Matthew 3:7 says, But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  The Pharisees and Sadducees were some of the most religious people of their day.  Though they didn't agree with each other on all things, they agreed that they were better than the average Israelite, and felt they were especially better than those of other nations.  They were full of self righteousness.  We see some who profess to be followers of Christ today who are just as full of this same kind of religious pride.  John the Baptist was not someone that they would have come to hear so that they might repent and have a better relationship with God, because they felt they already had the best relationship possible.  John the Baptist called them a generation of vipers and asked who had warned them to flee from the wrath to come.  I believe that God gave John the Baptist the ability to see their inner nature and not just their outward appearance, and I believe that He gives His followers the same ability today.  Just as there was wrath coming to those false religious leaders in that day, so there is today, even if it isn't in this lifetime.  Those who falsely proclaim to be superior to others in their relationship to God based on their own goodness and not God's forgiveness should stand warned of God's coming wrath on them.  Verse eight states, Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:  John the Baptist called on them to bring forth fruits meet for repentance.  I am sure this did not go over too well with the Pharisees and Sadducees.  I believe that they really thought that they were too good to need to repent of anything.  Verse nine advises, And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.  John the Baptist told them not to take pride in their physical circumstances, beginning with the fact that they were children of Abraham.  The children of Abraham were not special because of who they were in the world, but were special because of who they were to God.  God could have just as easily chosen another group of people to use to accomplish His will.  John the Baptist said God could even  raise the stones to be children of Abraham.  I believe that the warning to us is that the only way we can become children of God, as the nation of Israel was supposed to be, is through a personal relationship with God.  Verses ten states, And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  God expects His people to bring forth good fruit, or in other words to be productive in advancing His kingdom.  This is not to earn or keep our salvation, but is simply a result of following the will of God.  I don't believe that we will ever be cast into the fire if we are true followers of Christ, but our works, if they are not according to God's guidance, may be burned up.  Verse eleven states, I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:  John the Baptist recognized his limitations.  He could not baptize to salvation, but only to symbolize the repentance of sin.  One was coming after John the Baptist Who was mightier than he was, and that One was Jesus.  Of course, we know that baptism does not bring salvation, but is only symbolic of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.  Still, only Jesus can bring that salvation.  Like John the Baptist, we must recognize our limitations.  We cannot save any one, but can only point them to the One Who can, Jesus Christ.  Verse twelve warns, Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.  Just as John the Baptist had pronounced woe to the Pharisees and Sadducees, this is a warning to all who claim to be God's people but who have no real relationship with Him.  God will separate the truth believers from the hypocrites.