Daily Bible Reading Notes – Matthew 3:1-12

by Mike Sanders

Accountability, Repentance, Fruit

The crowds felt the tension of John’s kingdom preaching. The coming accountability prompted action (Matt 3:5-6). Their repentance was genuine and evident by their immersion and confession (full agreement) of sin.

Religious leaders, many of them, felt the tension, too (3:7). Their response, however, was surface only (5:20; 23:27). John challenged them to present fruit to validate/harmonize with their repentance (3:8). Real repentance is the real remedy to the real “wrath to come.”

Some Lessons:

• Accountability is certain and lies just ahead (Matt 3:10, 12; 2 Cor 5:10).
• Repentance is intellectual (root/heart), volitional (the will), and behavioral (fruit/deportment).
• Fruit tells the truth (Matt 7:16-20; John 13:35; 14:15).

 

Michael T. Sanders is the former minister of the Buechel Church of Christ in Louisville, Kentucky and now retired UPS DC-8 Captain.

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One Response to “Daily Bible Reading Notes – Matthew 3:1-12”

1. Don McGee says:

   February 2, 2015 at 2:31 pm

   Mike,

   Years ago Dr. Stephen Olford explained the original three-point sermon. It had to do with: 1) the mind 2) the heart and 3) the will.

   Your comments brought back some memories.

   Don McGee

   Reply