Matthew 3:1-12

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
    make his paths straight.’”
Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Matthew 3:1-12

The story changes scenes and focuses on a new character.  John the Baptist is a weird guy.  He is in the wilderness and he dresses funny.  I don't think the latest style in those days was to wear camel's hair and a leather belt.  He also had a different diet, which consisted of locusts and wild honey.  As weird as he was, he definitely holds some significance.  He bring a message of repentance.  This is important because it is yet another fulfillment of prophecy.  He is this one whom the prophecy speaks of, preparing the way of the Lord.  His message wasn't fruitless either, having many people going out to him, being baptized and confessing their sins.

Now, we get to see yet another character (or set of characters) enter the scene.  The Pharisees and Sadducees come to be baptized as well, but John will have none of it.  He immediately launches a verbal assault on them.  John sees their hypocrisy and challenges them to be truly repentant, since this was a baptism of repentance.  He warns that they are destined for destruction otherwise.

John brings to light the one who is mightier than he.  He may have shown that he could stand up to these Pharisees and Sadducees, but there is one who is coming who is much greater than even John.  He is the one who will "gather his wheat into the barn" and burn the chaff that remains.  Perhaps a scary thought for hypocritical Pharisees and Sadducees, if they were listening of course.