“In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand…. 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” (Matthew 3:1-2,7-9)
The people thought that by being descendants of Abraham, they were qualified to become children of God. They thought that because they were Israelites, heaven was their home. But they were living in gross error. Why was that?
They lived unrighteous lives (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). A lot were wise in their own eyes (Proverbs 3:7). They had a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. They were ignorant of God’s righteousness, and they refused to submit themselves to the righteousness of God, instead seeking to establish their own righteousness (Romans 10:1-2). They were hypocrites. They lived careless lives (Matthew 23:14-17)