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| Chapter 3 |
| Bible Text | Notes and Thoughts |
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1 ¶ In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, "Repent ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." 3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.’" 4 And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leather girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then there went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region round about the Jordan. 6 And they were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 ¶ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said unto them, "O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance, 9 and think not to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say unto you that God is able from these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 10 And now also the ax 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. 11 I 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 Spirit and with fire. 12 His fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His threshing floor and gather His wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." 13 ¶ Then came Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto John to be baptized by him. 14 But John forbad Him, saying, "I have need to be baptized by Thee, and comest Thou to me?" 15 And Jesus answering said unto him, "Suffer it to be so now, for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness." Then John suffered Him. 16 And Jesus, when He had been 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. 17 And lo, a voice came from Heaven, saying, "THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED." |
The Ministry of Jesus Begins. The baptism and temptation of the Christ. Matt 3:1-4:25. John the Baptist makes his public appearance before Jesus to prepare the people for the coming Messiah. Luke 1:5-25, Luke 1:57-80 provide full details and description of the birth of John the Baptist. v1 John the Baptist did his preaching near the River Jordan, in the northern part of the wilderness of Judea, a barren area spreading out from the western shore of the Dead Sea. v2 John’s task was to prepare the way for the coming Messiah, Jesus. The message was "to repent" or ‘change the mind,’ not just a change of opinion but a complete change in attitude to a wrong life and sin, this was associated with a feeling of sorrow and change of how a person lived. "The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand" is based upon Daniel 2:44; Daniel 7:13,14,27. A promised Messianic Kingdom, Jesus was about to be shown to be the king of this kingdom. This kingdom needed preparation by the people to enter into this Kingdom of God. v3,4 Isaiah 40:3-5, shows a definite prophecy to John the Baptist. Clothes of camel hair and leather are similar to Elijah,’s 2 Kings 1:8 and were a symbol of a prophet. Locusts, an easily available and permitted food, Leviticus 11:22. v5,6 The Jewish people responded to the preaching of John and as a sign of acceptance and repentance were being baptized by John. Baptism was performed when a non-Jew becoming a follower of the Jewish faith, a proselyte. It was also sometimes used as a sign of purifying. This action by John was not therefore new, the meaning however was. v7-10 Pharisees and Sadducees. They claimed to be the protectors of the Mosaic Law but here we see John challenging their work, John is able to see the reason for their act of "repenting," it was just a display, not from their hearts, they were like a snake trying to escape from danger. One of the claims of the Jew was that they were descendants of Abraham, the man chosen by God. But John said this will not protect you from the anger of God. For God could create people who will follow Him just from the stones at the feet of John. The coming "axe" shows that the people who were not wanting to serve God are about to be cut down. v11,12 John speaks of a future baptism which would involve more than just a dip in a river as a sign of repentance. Two events appear to be spoken of by John, Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was given to the believers and the "Fire of Judgement" still to come. John did not indicate that there was a long time period between these two events. v12-17 The Baptism of Jesus. Mark 1:9-12; Luke 3:21,22; John 1:29-34. v13,14 John recognized Jesus when He came to be baptized, they were related but somehow John now recognized the fact that Jesus was the promised Messiah. Jesus was not repenting of any personal sin, He came to identify Himself with those who were repenting and as a sign of the ministry He was about to start. Jesus was about to become the "Priest" and as such He had to be 30 years old and washed and anointed as Priest. See Luke 3:23; Numbers 4:1-4; Exodus 29:4-7; Leviticus 8:6-36. v16,17 The appearance of the Holy Spirit was confirmation to John the Baptist that this was the Messiah. The Spirit had previously come upon Old Testament prophets during their ministries for help and guidance but now the Spirit comes on Jesus without measure. A Dove was a symbol of purity and peace. Jesus was divinely consecrated for the ministry and work of the Priest. The voice from heaven comes at three points in the Ministry of Jesus, at His Baptism, at His Transfiguration Matt 17:5. Just before the cross, John 12:28. |
Easy English Translation
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