Matthew Henry Commentary Matthew 3:7-12

"But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said unto them, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance: 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 even now the axe lieth at the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you in 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 in the Holy Spirit and [in] fire: whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor; and he will gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire." — Matthew 3:7-12 (ASV)

Applying the message to the souls of the hearers is the life of preaching; and so it was with John's preaching. The Pharisees placed their main emphasis on outward observances, neglecting the weightier matters of the moral law and the spiritual meaning of their legal ceremonies. Others of them were detestable hypocrites, making their pretenses to holiness a cloak for iniquity. The Sadducees ran into the opposite extreme, denying the existence of spirits and a future state.

They were the scornful infidels of that time and country. There is a wrath to come. It is the great concern of everyone to flee from that wrath. God, who does not delight in our ruin, has warned us; He warns by the written word, by ministers, and by conscience. And those are not worthy of the name of penitents, or their privileges, who say they are sorry for their sins, yet persist in them.

It becomes penitents to be humble and low in their own eyes, to be thankful for the smallest mercy, patient under the greatest affliction, to be watchful against all appearances of sin, to abound in every duty, and to be charitable in judging others. Here is a word of caution: do not trust in outward privileges. There is a great deal that carnal hearts are apt to say within themselves to set aside the convincing, commanding power of the word of God.

Multitudes, by resting in the honors and mere advantages of their being members of an outward church, fall short of heaven. Here is a word of terror to the careless and secure. Our corrupt hearts cannot be made to produce good fruit unless the regenerating Spirit of Christ grafts the good word of God upon them. And every tree, however high in gifts and honors, however green in outward professions and performances, if it does not bring forth good fruit—fruits meet for repentance—is hewn down and cast into the fire of God's wrath, the most fitting place for barren trees. What else are they good for?

If not fit for fruit, they are fit for fuel. John shows the design and intention of Christ's appearing, which they were now to expect soon. No outward forms can make us clean. No ordinances, by whomever administered or in whatever manner, can make up for the lack of the baptism of the Holy Ghost and of fire. The purifying and cleansing power of the Holy Spirit alone can produce that purity of heart and those holy affections which accompany salvation.

It is Christ who baptizes with the Holy Ghost. This He did in the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit sent upon the apostles (Acts 2:4). This He does in the graces and comforts of the Spirit, given to those who ask Him (Luke 11:13; John 7:38–39). Observe here, the outward church is Christ's floor (Isaiah 21:10). True believers are like wheat—substantial, useful, and valuable; hypocrites are like chaff—light and empty, useless and worthless, carried about with every wind. These are mixed, good and bad, in the same outward communion. There is a day coming when the wheat and chaff will be separated.

The last judgment will be the distinguishing day, when saints and sinners will be parted forever. In heaven the saints are brought together and no longer scattered; they are safe and no longer exposed; separated from corrupt neighbors around them and corrupt affections within them, and there is no chaff among them. Hell is the unquenchable fire, which will certainly be the portion and punishment of hypocrites and unbelievers. Here life and death, good and evil, are set before us: according to how we are now in the field, so we will be then in the floor.