Matthew
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Matthew 3
Matthew 3
1And in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judæa, saying, 2Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
1In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
2And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Commentary · verses 1-2
3For this is he that was spoken of through Isaiah the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight.
3For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Commentary · verse 3
This verse referenced Isaiah 40:3.
4Now John himself had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
4And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
Commentary · verse 4
See 2 Kings 1:8 for a similar description of Elijah.
5Then went out unto him Jerusalem, and all Judæa, and all the region round about the Jordan;
5Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan,
Commentary · verse 5
The people "went out" to meet with John.
6and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
6And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
Commentary · verse 6
They were baptized by John. Nowhere in the New Testament did a representative of God initiate their will on others by demanding confession. John was in the wilderness, not the city. People going out and intentionally choosing to see John the Baptist was an act of confession. John did not make people confess their sins.
7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said unto them, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance:
7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
Commentary · verses 7-8
The Pharisees and Sadducees were not there for repentance. John preached repentance to people who chose to confess.
9and think 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.
10And even now the axe lieth at the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
9And think 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.
10And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Commentary · verses 9-10
John warned them not to think that because they were Jews they were automatically free from being "cast into the fire." These people chose to come out to see John, so John could initiate any confronting message he desired. The people had the right to leave if they didn't like what John the Baptist was preaching.
Doctrines on this passage
11I indeed baptize you in water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire:
11I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Commentary · verse 11
John's ministry was to baptize in water unto repentance. Jesus would baptize in the Holy Spirit and in fire.
12whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor; and he will gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.
12Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
Commentary · verse 12
Jesus will "burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." This will be uncomfortable but it will cause us to produce more. The Old Testament prophet sections repeatedly stated that precious metals were refined/purified by fire. The Old Testament consistently stated this purifying fire would come at the end of the Tribulation, at the completion of the Dispensation of the Law.
13Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
14But John would have hindered him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
15But Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffereth him.
13Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
14But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
15And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
Commentary · verses 13-15
There were two types of Rabbis (Teachers) of that time:
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Scribes were Torah Teachers. They would teach the first five books of the Old Testament to boys ages five to thirteen. Torah Teachers could only teach what was written.
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The other type of Rabbi was a Semikah Rabbi. This Rabbi could widen Doctrine. A Semikah Rabbi had the authority to declare previously unknown Doctrine as divine. There were very few Semikah Rabbis. Also, a Rabbi could only become a Semikah if two other Semikah laid their hands on him and declared him as Semikah.
John the Baptist was seen as a Semikah Rabbi. In verse 15, Jesus was stating that John, as Semikah, needed to lay his hands on Jesus.
16And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him; 17and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
16And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Commentary · verses 16-17
God immediately laid His Hands on Jesus through the Holy Spirit. God (the Ultimate Semikah Rabbi) and John the Baptist declared Jesus to be a Semikah Rabbi. Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist was the official beginning of Jesus' Ministry. Remember, a leader facilitates the purpose and progress of others. Jesus could not have facilitated His own purpose and progress. There had to be another human who had authority and then facilitated Jesus' purpose and progress. John's mission was to facilitate Jesus' purpose and progress.
Notice, all three Persons of the Trinity were mentioned in verses 16 and 17. The Holy Spirit alighting on Jesus was the baptism of the Holy Spirit to fulness and was emblematic of the baptism of the earth by the Flood. The baptism of the earth was completed when the dove alighted on the earth in Genesis 8:11. Likewise, Jesus' baptism was completed when the Holy Spirit alighted upon Jesus.
Commentary · verse 17
Matthew 1-3 covered the events of Jesus' life prior to the beginning of His Ministry.
Doctrines on this passage
John the Baptist was preaching in the wilderness. This means in order to hear his message, people would have had to intentionally go out to see/hear him.