Matthew 3: 7-10
Why would John be so negative to the Pharisees and Sadducees?
If John identified them as a group, are we to understand the Pharisees and Sadducees that came to him were repenting and being baptized according to the preaching?
Why does John call them a “brood of vipers”?
What “wrath to come” should the people be warned of as referenced by Matthew in Verse 7?
If you repent from sins, what fruit will you bear?
Why would the Pharisees and Sadducees make an argument to John that Abraham was their father?
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Pharisees |
Sadducees |
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Liberal with the scriptures |
Literalist with scriptures |
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Believed in Torah |
Believed in Torah |
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Studied the Law |
Controlled the Sanhedrin |
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Expected equal respect to oral law |
Rejected oral law |
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Believed in purgatory for “holy” |
Did not believe in angels/demons, resurrection, God’s love etc. |
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Typically controlled the synagogues |
Controlled the temple |
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Were generally respected by the people |
Politically connected to Rome and generally wealthy class |
Who are the true children of Abraham?
What does John mean by saying from stones laying on the ground God is able to raise up children to Abraham?
Is John teaching about keeping a law? What law?
Is John requiring the people hearing his teaching to live by faith or by works of the law?
What is necessary to keep the works of the law (Habakkuk 2:4; Hebrews 11:6)?
If John is teaching that the people should live by faith then why does he require, by the Word of God, that the people bear fruit in keeping with repentance?
John says “the axe is already laid at the root of the trees”. What does this mean?
Why is it necessary that trees that do not bear fruit are cut down and thrown into the fire (Matthew 7:15-20; John 15:1-6)?
What is the implication with regard to energy that goes into keeping a garden if the nonbearing plants/branches are to be burned (Luke 13:7)?
