What disturbs leaders of governments and religions? There are probably lots of things but two will be mentioned:

1- When what is being taught and/or spoken is in opposition to their agendas.

2- When what is being said draws people away from their power base and control.

The religious leaders of Israel went out to where John was in the Desert of Judea”¦they left the city to go into the wilderness. John”™s ministry and preaching was making in impact on the people.

John was not self-indulgent; he spoke truth and didn”™t try to sugar coat it.

(NASB) Matthew 3:7 “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “˜You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”

John was blunt and called these esteemed religious leaders ““ snakes. He then warned them of God”™s coming wrath. These men needed to repent by confessing that they were sinners needing God”™s forgiveness.

Think about the scene: John is crudely dressed in camel”™s hair with a leather belt ““ probably a lean, sinewy man who was austere in appearance. His life-style was not self-indulgent and his focus was uncompromisingly on God.

When these religious leaders came out to him, he very well could have extended his arm and pointed his finger at them as he said:

“”˜Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.”™” (See Matthew 3:8)

The questions which could be for you and me:

What have been the results of repentance in my life?

Is there fruit which has been produced in my life which reveals repentance before the living God?