“Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:”

Matthew 3:8 KJV

In the Gospel according to Matthew, Chapter three, we read a very powerful warning. Matthew, who was a Jew and a tax collector for the Roman government gives us the story of the fruits for repentance. Matthew became a disciple of Jesus. and followed Him. He wrote about what He witnessed. In the third chapter of Matthew, he wrote about John the Baptist. Those who were in Jerusalem and Judea came to John and were Baptist unto repentance and confessing their sins. You might wonder what fruit has to do with repentance. Everything, for fruit is your character. What or to whom have you come into contact with to bear such fruits as lying, cheating or stealing?

When John the Baptist saw the Pharisees and Sadducees He called them a generation of vipers. Vipers bite and sting without discretion as to the individual. Words spoken to bring conflict between each other as to be offensive. The Pharisees and Sadducees are two religious groups who had different beliefs. They had opposing belief systems. The Pharisees believed in the resurrection while the Sadducees did not. Yet John stated that they were both vipers. The fruit that they brought forth was “not meet for repentance.” It seems that neither group was interested in the importance of repentance.

Repentance speaks to the moral quality of all human beings, no matter what religious group you are in or involved with. John spoke of one that was to come after Him. The one to come was Jesus, and Jesus said the following:

“And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Luke 24:47

We cannot rationalize sin away or be justified by the law, for that does not fully change the condition of the heart. We all need an advocate.

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:” 1 John 2:1

The only way to gain access to the Father God is through Jesus Christ, the righteous. Jesus sacrifice on the cross is seen by God. Listen to what Jesus said to the elders and the chief priests.

“Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.” Luke 22:69

Can you imagine how Jesus knew who he was, the Son of man who now sits on the right-hand throne of the power of God. We could never make such a statement. Sin is becoming more rapid in the world today, and we desperately need repentance from all sins. Humanity is heading down a road of “moral depravity.” Forgive us our sins and forgive others is what Jesus said.

“And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.” Luke 11:4

Indebted means gratitude or obligation towards another person. This means that it is not only financial but a moral obligation as well. Confession must be made in order to have a clear conscience before God and man. We must every day pray for forgiveness. When we do, we will begin to bring forth fruit unto repentance. Let us pray every day for forgiveness and see the fruit of reprentance.