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Verses 5-6 Sometimes people who were not *Jews wanted to become *Jews. Then they asked for *baptism. They did not usually *baptise people who were *Jews already. But John *baptised *Jews in water. They had confessed their *sins and they wanted to obey God. Water cleans a persons body. In a similar way, *baptism shows that a person is clean from their *sins. They would then be ready to meet the *Messiah. Verse 7 The *Pharisees were *Jews who wanted to obey Gods Law. There were many good *Pharisees. One was called Gamaliel (Acts 5:33-39). But there were also many proud *Pharisees. They believed that they were the only people who obeyed Gods law. But they destroyed what the law really meant. Through the years, the official writers (called scribes) had introduced hundreds of extra rules. The *Pharisees said that people must also obey all those extra rules. The *Sadducees came from the families of *priests. They were wealthy. They wanted to keep their political power. So they opposed any *religious ideas that might make them lose their authority. John called the *Pharisees and the *Sadducees a family of poisonous snakes. Later, Jesus used the same words about the *Pharisees (Matthew 12:34; 23:33). They were dangerous. They were like poisonous snakes. John said that they were like snakes that were trying to escape from a fire in a forest. He meant that God was angry with them. They were trying to escape from him. Verses 8-9 A persons actions show whether they have sincerely changed their way of life. The *Jews believed that Abrahams actions were good enough for himself and for all his children and their families always. So *Jews thought that they were safe after they died. But John said that that was not enough. A person may have Abraham as his *ancestor but each person must change his own actions. Verse 10 A farmer cuts down trees that do not produce good fruit. He throws them into the fire. God is like a farmer. He will punish those people who do not live in the right way. Verse 11 John knew that he was preparing the way for someone. That person was much greater than he himself was, John said. Only a slave carried other peoples shoes. John said that he was not good enough to do even this humble task for the *Messiah. John *baptised people with water. This showed that people desired to be free from *sin. The *Messiah would give the *Holy Spirit. The *Jews had looked forward to the time when the Spirit would come. It shall happen that I will pour out my Spirit on everyone, Gods servant had said long ago (Joel 2:28). The Spirit teaches people how to live in the true way. The Spirit also gives people the power to live in the right way. Fire is very powerful. Fire can also destroy. Therefore, it is picture language for Gods judgement. Verse 12 At harvest-time, people used a tool like a large fork to throw dry plants into the air. The grain fell to the ground, and the wind blew the rest away. The farmer stored the grain. Then he burned the part of the plant that he could not use. In this picture, John showed that the *Messiah would separate people. The people who believed him would be like the grain. They would be his people. But some people did not accept the *Messiah. They were like the part of the plant that the farmer burned. God would judge them.