Mathew Chapter 3

Matthew 3:1-2

1In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Kingdom of Heaven

John the Baptist: (Matt 3:2) And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Jesus: (Matt 4:17) From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Apostles: (Matt 10:7) And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew 3:3

For 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.

Isaiah 40:3-5

The voice of him that crieth in the wilder-ness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Matthew 3:4

And 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.

Matthew 3:5-6

5Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, 6And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

3 Baptisms for Believers

1. Into Christ or into His body at repentance and the new birth. Ephes. 4:5 the baptism that saves the soul and brings us into the body of Christ. 2. Water baptism after one is saved Matt. 3:11. 3. Spirit baptism, the endowment of power for service. May take place before water baptism (Acts 10:44-48) or after it (Acts 1:4-8; Acts 2:1-11; Acts 8:12-21)

John the Baptist

• John also dressed like Elijah. John ate locusts and wild honey. 2 Kings 1:8• John is testifying to Jesus’ pre-existence before birth: He was Jesus’ cousin, 6 months older• John - took an unyielding stand against iniquity Mt 14:4

- He was chosen as a Herald John 1:29-31; Luke 1:15

- “To open the door of the sheepfold” John 10:2-3

Chronology

• Tiberius appointed: 14 AD - Augustus died August 19, 14 AD• (Within the) 15th year of Tiberius Luke 3:1• Thus, ministry began in fall 28 AD• 4th Passover: April 6, 32 AD

Sir Robert Anderson - (Other chronologies assume a Friday crucifixion)

Matthew 3:7

But 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?

Religious Leaders

Pharisees: “separatists”The legalists, the ritualists, out of them came the traditions of the Talmudic Jew

Sadducees: liberalists, rationalists “reformed” (modernists, humanists) - Denied the inspiration of the Word - They didn’t believe in the resurrection

Matthew 3:8-9

8Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 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.

Matthew 3:10

And 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.

Matthew 3:11

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 Ghost, and with fire:

Matthew 3:12

Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Matthew 3:13-14

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?

Matthew 3:15

And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

Baptism

• Why did Jesus insist upon being baptized? Did Jesus have any sins to confess? - He was sinless 2 Cor 5:21; 1 Pet 2:22

1 John 3:5; John 14:3; Isa 53:12

• At John’s baptism, Jesus is declaring publicly His identity with the sinner.• This is His formal opening for His ministry: - The Father, through the voice; - The Holy Spirit, descending dove-like; - The Son being baptized.

Matthew 3:16-17

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.

John 1Parallel Text

John 1:6-9

6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

John 1:10-1310He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 1:14-1614And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 15John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

John 1:17-19

17For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. 19And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?

John 1:20-22

20And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 21And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. 22Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

3 People Anticipated

• Judaism is expecting 3 different people: - The Messiah (in a generic sense), - Elijah (prophesied to return) Mal 4:5-6

- The Prophet of Moses: “that prophet” Deut 18

- John denies being any of the three expected

• Matt 17 shows that Elijah and Moses have a peculiar role beyond their earthly ministry - The Two Witnesses? Rev 11

John 1:23-25

23He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. 24And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. 25And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?

John 1:26-28

26John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; 27He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose. 28These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

John 1:29-3129The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 30This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. 31And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

John 1:32-33

32And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

John 1:34-36

34And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. 35Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; 36And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

End of Matthew Chapter 3