“And think not to say within yourselves, ‘We have Abraham to our father:’ for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: whose fan is in His hand, and He will throughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Matthew 3:9-2
The sins and need for the light of God to shine so that the people of Israel, and the Gentiles might know the true God. That is what John the Baptizer is addressing. To the Jew first, and then to the nations of the world.
John is bold in addressing the sin of the religious leaders calling them a “…generation of vipers”, and asking them, “Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” These were the Sadducees and the Pharisees; and they did not care for John, who unrecognized by them, was God’s messenger sent by God to prepare the way for God’s Messiah.
Notice that John has great respect for the One he is declaring to the people who come out to hear him that he is not worthy to loosen His shoes. Of course he is speaking of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
The prophet says, “He is mightier than I,” “He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire,” then John takes to a threshing floor where the grain is separated from the chaff, and shows us what happens to the chaff after the threshing. The chaff being good for nothing is cast into the fire, and burned up.
Fire is a destructive power when not used properly. It can be used to destroy. It can be used for purging the land. The fire John is speaking of is completely under control and purges the hearts of God’s people so that we might live a righteous, and holy life for Him, and produce more fruit for His glory.
Jesus will separate the wheat from the chaff, and save the wheat, and burn the chaff to have a cleansed floor. The invitation is “Call on Me and I answer you, and will show you great and mighty things which you do no know” (Jeremiah 33:3). Will you call on Him. Surrender your life to Him, and just watch Him work on you and in you.