Matthew 3:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

God has the power to bring forth children from stones and sustain his lineage, just as it has been since the beginning; to create humans from stones is akin to birthing a child from a barren womb. The prophet alludes to this when he says, ‘Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug. Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who bore you’ (Isaiah 51:1-2). By recalling this prophecy, he illustrates that just as God initially created Abraham to be a father from a stone, he can do the same today. Observe how he both instills fear and wonder in them. He did not claim that he had already brought them to life, as that could lead to despair, but rather that he might yet do so. He did not assert that he could simply raise men from stones but emphasized his ability to raise up the children of Abraham. Notice how he redirects their focus away from earthly expectations and reliance on their ancestors, encouraging them to find hope in their own repentance and humility for salvation. Observe how he dismantles the notion of earthly lineage and replaces it with a kinship founded on faith.

Through His divine power, He is capable of raising up children for Abraham not only from fellow humans but from these very stones before Him. Some believe that these words refer to the Gentile believers, who were initially unresponsive and oblivious to the truth but later embraced it in faith. Others think it refers to those who have been grafted in as a result of the breaking of the stones during the Savior's suffering. Both are welcomed as children of Abraham, sharing in the eternal inheritance with him. However, truly, the children of Abraham are those who emulate his virtues and are deemed worthy of his legacy in the kingdom of heaven, regardless of whether they are Jewish or Gentile. The bond of virtue greatly surpasses that of lineage, just as the soul surpasses the body in worth.

Moreover, it is worth noting that not only did the first man come to life from dust in a wondrous manner, but Lot's wife was also transformed into a pillar of salt, exemplifying God's unfathomable and incomprehensible power. This transformation reflects a loss of her original essence without physical destruction, resulting in a new form and existence—what she became was not what she originally was, showing that such a change exceeds human comprehension.

Thus, God, who performs such extraordinary wonders and who at a given time imposed a penalty on one woman for disobedience, has a desire for humanity "to be saved, and to attain to the knowledge of the truth" (see 1 Tim. 2:4). What, then, could He not achieve with humanity, if He observes that stones might more readily become children of Abraham? For it is far more complex for many among the Jews, some of whom were deemed outside the covenant, to be recognized as Abraham's offspring than for God to create numerous children for him from stones. However, if one interprets the Forerunner's words as a prophetic declaration, the stones from which, as he indicated, children would arise to Abraham were those that were broken and scattered due to the Lord's sufferings, as if miraculously conceived through the Saviour’s voluntary sacrifice. These scattered stones have effectively birthed many individuals inclined toward godliness, promoting endurance that resounds like a clarion call, compelling people away from rebellion against the Saviour and guiding them toward the revelation of truth and the embrace of divine tranquility. These individuals are recognized and regarded by the community of faith as Abraham's children, transcending mere lineage.

On the other hand, if your devotion wishes to delve into a literal interpretation, equating the stones with the blinded and hard-hearted Gentiles—who were incorporated into Abraham's heritage upon their awakening from spiritual blindness to the light of salvation and from pagan delusions to the mystery of the Spirit—you will likely find yourself not straying far from the profound truths that have been articulated within the bounds of our faith community.

The originator of the Babylonian Empire was Nimrod, a notorious outlaw; the founder of Rome was another brigand, Romulus; the ancestors of various nations, the founders of other states, were often those who mirrored the stature of Nimrod and Romulus. In contrast, the ancestor of the Israelites was a pious man known as the friend of God, Abraham; their lawgiver was another holy figure, a remarkable miracle worker, Moses; numerous other holy individuals emerged from their lineage; the Messiah Himself, the God-man, was prophesied to be born from the nation of Israel. The inflated pride stemming from their descent from Abraham burdened the people with arrogance, hindering their ability to repent, turn to God, and accept the promised Messiah. Astutely, the great John the Baptist launched the first words of his sermon against the core affliction of the people: their destructive pride. Do not entertain the notion within yourselves, dismiss the hidden thoughts that dwell in your hearts, concerning your father Abraham! Do not claim, "Abraham is our father," for such a grandiose self-view severs any genuine spiritual connection; indeed, it diminishes every bond and relationship between you and Abraham. For I assure you that God can raise children to Abraham from these very stones. Understand that Abraham pleased God through his faith (Rom. 4:3); he served God in spirit and truth, which means that Abraham's true descendants are composed of all those who possess real faith in God, transcending mere ethnic lineage, as he is the father of all who believe, both the uncircumcised and the circumcised, as long as they walk in the footsteps of his faith (Rom. 4:11, 12). It is futile for you, who are consumed by arrogance and pride and who possess a worldly wisdom from the fallen angel, to belittle and scorn other nations. If they appear so estranged from the true understanding of God and so devoid of spiritual vitality that they can be likened to stones, I tell you, God can still raise children of Abraham from these stones!

There will be esteemed inhabitants of the Kingdom of the Messiah arising without your lineage, for I tell you that God is capable of raising up children for Abraham from these very stones upon which you are standing in this river. He will raise children who reflect Abraham’s faith and virtues, who alongside him shall partake in the honor of the Kingdom of Heaven. Indeed, from stones, God can create offspring for him, just as He once gave him a child from a barren woman.”

John reveals to them that their presumed advantage is of little significance to God, as the Almighty can indeed raise up children from the very stones by the Jordan who are worthy of Abraham, in contrast to the arrogant, hypocritical, and unworthy Pharisees who boast of their righteous ancestors. Lineage holds no value for belonging to the kingdom of the Messiah; what is truly essential are genuine virtues. Some interpret these stones as representing the Roman soldiers who approached John (Luke 3:14), or as a symbol for the Gentiles whom God intended to invite into the kingdom of Christ in place of the unfaithful Jews (cf. Chrysostom and Theophilus). The Apostle Paul's teachings on Abraham's true children highlight that being a 'Child of Abraham' means emulating Abraham's virtues and receiving a share in the eternal reward of heaven (Rom. 4:6, 9; Gal. 4, Euth. Sig.). As further noted in Mt. 8:11-12, while John does not dismiss their identification as descendants of these holy figures, he cautions against overreliance on that identity at the expense of leading a virtuous life (Zlat.)."