When John the Baptist appeared at the River Jordan, baptising people as they repented, a group of Pharisees and Sadducees came to him to be baptised too. John was quite straightforward with this group of religious leaders (and not only with them; in Luke 3:7, he used the same words for the entire crowd). He calls them a generation of vipers.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
(Matthew 3:7-8)
By using these words, he associates this group of pious men with the devil, also known as the old serpent. (Incidentally, Jesus does the same in John 8:44 and Matthew 23, among other places). These men were religious leaders in Judea at the time and were perhaps members of the Sanhedrin. While these people appeared very pious and convincing on the outside, John realised that behind this façade of piety hid something satanic. By pointing out the fruit they bore, which would result in the coming wrath, he was indicating to them that mere outward piety would not suffice; rather, there should be genuine repentance in order to escape the coming wrath.
Note: The coming of the Messiah and the destruction of Jerusalem are both announced by the angel Gabriel in Daniel 9:24–27 and are therefore closely connected.
John the Baptist had such spiritual insight that he was able to see right through the façade. In our day and time, we also have the obligation of seeing through these kinds of things. Paul warns us::
11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
(Ephesians 5:11-13)
The big question for us is how we can see through the mask of piety; otherwise, we will not be able to expose the lies. To this end, I would like to share two relevant biblical verses that can help us in carrying out this command.
17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
(Matthew 7:17-20)
14What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
(James 2:14-19)
What should we pay attention to? The outcome, not the rhetoric. When we consider the impact of the arrival of the ‘chosen people’ on those who have lived in Palestine for centuries, we see only lies, theft and murder. Gaza has been destroyed and it is estimated that somewhere between 60,000 and 600,000 Palestinians have been killed, many of them women and children. Right now, Palestinian homes and property are being destroyed, and people are being killed in the so-called West Bank, including Christian villages being attacked. For more than 75 years, the supposed ‘fantastic, blessed Jews’ in Israel have been leaving a trail of death and destruction in that entire region.
However, I could also stay closer to home. We have been flying a flag for several months now that combines the local Frisian and Palestinian flags. This flag was designed for an organisation called ‘Friesland voor Palestina’. We currently take the flag down at night because it has been ripped off the wall twice. The first time, we found it in the ditch and managed to retrieve it, but the second time, we found the flag completely destroyed. So, we were forced to buy a new flag. The only people I can think of who would commit this kind of vandalism are either Jewish Zionists or, more likely, Christian Zionists. The latter believe that this flag should not be flown, and therefore they feel it is acceptable to destroy other people’s property and deny us the right to have a different opinion about the situation in the Middle East. In John 8, Jesus uses clear words when he refers to Abraham:
39… If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
(John 8:39-40)
Abraham lived his entire life in peace among the Canaanites. Consequently, Abraham never undertook any actions to claim the “promised land” by his own authority. It was not until four hundred and thirty years later, in the time of Moses and Joshua, that there was a divine command to destroy specifically named peoples. In this case, the Israelites were the instrument of God’s vengeance for these peoples’ sins. However, when the Israelites later committed the same sins, they too were judged. Apparently, being an instrument of God’s wrath entails obligations; holiness is required, otherwise they are not permitted to carry out this assignment.
17And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. 18 Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only.
(2 Kings 17:17-18)
Apart from what I mentioned earlier, the current state of Israel is notorious for its huge LGBTQ community, especially in Tel Aviv, where the world’s largest gay pride parade is held every year. Israel has the highest abortion rate in the world. Looking at these issues and comparing them to the texts mentioned earlier, it should be clear that we are not looking at a blessed people, but a cursed people, right?
When I encounter people who call themselves Christians, who at best tolerate this and often justify or wholeheartedly support it, is it appropriate for me to hold up the mirror in the same way that John the Baptist, Jesus and James did to their fellow countrymen? If someone calls himself a Christian but allows himself to be tempted to destroy other people’s property, does that demonstrate that he is a Christian? Or should we put him in the same category as the Jews, whom Jesus said were children of the devil?
44Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
(John 8:44)
This is Jesus’ description of devout, religious Jews who attend synagogue every Sabbath, are present in Jerusalem for the feasts, fast once or twice a week, and study the Torah daily. According to their own words, they strictly observe it. So where does that leave us as Christians when we condone sin in the lives of both ourselves and others? Is the fruit that comes forth in this way a fruit of the Spirit?
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
(Galatians 5:22-24)
If this doesn’t become evident in our lives over time, can we really call ourselves Christians or followers of Christ? Is Jesus not the Prince of Peace? Do we possess the same faith as Abraham, even in his encounters with the local population?
16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17 (as it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
(Romans 4:16-17)
Even if God did promise this land to the Jews, which I seriously doubt, couldn’t they have simply waited for God’s mandate in order to demonstrate their faith? Instead, they violently seized other people’s land and property.
22But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
26If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. 27Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
(James 1:22-27)
