MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 3:1 John the Baptist Prepares for the Messianic Kingdom. John now appears, preaching in the Judean desert. It is more than 25 years since Joseph and his family moved back to Nazareth. Matthew’s focus shifts to Jesus’ public ministry. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsB... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 3:2 To REPENT, or “change one’s mind,” called for a change in a person’s attitude toward God that affected one’s actions and life choices. The term KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is found only in Matthew’s Gospel. It is interchangeable with “kingdom of God,” found in the other Gospels (co... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 3:3 John the Baptist fulfills Isaiah 40:3. He also fulfills the prophecies in Malachi 1:1 about the messenger who prepares the way for the Lord (Malachi 3:1; compare Matthew 11:10) and about Elijah (Malachi 4:5; compare Matthew 11:14;... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 3:4 A GARMENT OF CAMEL’S HAIR. John’s appearance was common to nomads. LOCUSTS AND WILD HONEY were (and still are) a source of food for people living in the desert. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 3:5 “Baptize” means “to plunge, dip, immerse.” When people WERE BAPTIZED BY HIM, going under the water symbolized the cleansing of sin. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 3:7 The PHARISEES were Jewish laymen, popular with the common people and connected to local synagogues. They followed extensive extrabiblical traditions, which they carefully obeyed as a means of applying the law to daily life. The SADDUCEES were a small, aristocratic, pries... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 3:11 BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND FIRE. John’s water baptism will be replaced by the baptism associated with the Messiah, HE WHO IS COMING (see note on 1 Cor. 12:13). The Holy Spirit will be “poured out” (compare Joel 2:28; Acts 2:16). Unbelievers will receive the jud... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 3:12 WINNOWING FORK (see Ruth 3:2) signifies the separation of those who repent and those who do not. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 3:15 FULFILL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS. Jesus’ baptism begins his ministry and fulfills God’s saving activity prophesied throughout the OT (see John 1:31). Although he needed no repentance or cleansing, Jesus is baptized to identify with the sinful people he came to save through his... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 3:16 The SPIRIT OF GOD anoints Jesus as Israel’s King and Messiah and commissions him as God’s righteous “servant” (see Isaiah 42:1). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 3:17 The VOICE FROM HEAVEN confirms the eternal relationship that the Son and Father share. It also identifies Jesus as the messianic Son of God (Psalms 2:7). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]