3:1-12 The Mission of John the Baptist

Passage: Matthew 3:1-12 (BSB)

1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea

2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.'"

4 John wore a garment of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region around the Jordan.

6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

7 But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his place of baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

8 Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance.

9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

10 The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

12 His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

Context

• Where this fits in the book: (what comes before/after)

Observation

What does the passage actually say? Read it 2-3 times before moving on.

• Key repeated words/phrases:
• Who / what / where / when:
• Connecting words (therefore, but, because, so that...):
• Contrasts or comparisons:
• Commands vs. promises:

Interpretation

What did this mean to the original audience? What is the author's main point?

• Main idea of the passage:
• Cross-references (links to related passages):
• Difficult words/phrases and their meaning:
• How does this point to Christ / fit the whole counsel of Scripture?

In Matthew 3 John the Baptist is baptizing people in the Jordan river. Jewish law had two ordinances that would resemble what we call baptism - Priestly Purification, and Proselyte Baptism. These were cleansing rituals performed according to strict traditional guidelines. John was baptizing people and hearing their confession of sins, so this probably upset the Pharisees and Sadducees because it resembled their rituals but was being done outside of their supervision. When John called them a brood of vipers he was basically equating them to the serpent in Genesis, so it was among the greatest of insults he could hurl at them.

And John says that One more powerful than him will come baptizing with the Holy Spirit and with fire. That speaks to me of the first (Holy Spirit) and second (fire) comings of Jesus. Jesus came first to save His people through faith and the impartation of the Holy Spirit. Jesus will come again to judge and destroy those who refuse Him.

Application

What does this mean for me, today?

• Is there a sin to confess, a promise to claim, or a command to obey?
• What would change if I believed/lived this today?
• One specific action step:

Prayer

Turn what you learned into a prayer.

Notes / Questions

Anything unresolved to study further or ask someone about.

Resources

Links to online sources of information or bibliography of useful books.