wanted to identify with the multitude and thereby retain their leadership status. John recognized their true motives.
For a full discussion of the origin and theology of the Pharisees see Special Topic at Mat_22:15 and for Sadducees see Special Topic at Mat_22:23.
▣ "to flee from the wrath to come" From the parallel of Mal_3:2-3, it is clear that judgment was coming upon Israel because of her violations of the Mosaic Covenant (cf. Deuteronomy 27-28). Amos called it "the day of YHWH" (i.e., Amo_5:18), which inaugurated the New Age of Righteousness or the Messianic Kingdom. Here John confirms Malachi's judgment motif. Note that John's message was not national or corporate like Malachi's, but individual (cf. Ezekiel 18; Ezekiel 33; Jer_31:31-34).
Mat_3:8
NASB "bear fruit in keeping with repentance"
NKJV, NRSV "bear fruit worthy of repentance"
TEV "Do the things that will show that you have turned from sins"
NJB "But if you are repentant, produce the appropriate fruit"
Even in the OT, faith was more than simply ritual or membership in a national group (cf. Deu_10:12; Deu_10:16; Mat_7:15-23; Rom_2:28-29). Faith was and is both corporate and individual, both faith and works (cf. Jas_2:14-26)! Their lives must show their new relationship with God (cf. Mat_7:16-20; Mat_12:33; Luk_6:43-44; Act_26:20). For "repentance" see full note at Mat_4:17.
Mat_3:9 "and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father'" This same dependence on national descent can be seen in Joh_8:31 ff. and the Talmud's "Sanhedrin" Mat_10:1. The Jews believed that the merit of Abraham's faith was applied to them. However, Mal_3:2 ff; Mal_4:1 show that judgment would come upon the Jews for their violations of the Covenant (also note Mat_8:11-12). Lifestyle faith, not lineage, is the way to recognize a true child of Abraham (cf. Rom_2:28-29).
▣ "stones. . .children" This was a word play using the Aramaic words for "stones" ('ebnayya) and "children" (benyya), which sounded similar. See G. B. Caird, The Language and Imagery of The Bible, p. 48.
Mat_3:10 "the axe is already laid at the root of the trees" This judgment motif is similar to Malachi's. A parallel can be seen in Isa_10:33-34. One reason John the Baptist wondered whether Jesus was really the Messiah was because His message was not one primarily of judgment as John anticipated.