Matthew 3:1-12 concluded.

vv. 10-12

Now, I realize there is a bit of duplication of the verses, but I guess you could call that writers, or author’s privilege. In looking at these verses – using verse 10 a second time – I want us to see the HEAD OF THE KINGDOM. John confronted the legalists of the Pharisees, and the unspiritual Sadducees with their wickedness and unwilling, disobedient hearts, and has warned them of the “Ax laid to the root of the trees…”

My thought for this is, “Just who is swinging the ax?” It must be, and most assuredly is the King of the kingdom. John’s condemnatory preaching to them concerning their fruit, or lack thereof, shows they had no heart for God, right, or holiness.

The HEAD OF THE KINGDOM Jesus the Messiah will be the One who judges the fruit of the tree. Every unfruitful tree will be cut down and burned. Remember Jesus cursing the fig tree and it died. It was similar to these so called religious leaders who were professing fruit, but had none. The fig trees had leaves, but bore no fruit. Wasn’t it “figleaves” which Adam and Eve used to cover themselves in the garden. That is a state of declaration rather than a question. The fig leaves were hiding the evidence of no fruit, and yet saying it bore fruit.

John was baptizing the willing and obedient unto repentance. These baptized were confessing their sinfulness, giving themselves to repentance and cleansing from sin. There was a need for repentance in that day. There is a great need for repentance in our day, 2007. Yet, people want feel good sermons, songs that move them to tears, and great emotion, but do not lead to sorrow over sin.

When an individual receives the grace of God through Jesus Christ they are baptized in the Spirit. In that baptism there is cleansing by the fire and water of God’s holy Word, and the Spirit. There is a purging of sin. The old chaff [ie., the waste, the good for nothing junk of life, the stench of a dead, rotting corpse, the joy stealing self obsorbtion, etc.] are all burned away, and cast out.

Just as John and Jesus came preaching repentance; so too does it need preached today. It not only needs preached it needs to be lived out in our lives. When we truly repent, Jesus is Lord of our lives, and He is then, truly worshipped and glorified, and others will see Him in us, as the HEAD OF THE KINGDOM.