“Bear fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:8)
John urges his audience to repent, but also to “bear fruit in keeping with repentance”. In other words, inner change should show in outward behavior. John doesn’t mince his words about that. He even calls some people “brood of vipers” (Matthew 3:7), because they are religious leaders but do not bear good fruit. They think their identity as descendants of Abraham will guard them from God’s wrath, even if they don’t truly repent.
But John’s words are clear. Using natural imagery, he announces: “Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matthew 3:10). Some chapters later, Jesus Himself uses similar imagery when He says: “The tree is known by its fruit … The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil” (Matthew 12:33-35).
Your deeds show what is in your heart. If you look at your own life, what kind of “fruit” do you see?