John told them to prepare by repenting and being baptized. “Repenting” is to make up your mind to leave sin and to live for God.
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:1-2).
John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming [preaching] a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. (Mark 1:4).
By repenting, the people promised to do right in the future. There had to be full preparation for the pure and holy King. Even past sins had to be removed, by forgiveness. Those who repented had to be baptized. John became known as “John the Baptizer,” or “John the Baptist.” (The word “baptize” comes from Greek. In that language it means to dip under water. That is why John baptized “in the Jordan” and where water was “plentiful,” Mark 1:5; John 3:23.)
Baptism by John divided the people. Those who wanted to get ready for the Messiah (the Chosen One) confessed their sins and were baptized. But others, especially religious leaders, were too proud. They would not say how sinful they were. Baptism was simple obedience to God’s command. It meant trusting God for forgiveness. Their hard hearts had no room for obedient trust.
When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John, but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him (Luke 7:29-30).
ERV: When the people heard this, they all agreed that God’s teaching was good. Even the tax collectors agreed. These were the people who were baptized by John. But the Pharisees and experts in the law refused to accept God’s plan for themselves; they did not let John baptize them.