The Preaching of John, 3:1-12 (Mark 1:1-8; Luke 3:2-17; John 1:6-8, 19-28).
[1] “During those days” could either mean while Jesus was living in Nazareth or simply when Jesus was ready to begin His work. John and Jesus were members of the same clan or family (Luke 1:36). John, the one who immersed people (the baptizer), came to prepare the way for Jesus. He worked in desert areas, away from the cities. The area of John’s work was east of Jerusalem toward the Dead Sea. This was a very dry area with many hills. He also worked in the Jordan valley because he immersed (baptized) people in the Jordan River (Matthew 3:13; Mark 1:5; John 1:28).
[2-3] John preached to help turn people’s hearts to God and His purposes. John’s message (“Change your hearts! The kingdom of heaven is very near!”) was later preached by Jesus (Matthew 4:17) and His disciples (Matthew 10:7). To change one’s heart (to repent) was very important. To change their hearts meant that the Jews had to change their minds. It also meant more. To truly change one’s heart, one had also to change one’s attitude and actions. John let the Jews know that they had to change their minds and their actions (Matthew 3:8-10). Religion was not just a way to deal with God, but it required a certain kind of life. To follow God, they had to try to live a good life. Matthew was the only gospel writer to use the term “the kingdom of heaven.” Others used “the kingdom of God.” The kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God are the same thing. “Kingdom” means the rule of God. John was saying that the time when God would rule men’s lives was near. Those who accept Christ are brought into the kingdom of God’s Son (Colossians 1:13). In the Christian era, this happens on the day one is baptized for the forgiveness of sins. (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:4) Hundreds of years earlier, Isaiah had told about John’s work (Isaiah 40:3). John was not the Messiah, but the one who prepared the way for the Messiah (John 1:19-27).
[4-6] John’s way of life showed he was called by God. His clothing was rough and similar to that of other prophets like Elijah (2 Kings 1:8). His food, grasshoppers and wild honey, was the food of poor people. Even though he worked away from the cities, many people came to hear John. It had been many years since God had sent a prophet to the Jews. Many people were accepting his message. Some, such as the lawyers and Pharisees, did not (Luke 7:30). Those who admitted that they had sinned were immersed (baptized) in the Jordan River. To immerse or baptize means to dip. Paul described Christian immersion as a burial (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12). The Jordan River had plenty of water for immersing. It ran from Lake Galilee to the Dead Sea, a distance of 122 kilometres.
Matthew 3:7-10
7 When John saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his immersions, he said to them, “You are like poisonous snakes! Who told you to run away from God’s punishment which is coming? 8 You must do the things which will show that you really have changed your hearts! 9 Don’t think this to yourselves: ‘Abraham is our father!’ I tell you that God could make children for Abraham from these rocks here. 10 The ax is now ready to cut the trees down. Every tree which does not produce good fruit is being cut down and thrown into fire.
[7] Among those who came to John were Pharisees. The name “Pharisee” meant “separate one.” They were very strict in keeping the law and their traditions. Keeping traditions, they believed, helped them keep the law. Their traditions soon became as important as the law of God (Matthew 15:1-9; Mark 7:9). They rightly believed in angels, spirits, and the resurrection. However, Jesus had conflicts with this group (Matthew 5:20; 23:1ff.). The Sadducees also came to hear John. They were the rich, priestly people. They did not believe in spirits, angels, or the resurrection from the dead. Jesus also had conflicts with the Sadducees (Matthew 22:23ff.). John called them snakes. To call someone a snake was to call him a bad person (Psalm 58:4-5; 140:3; Isaiah 14:29; 59:5). John also suggested that their motives for wanting to be immersed were not right. God will punish the wicked (Romans 1:18; 2:5; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; Revelation 6:16). John said they only wanted a safe place to hide.
[8-9] It was not enough to fear punishment. They had to show by their actions that they wanted to follow God’s way. John wanted proof of their changed hearts. Proof could only be given in the way they lived (Matthew 7:16-20; 12:33; 21:43; Galatians 5:22; James 3:17). Farmers know that the fruit of a tree tells what kind of tree it is. It is also true of a man’s actions. Luke told them what specific changes they had to make (Luke 3:10-14). A man cannot please God by being a member of the right tribe. Many Jews thought that because they were Abraham’s children (Jews), they were safe. This was not a true reason to feel safe (John 8:33ff., 53; Romans 2:17-29; 9:7; 2 Corinthians 11:22). John told them that if God wanted, He could create sons of Abraham out of stones. God looks for a changed heart and life. He does not look for a particular tribe.
[10] The activity of judgement was ready to begin. God would determine which tree was good and which was bad. Because of this, a change of heart and life was very important. Those who would not change would be cut down. Isaiah used the same example (Isaiah 10:33-34). Jesus also used similar words (Matthew 7:19; John 15:2, 6). “Fire” is explained in verses eleven and twelve.
Matthew 3: 11-17
11 “Whenever you change your hearts, I immerse you in water. But there is one coming later who is more important than I am. I am not worthy to carry his shoes. He will immerse you in the Holy Spirit and in fire! 12 He will come ready to clean the grain. He will separate the good grain from the straw. He will put the good part of the grain into his barn. Then he will burn the straw with a fire which cannot be put out.”
13 Then Jesus traveled from the land of Galilee to the Jordan River where John was, so that John could immerse him, 14 but John was trying to stop him. John said, “I need you to immerse me, yet you are coming to me?” 15 Jesus answered him, “Allow this for now, because this is the proper way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John did so. 16 After Jesus was immersed, he came up from the water immediately. Suddenly, the sky was opened for him. He saw the Spirit of God coming down on him like a dove. l7 Suddenly, a Voice came from heaven and said, “This is My Son, and I love him. I am very pleased with him!”
[11-12] John’s immersion (baptism) was given when people changed their hearts. They were then forgiven of their sins (Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3). John’s immersion was also used to prepare the way for Christ. It was replaced by Christian immersion after Christ’s resurrection (Acts 13:24; 19:4). John’s work and immersion pointed to the coming of Christ. He knew he was not as important as the Christ (John 1:19-23; 3:28-30). A slave had the duty of carrying his master’s shoes. John said that he was not worthy to do even that task for Christ. John then used immersion as an illustration of what Christ would do. There are two parts of this immersion: “He will immerse you in the Holy Spirit and in fire!” John was speaking to two groups of people: those who change their hearts and those who do not. There was the immersion of judgement (fire) for those who did not change their hearts. This symbol was used in verses ten and twelve. The fruitless trees and the straw would be burned. In contrast to this, the immersion of the Holy Spirit is a part of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus referred to this statement by John in Acts 1:5. He makes no mention of fire because it did not apply to the apostles, but to the disobedient. The events that occurred on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) and at Cornelius’ house (Acts 10:44; 11:15-16) are the Holy Spirit immersion that John referred to and that Jesus repeated Himself shortly before it happened.
Another judgement activity was mentioned by John. He spoke of grain and straw. The grain would be saved, and the straw would be burned. The meaning is the same as in verse ten.
Jesus Is Immersed by John, 3:13-17 (Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22).
[13-15] If John was immersing at the Jordan near the Dead Sea, Jesus travelled about 105 kilometres to be immersed. It is easy to understand why John did not want to immerse Jesus. For “immerse,” see Matthew 3:6. John was less than a servant (verse 11). Jesus was the Messiah! Yet, Jesus wanted to be immersed “to fulfill all righteousness.” Jesus taught that John’s immersion (baptism) was from heaven (Matthew 21:25, 32). It had been made a requirement by God (Luke 7:29-30). Jesus needed to be immersed because He needed to obey.
[16-17] As soon as Jesus was immersed, the sky opened up for Him. The sky opening up was a sign. John also saw the sign (John 1:32-34). The Spirit came down and confirmed for John that Jesus was the Messiah. A voice from heaven was heard two other times in the Gospels: on the mountain with Moses and Elijah (Matthew 17:5) and when Jesus prayed (John 12:28). At Jesus’ immersion, God confirmed that this was His Son. Jesus was God’s Son in a special, unique way. Jesus was also God (John 1:1, 14) and was now ready for His work as Messiah.
Matthew 4:1-7
4 1 Then the Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the Devil. 2 Jesus did not eat anything for 40 days and nights. After this, Jesus was very hungry. 3 The Devil came and said to Jesus, “Since you are the Son of God, command these rocks to become food.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘A person does not live on food alone. Instead, he lives on every word which comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Deuteronomy 8:3 5 Then the Devil took Jesus into the holy city, Jerusalem, and put him on a very high place of the temple. 6 He said to Jesus, “Since you are the Son of God, jump off! Because it is written: ‘God will command His angels to take care of you.’ Psalm 91:11 and, ‘Their hands will catch you, so that you will not hit your foot against a rock.’ ” Psalm 91:12 7 Jesus answered him, “But this is also written: ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’ ” Deuteronomy 6:16