The Tree.....
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?
Bring forth therefore fruits 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 stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
And now also the axe 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.
Matthew 3:7-10
1) This sermonette by the Baptist ties into Laodicea - Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Revelation 3:17
2) What are the FRUITS? - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance:
Galatians 5:22,23
3) Like the Jews could say they had Abraham for a father, we too could boast we have E.G.W. for a "mother".....but it means nothing for salvation....
"They boasted of their knowledge, but they were ignorant of the
requirements of God, and were full of hypocrisy. Like the barren tree, they spread their pretentious branches aloft, luxuriant in appearance, and beautiful to the eye, but they yielded "nothing but leaves." The Jewish religion, with its magnificent temple, its sacred altars, its mitered priests and impressive ceremonies, was indeed fair in outward appearance, but humility, love, and benevolence were lacking."
Desire Of Ages p.583 E.G.W.
