Matthew 3
John the Baptist prepares the way
In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 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 Judaea, 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.
John the Baptist appears in the Judean wilderness, calling people to repent because the kingdom of heaven is near. Crowds come to be baptised in the Jordan, confessing their sins. John warns religious leaders that descent from Abraham will not save them, and announces a mightier one who will baptise with the Holy Spirit and fire.
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Scripture connection · Quotation
Matthew 3:3 quotes Isaiah 40:3
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Isaiah 40:3 · KJV Isaiah 40 announces comfort and a road home for exiles. All four Gospels apply this voice to John the Baptist.
What does this mean?
To 'repent' means to change one's mind and direction of life. 'Kingdom of heaven' is Matthew's usual phrase where Mark and Luke say 'kingdom of God'; many scholars think it reflects a reverent Jewish habit of avoiding direct reference to God. A 'fan' (KJV) or winnowing fork tossed threshed grain so the wind carried off the chaff.
Historical context
John's camel-hair clothing and leather belt recall the prophet Elijah (2 Kings 1:8). Locusts were permitted food under the Law (Leviticus 11:22). Pharisees were a lay movement devoted to careful observance of the Law; Sadducees were an aristocratic, priestly group linked with the temple. The Jewish historian Josephus also describes John as a popular preacher who was executed by Herod Antipas.
Editorial notes, not scripture.
Told in all four Gospels
Mark 1:1–8
John the Baptist prepares the way
How Mark tells it
Mark has no birth or childhood story and opens directly with John. His John says nothing of judgment by fire, axes or chaff and gives no moral instruction, as he does in Matthew and Luke; his message is wholly about the mightier one to come. Only Mark has John say he is unworthy to 'stoop down' to untie his sandals.
Continue reading in Mark →Luke 3:1–20
John the Baptist prepares the way
How Luke tells it
Only Luke dates John's ministry by the rulers of the day, records his instructions to crowds, tax collectors and soldiers, and extends the Isaiah quotation to "all flesh." He addresses the whole crowd as "vipers" (Matthew: Pharisees and Sadducees) and reports John's imprisonment here, before Jesus' baptism.
Continue reading in Luke →John 1:19–28
John the Baptist's testimony
How John tells it
John's Gospel gives no description of the Baptist's clothing or diet and no preaching of repentance or judgment. Instead an official delegation from Jerusalem questions him, and he explicitly denies being the Christ, Elijah or "the prophet". Where the other Gospels apply Isaiah's words to him in their own narration, here he applies them to himself.
Continue reading in John →How Matthew tells it
Only Matthew gives John the same opening message Jesus later preaches (4:17). Matthew aims John's 'offspring of vipers' warning at Pharisees and Sadducees; Luke addresses it to the crowds and adds John's practical advice to tax collectors and soldiers. Mark's account is the briefest, and in John's Gospel the Baptist denies being the Messiah or Elijah.