Matt: Chapter 3

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John the Baptist Prepares the Way

(1) In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, (2) “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Daniel2:44) - And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever. (3) For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, (Isaiah 40:3) -

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.’”

(4) Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. (2 Kings 1:8 ) - They answered him, “He wore a garment of hair, with a belt of leather about his waist.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.” Due to the preceding verse from 2 Kings many thought John to be the reincarnate of Elijah. It was prophesied in Zechariah 13:4 that a prophet would come “in that day” dressed in this way. (5) Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, (6) and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

(7) But when he saw many of the Pharisees (Matthew 23:13) - But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? The wrath spoken of is the wrath God has towards sinners. Only through his son Jesus can any be saved. (8 ) Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. (9) 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. Who you know, who you are related to, how good you are is not what saves you but only the grace of God through Christ. (10) 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. This verse is often used to say that you must show evidence of Christ in your life in order to be called a Christian. How can you claim to love God if you do not show it with your life? That does not mean that, however, that our actions save us. The actions are merely but evidence of the grace held within. If it has no walls, no windows, no roof, no people living there, then it might not be a house. If you have no good fruit then you might not be a Christian.

(11) “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, He basically told them to repent of their sins before the one they are sinning against enters their presence. whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. That’s how humble we should be towards God. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Malachi 3:2-3) - But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD. (12) 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.” Jesus will separate the good from the bad, the believers and the unbelievers. The unbelievers who do not accept the free gift of forgiveness will be burned “with unquenchable fire”: fire and torment that never ends.

The Baptism of Jesus

(13) Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. (14) John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” John the Baptist knew his place in the presence of God. Many do not seem to know how to be humble but we must realize who God is and who we are. Once we make that comparison then well should behave in the same manner as John. (15) But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” This was Jesus’ profession of faith. This is when he showed who he was. This is why Christians should be baptized. Through baptism we declare that we have repented of our sins and that we are followers of God and Christ. Then he consented. (16) And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; (17) and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Isaiah 42:1) - Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. At this moment the Holy Spirit came down like a dove and rested on Christ. This is when not only Christ showed who he belonged to but this is when God said Jesus belonged to him. That is an amazing vision to have for anyone who is baptized: to know that God is claiming you as his own! Oh how great God truly is!