“Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I baptise you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’ Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptised by him.”

Deeper Dive 
John distinguishes his ministry of water baptism from the superior ministry of Jesus who will impart the Holy Spirit. The reference to “fire” implies both purification and judgement—emphasising Christ’s transformative power. The symbolism here anticipates the Pentecost event (Acts 2) and highlights the spiritual revival Jesus would instigate. Today, it means it is not a one-time act but a lifestyle. Neither family background nor religious affiliation is enough. God values fruitfulness, character, compassion, justice, and humility. Matthew 3:1–12 is a powerful introduction to Jesus’ ministry. It calls hearers to prepare their hearts, return to God, bear fruit and recognise the greatness of the One who brings the kingdom.

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,
that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.

Deeper Dive

Romans 15:1-7 emphasises the importance of building up others through patience, encouragement, and unity in faith. The former scriptures serve as a timeless guide for believers, offering lessons to solidify hope. This verse recognises the scriptures’ enduring value for nurturing patience and providing hope, aligning with Paul’s mission to unify the church by reinforcing faith through divine instructions. addresses tension between Jewish and Gentile believers in Rome. These tensions included: Food laws, Sabbath observance, Cultural identity and Worship practices. Paul’s goal is to show Christ fulfills the Scriptures, God’s plan always included the nations and the church must live as one.

“ …with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins. The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.”

Deeper Dive 
Isaiah 11:6 and its imagery are emblematic of transformative peace, depicting natural enemies living in harmony. This envisions a messianic age where traditional hostilities are reconciled by divine presence. Such imagery is symbolic as it depicts ideals of an inverted social structure led by a righteous, God-inspired force. This prophecy elicits profound theological reflections on hope for unity and shalom—universal peace. This structure emphasises a reversal of natural hostility, equality and safety in God’s kingdom and a world restored to Eden-like harmony. Most Christian traditions see this as describing the Messiah’s reign, when violence ends, relationships are healed, creation returns to harmony and peace flows from the King’s justice (Isaiah 11:4) This is not merely metaphorical: It is rooted in the belief that the Messiah reverses the curse of sin (Genesis 3).

“And they were baptised by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor”; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I baptise you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.’”

Deeper Dive 
John’s admonition addresses a complacency rooted in ethnic and religious heritage among the Pharisees and Sadducees. His warning reinforces the theme of true repentance and the futility of resting on ancestral lineage for divine favour. The emphasis is on personal transformation as the basis of membership in God’s family—a radical redefine of covenantal relationships. John’s harsh words— “brood of vipers”—indicate religious hypocrisy, reliance on ancestry (“We have Abraham as our father”), and empty rituals without transformed lives. “Fruit worthy of repentance” means true repentance is visible, faith must produce ethical change, God demands integrity and not lineage or title. The axe at the root (v. 10) warns of impending judgment, God’s readiness to remove unfruitful people or systems and the need for urgent response.