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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 2
meet for 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
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stones to raise up children unto Abraham.”
The whole Jewish nation seemed to be affected by the mission of
John. The threatenings of God on account of their sins, repeated by
the prophet, for a time alarmed them. John knew that they cherished
the idea that, because they were of the seed of Abraham, they were
securely established in the favor of God, while their course of action
was abhorred of him. Their conduct was, in many respects, even worse
than that of the heathen nations to whom they felt so much superior.
The prophet faithfully presented to them the ability of God to raise
up those who would take their place, and would become more worthy
children of Abraham. He told them plainly that God was not dependent
upon them to fulfill his purposes; for he could provide ways and means
independent of them to carry forward his great work which was to be
accomplished in purity and righteousness. John further adds: “And
now also the ax 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.” He impresses upon them that the value of the tree is ascertained
by the fruit it produces. Though a tree may bear an exalted name, yet
if it produces no fruit, or if its fruit is unworthy of the name, the name
will avail nothing in saving the tree from destruction. “Of thorns men
do not gather figs, nor of a bramblebush gather they grapes.”
The prophet of God was impressed by the holy Spirit that many of
the Pharisees and Sadducees who asked baptism had no true convic-
tions of their sins. They had selfish motives. They thought that if they
should become friends of the prophet, they would stand a better chance
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to be personally favored of the coming Prince. In their blindness they
believed that he was to set up a temporal kingdom, and bestow honors
and riches upon his subjects.
John rebuked their selfish pride and avarice. He warned them of
their unbelief, and condemned their hypocrisy. He told them that they
had not fulfilled the conditions of the covenant on their part, which
would entitle them to the promises God made to a faithful and obedient
people. Their proud boasts of being children of Abraham did not make
them really such. Their exhibitions of pride, their arrogance, jealousy,
selfishness, and cruelty, stamped their characters as a generation of
vipers, rather than the children of obedient and just Abraham. Their