Matthew 3:1-12
3: 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.”
Reflection
John the Baptist explains what it means to truly repent. Repentance involves a heart-change that leads to a transformed life. Those who repent, confess their sin (Matt. 3:6). In other words, they admit they have not been obedient to God. They have failed to love and worship him as he deserves and they have failed to love others as he desires. Those who repent also understand that they deserve God’s punishment for their sins (vv. 2, 7, 10–12). They come to God trusting only in the mercy of God. Furthermore, repentance leads to a change in our lifestyle, so that we turn from sinful behavior to behavior that honors God and acts lovingly toward others (vv. 8, 10).
People often mistakenly believe that repentance begins with changing our behavior so that we can gain God’s acceptance. In truth, repentance begins when the Holy Spirit graciously creates an internal change in our perspective about ourselves, God, and the consequences of our sin. This change of heart is what actually fuels the change in our behavior (cf. Rom. 12:2; Eph. 4:23–24).
Romans 2:1-11
2: Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. 3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.
6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality.
Reflection
Paul continues to explain humanity’s desperate situation. People condemn themselves by hypocritically doing the very things they say others shouldn’t do (Rom. 2:1). Paul’s questions expose the guilt of us all (vv. 3–4).
God kindly gives us time to repent and change, but some refuse the opportunity and continue to invite God’s anger, which he will someday release when he comes to judge the world (v. 5). Others will seek God and receive eternal life (v. 7) through faith in Christ’s finished work (cf. 3:22). One way (2:9) or the other (v. 10), people’s choices will position them before God in ways that will bring either great joy or bitter regret, in this life and the next.
Psalm 19:13
13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
We must be careful not to allow ourselves to become comfortable with sin in our lives. Ask God to give you a desire for his ways so that you will have strength to turn quickly from sin when you see it in your life.