John, like the prophets before him, did not pull punches. He calls everyone to repentance, to change direction, and to follow God's way of justice.
My favorite part of the passage is how John addresses those who think they do not need to repent or change their ways because they are God's "Chosen", that they are God's favorites. John basically tells them, "God can make Abraham's children out of a pile of stones." (John's retort resonates with Jesus' "stones crying out" response to some religious leaders in Jerusalem).
John's message remains relevant and powerful today, especially to us who think we're "Chosen". We need to repent. And repentance means doing, not thinking, nor praying: specifically, it's doing acts of justice. Or we face God's wrath.
We all need to repent! God can still make Abraham's children out of a pile of stones.
*image, "John the Baptist preaching in the desert," JESUS MAFA, 1973, Cameroon, from the vanderbilt divinity library digital archives.
