Avoiding the Unquenchable Fire
Posted on Dec 10, 2024 by Shari Van Baale
This week’s Gospel begins with some strong words. John addresses the crowd who have come to be baptized by him with the words, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?” I am sure those harsh words got their attention!
He goes on to say, “every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
According to Working Preacher, “John’s rhetoric is neither polite nor gentle. In Luke (as opposed to Matthew) he doesn’t specifically target the religious leaders. Instead, he calls the whole crowd … and warns them: ‘Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor.’ His message is clear. Don’t assume that because you have a religious heritage, you belong to God’s people.”
It is easy to think that because they are descended from Abraham (thus, Jewish) that they will automatically be forgiven of their sins and get into heaven, but that is not the case. He tells them they must also perform acts of kindness, like sharing clothing and food. He specifically mentions that tax collectors need to be honest and not extort money. (Tax collectors were known for being quite dishonest at this time.)
This week’s Gospel concludes with, “(Jesus’) winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
A winnowing fork was used to separate husks from grains of wheat, thus the good from the bad. It was used to toss the harvested grain into the air. The unwanted husks would separate from the grain and blow away in the wind, while the heavier grain would settle back onto the ground.
At the end of the age, good and the bad will be separated, much like the winnowing fork does. This passage uses two good analogies to show how good and bad will be divided — husks/wheat and fruit-bearing/non-fruit bearing trees. In both cases, those who are not good and profitable will be thrown into the fire.
According to a blog on this passage, “Fortunately for us, the winnowing process has already begun. The words of Jesus and his forerunner John the Baptist have already begun threshing us, separating the worthless, husky part of us from the valuable, substantial grain.”
The blog also asks some good questions and offers a prayer on this passage:
ASK YOURSELF: How do I feel the winnowing fan of Jesus already at work in my life? Am I letting him separate the bad from the good in my heart?
LIVE THE GOSPEL: Is there a bad habit you can “winnow” out of your life so you can be “less husk” and more “good grain”? Choose one bad habit to work on this week.
PRAY: Lord Jesus, I know you will be my final judge. May you find me worthy to be gathered into your barn.
Shari Van Baale
Salem Communications Coordinator