In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
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.
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.
Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan,
And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
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?
Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
And 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.
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.
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:
Whose 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.
Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
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.
And 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:
And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matthew 3 marks a pivotal moment in the Gospel narrative, bridging the gap between Jesus' early life and the commencement of His public ministry. This chapter introduces John the Baptist, a powerful and unconventional figure, and culminates in the profound event of Jesus' baptism, accompanied by a dramatic display of divine affirmation. Understanding this chapter is crucial to grasping the context and significance of Jesus' mission.
The Ministry of John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-12)
Matthew 3:1-3 highlights John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus, appears in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming a message of repentance. John's ministry was not accidental; it was divinely ordained. Matthew explicitly connects John to the prophecy of Isaiah (Isaiah 40:3), identifying him as the voice crying out in the wilderness, preparing the way for the Lord. This fulfills the role described in Luke 1:16-17, where John is prophesied to "turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah."
John's message was simple yet profound: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:2). Repentance involves a change of mind and heart, a turning away from sin and a turning towards God. It's not merely feeling sorry, but a resolute decision to reverse direction. This call to repentance was essential because the arrival of the King demanded a prepared people. The kingdom of heaven had come near (Matthew 3:2). John wanted people to know that the King had arrived, and his promised earthly kingdom was ready to burst on the scene. Heaven had come to visit earth.
John's appearance and lifestyle were striking. Dressed in camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and eating locusts and wild honey (Matthew 3:4), he mirrored the prophet Elijah (2 Kings 1:8), emphasizing a life of simplicity and devotion. The wilderness, then and now, is not a place of comfort and excitement. It’s a barren place of preparation and development for what God is planning to do. John preached a revival in the wilderness, essentially telling the people, “The Messiah is coming, so you’d better get ready!”
People from Jerusalem and all Judea flocked to hear John, confessing their sins and being baptized in the Jordan River (Matthew 3:5-6). To confess means to agree with. So by confessing their sins and being baptized, the people were making a public declaration that they had changed their minds and agreed with what God said about their sins. If you want to experience heaven’s visitation in your history, true repentance can get you there. Baptism symbolized their repentance and their commitment to a new way of life.
However, John reserved harsh words for the Pharisees and Sadducees, the religious leaders who came to his baptism. He called them a "brood of vipers" (Matthew 3:7), questioning their motives and challenging them to "bear fruit in keeping with repentance" (Matthew 3:8). Why did John accept other people but not this group? Because, although they were OK with listening to his message, they wanted their lives left alone. Like some people today, they didn’t mind attending a church service as long as it didn’t affect how they were running their own affairs. They wanted information, but not transformation. That’s why John challenged them to produce fruit consistent with repentance (Matthew 3:8).
Genuine repentance is confirmed by actions. Similarly, shouting, “Hallelujah! Amen! Praise the Lord!” is fine but insufficient. Repentance shows up in your hands and feet, not just in your lips. Without the fruit, the visible proof of true heart repentance, judgment is coming (Matthew 3:10).
John contrasted his baptism with the one to come, declaring that the Messiah would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11). John’s declaration corresponds to the promise of the prophets (see Ezekiel 36:27; Joel 2:28), and the confirmation of Jesus (see John 14:16-17; 15:26; Acts 1:4-5), and the fulfillment in the early church (see Acts 2:1-4; 10:44-45). This speaks of a deeper, more transformative experience, signifying both spiritual cleansing and the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. He further described the Messiah as one who would separate the wheat from the chaff, a powerful image of judgment (Matthew 3:12).
The Baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:13-17)
In Matthew 3:13-17, Jesus arrives from Galilee to be baptized by John. John, recognizing Jesus' superiority, initially resists, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" (Matthew 3:14). Since John’s message was about repentance, he considered it inappropriate and inconceivable that he would baptize the Messiah, because Jesus had nothing to repent of. Instead, John told him, I need to be baptized by you (3:14).
Jesus insists, stating that it is necessary "to fulfill all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15). This might have been a way of foreshadowing Jesus' sacrificial death and resurrection. Or, it might simply have been a means to formally begin His public ministry. In his substitutionary death on the cross, Jesus would bear the transgressions of sinners and credit them with his perfect righteousness (see 2 Corinthians 5:21). So as his ministry began, he intended to identify with sinful humanity on whose behalf he would perfectly fulfill all the demands of God’s law. This baptism would also identify Jesus with John and affirm his kingdom message.
As Jesus is baptized and comes up out of the water, the heavens open, the Spirit of God descends like a dove, and a voice from heaven declares, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:16-17).
At Jesus’s baptism, we see a Trinitarian affirmation. All three members of the Godhead inaugurated Jesus’s public ministry. As Jesus rose from the water, the Spirit of God descended on him like a dove (Matthew 3:16), and the voice of God the Father proclaimed, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased (Matthew 3:17). No other ministry commissioning service can compare to this one. The Father and the Spirit publicly endorsed the Son for his kingdom mission. Thus, he was prepared for battle with the enemy (4:1-11).
This event is a powerful affirmation of Jesus' identity as the Son of God and the Messiah. The descent of the Holy Spirit signifies His anointing and empowerment for ministry. The Father's voice confirms His divine sonship and approval. The triune God is one God in three persons. The person at work on earth today is the Holy Spirit. Without a relationship to God the Holy Spirit, in fact, there is no relationship to God the Son. And without a relationship to God the Son, there is no relationship to God the Father. It is your relationship to the Holy Spirit that determines how much of Jesus the Son and God the Father you experience today.
The baptism of Jesus marks the beginning of His public ministry and confirms His unique relationship with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. It is a powerful picture of identification, obedience, and divine approval.
In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
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.
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.
Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan,
And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
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?
Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
And 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.
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.
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:
Whose 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.
Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
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.
And 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:
And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matthew 3 marks a pivotal moment in the Gospel narrative, bridging the gap between Jesus' early life and the commencement of His public ministry. This chapter introduces John the Baptist, a powerful and unconventional figure, and culminates in the profound event of Jesus' baptism, accompanied by a dramatic display of divine affirmation. Understanding this chapter is crucial to grasping the context and significance of Jesus' mission.
The Ministry of John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-12)
Matthew 3:1-3 highlights John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus, appears in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming a message of repentance. John's ministry was not accidental; it was divinely ordained. Matthew explicitly connects John to the prophecy of Isaiah (Isaiah 40:3), identifying him as the voice crying out in the wilderness, preparing the way for the Lord. This fulfills the role described in Luke 1:16-17, where John is prophesied to "turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah."
John's message was simple yet profound: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:2). Repentance involves a change of mind and heart, a turning away from sin and a turning towards God. It's not merely feeling sorry, but a resolute decision to reverse direction. This call to repentance was essential because the arrival of the King demanded a prepared people. The kingdom of heaven had come near (Matthew 3:2). John wanted people to know that the King had arrived, and his promised earthly kingdom was ready to burst on the scene. Heaven had come to visit earth.
John's appearance and lifestyle were striking. Dressed in camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and eating locusts and wild honey (Matthew 3:4), he mirrored the prophet Elijah (2 Kings 1:8), emphasizing a life of simplicity and devotion. The wilderness, then and now, is not a place of comfort and excitement. It’s a barren place of preparation and development for what God is planning to do. John preached a revival in the wilderness, essentially telling the people, “The Messiah is coming, so you’d better get ready!”
People from Jerusalem and all Judea flocked to hear John, confessing their sins and being baptized in the Jordan River (Matthew 3:5-6). To confess means to agree with. So by confessing their sins and being baptized, the people were making a public declaration that they had changed their minds and agreed with what God said about their sins. If you want to experience heaven’s visitation in your history, true repentance can get you there. Baptism symbolized their repentance and their commitment to a new way of life.
However, John reserved harsh words for the Pharisees and Sadducees, the religious leaders who came to his baptism. He called them a "brood of vipers" (Matthew 3:7), questioning their motives and challenging them to "bear fruit in keeping with repentance" (Matthew 3:8). Why did John accept other people but not this group? Because, although they were OK with listening to his message, they wanted their lives left alone. Like some people today, they didn’t mind attending a church service as long as it didn’t affect how they were running their own affairs. They wanted information, but not transformation. That’s why John challenged them to produce fruit consistent with repentance (Matthew 3:8).
Genuine repentance is confirmed by actions. Similarly, shouting, “Hallelujah! Amen! Praise the Lord!” is fine but insufficient. Repentance shows up in your hands and feet, not just in your lips. Without the fruit, the visible proof of true heart repentance, judgment is coming (Matthew 3:10).
John contrasted his baptism with the one to come, declaring that the Messiah would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11). John’s declaration corresponds to the promise of the prophets (see Ezekiel 36:27; Joel 2:28), and the confirmation of Jesus (see John 14:16-17; 15:26; Acts 1:4-5), and the fulfillment in the early church (see Acts 2:1-4; 10:44-45). This speaks of a deeper, more transformative experience, signifying both spiritual cleansing and the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. He further described the Messiah as one who would separate the wheat from the chaff, a powerful image of judgment (Matthew 3:12).
The Baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:13-17)
In Matthew 3:13-17, Jesus arrives from Galilee to be baptized by John. John, recognizing Jesus' superiority, initially resists, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" (Matthew 3:14). Since John’s message was about repentance, he considered it inappropriate and inconceivable that he would baptize the Messiah, because Jesus had nothing to repent of. Instead, John told him, I need to be baptized by you (3:14).
Jesus insists, stating that it is necessary "to fulfill all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15). This might have been a way of foreshadowing Jesus' sacrificial death and resurrection. Or, it might simply have been a means to formally begin His public ministry. In his substitutionary death on the cross, Jesus would bear the transgressions of sinners and credit them with his perfect righteousness (see 2 Corinthians 5:21). So as his ministry began, he intended to identify with sinful humanity on whose behalf he would perfectly fulfill all the demands of God’s law. This baptism would also identify Jesus with John and affirm his kingdom message.
As Jesus is baptized and comes up out of the water, the heavens open, the Spirit of God descends like a dove, and a voice from heaven declares, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:16-17).
At Jesus’s baptism, we see a Trinitarian affirmation. All three members of the Godhead inaugurated Jesus’s public ministry. As Jesus rose from the water, the Spirit of God descended on him like a dove (Matthew 3:16), and the voice of God the Father proclaimed, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased (Matthew 3:17). No other ministry commissioning service can compare to this one. The Father and the Spirit publicly endorsed the Son for his kingdom mission. Thus, he was prepared for battle with the enemy (4:1-11).
This event is a powerful affirmation of Jesus' identity as the Son of God and the Messiah. The descent of the Holy Spirit signifies His anointing and empowerment for ministry. The Father's voice confirms His divine sonship and approval. The triune God is one God in three persons. The person at work on earth today is the Holy Spirit. Without a relationship to God the Holy Spirit, in fact, there is no relationship to God the Son. And without a relationship to God the Son, there is no relationship to God the Father. It is your relationship to the Holy Spirit that determines how much of Jesus the Son and God the Father you experience today.
The baptism of Jesus marks the beginning of His public ministry and confirms His unique relationship with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. It is a powerful picture of identification, obedience, and divine approval.