King James Bible
"Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin 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 demands tangible evidence of genuine heart change—actions and behaviors that demonstrate true turning from sin. The agricultural metaphor of bearing fruit emphasizes that authentic repentance naturally produces visible transformation in one's life. John preemptively confronts the Jewish tendency to rely on ethnic heritage and covenant lineage for salvation. Many assumed their descent from Abraham guaranteed divine favor, but John warns against this false security that substitutes ancestry for personal righteousness. John dramatically illustrates God's sovereign power and the worthlessness of mere physical descent by pointing to nearby stones. This hyperbolic statement emphasizes that God's covenant people are defined by faith and obedience, not bloodline, foreshadowing the inclusion of Gentiles in God's family.