Matthew 3
John the Baptist prepares the way
In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make the way of the Lord ready! Make his paths straight!”
Now John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance! Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.
“I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up 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 one who calls out, “Prepare the way of the LORD in the wilderness! Make a level highway in the desert for our God.
Isaiah 40:3 · WEB 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.