Matthew 3:7-10 ASV and Matthew 3:15 ASV

Jesus and John the Baptist did not go easy on performance religion. John was NOT impressed with some of the Pharisees who, obviously, were coming to be baptized in order to preserve their standing in the eyes of the people. But John held their feet to the fire. "Bear fruit!" he demanded. Your religious heritage and phony spiritual performance is absolutely NOT what God seeks. He looks for true repentance - people who make a conscious decision to serve him. THAT is worship.

On a side note, what an interesting contrast. John strongly discourages the self-righteous, performing Pharisees from being baptized. And he also discourages Jesus from being baptized. Why? Because he knew Jesus well. He knew that Jesus was righteous and had already devoted his life to living fully for God. Why would Jesus need to be baptized? To "fulfill all righteousness." The Pharisees went to get baptized because it was necessary. They felt obligated. They did the minimum. If anyone had an excuse to bypass baptism, it was Jesus. He was righteous. But true righteousness is not an end in and of itself. We must remember that we are created to bring glory to God. Jesus understood this, so he didn't rest on his laurels. Enough was never enough for him. He took advantage of any new opportunity to more completely devote himself to God. This is the core value of grace. Grace frees us from condemnation to do not only what we ought to do, but to fully devote ourselves to God, adoring him with all of our being (Shemah).