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John Condemns the Pharisees and Sadducees
When John saw the religious leaders, the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism he denounced them without hesitation:
"O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham as our father: for I say unto you, that God is able from 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." - Matthew 3:7-10
The Pharisees were a wealthy religious sect of the
Jews, who valued the traditions of Jewish sages over the Word of
God. These traditions became rules that they meticulously followed
and commanded others to follow. They wore very religious looking clothing, and
said long and loud prayers drawing attention to themselves. They were lovers of
money and despised foreigners, the poor, shepherds, women, and many more whom
God loves. They also considered themselves blessed and going to heaven with
certainty because of being Jews.
The Sadducees were another wealthy religious sect of the Jews, who also did not respect and value the Word of God over there own convictions. They were the most liberal of Jews, and were very influential and powerful. They hated John the most, as well as Jesus and his followers. They also considered themselves blessed and going to heaven with certainty because of being Jews.
John the Baptist Appears,
John Appears Preaching in the Wilderness,
Prophecies about John the Baptist,
John's Physical Appearance,
People Came from all Around,
John's Baptism of Repentance,
John Condemns the Pharisees and Sadducees,
John Condemns The Priests and Levites,
John's Message about the Holy Spirit
John the Baptist Appears
The Beginning of John's Ministry Scriptures and Topics Covered: John Appears Preaching in the Wilderness (Mat 3:1-2; Mk 1:1; Lk 3:1-2). Prophecies About John the Baptist (Mat 3:3 Mk 1:2-3; Lk 3:4-6). John's Appearance (Mat 3:4; Mk 1:6). People Came From All Around (Mat 3:5; Mk 1:5). John's Baptism of Repentance (Mat 3:6 Mk 1:4; Lk 3:3-14). John and the Pharisees and Sadducees (Mat 3:7-10). John's Response to the Priest's and Levites (Jn 1:19-28) John's Message About The Holy Spirit (Mat 3:11-12; Mk 1:8). |
"Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being
governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip
tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch
of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto
John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness."
Luke 3:1-2
John Appears Preaching in the Wilderness
John the Baptist was born about 5 BC, and now about 26 A.D. about the age of 30 he appears in the wilderness of Judea. He was preaching to everyone that they should repent and turn from wickedness and prepare themselves for the coming of the Messiah. His message was a cry for repentance, that the time was at hand for people to prepare for the coming of the King.