Mat 3:7 | MHM | STEP | The Preaching of John the Baptist This section shows how John the Baptist preached repentance to everyone, but especially confronted the religious leaders—the Pharisees and Sadducees—who came to him. John warned them about God’s coming judgment and told them what true repentance looks like. He also pointed to the coming Messiah, who would separate the righteous from the wicked. v. 7 : When John saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, he spoke to them directly and honestly. He called them a “generation of vipers,” meaning they were like snakes—dangerous and deceitful. Even though they were religious leaders, their hearts were not right with God. John asked them who had warned them to escape “the wrath to come,” which means God’s future judgment. This shows that everyone needs to be warned about judgment, even those who seem religious (Luke 3:7 ).

‏ Matthew 3:7

The Preaching of John the Baptist

This section shows how John the Baptist preached repentance to everyone, but especially confronted the religious leaders—the Pharisees and Sadducees—who came to him. John warned them about God’s coming judgment and told them what true repentance looks like. He also pointed to the coming Messiah, who would separate the righteous from the wicked.

v. 7: When John saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, he spoke to them directly and honestly. He called them a “generation of vipers,” meaning they were like snakes—dangerous and deceitful. Even though they were religious leaders, their hearts were not right with God. John asked them who had warned them to escape “the wrath to come,” which means God’s future judgment. This shows that everyone needs to be warned about judgment, even those who seem religious (Luke 3:7 ^a).