Later on, they are haunted by something, a vague sense of emptiness, but they can't quite identify it. What they don't realize is that what haunts them is their impenitent, unforgiven state of being. What haunts them is that they were never held accountable, and thus they were never forgiven. What haunts them is the same thing that haunts high school seniors with straight A averages who cannot read or write. Because they could not fail, they also have not succeeded.
Life seems sweet in a way, but life has also become meaningless.
When John sees the crowds coming to be baptized by him, he calls them a brood of vipers, which is a terrible way for a pastor to greet candidates for baptism. He asks them whether their fear of the future isn't what really motivates them. Then abruptly he shifts focus and begins to talk about the present. Whoever has two undershirts must share with anyone who has none , he says, and whoever has food must do likewise. When tax collectors and Jewish mercenary soldiers come to him, he does not tell them to change occupations.