IN THOSE DAYS - The days here referred to cannot be those mentioned in the preceding chapter, for John was but six months older than Christ. Perhaps Matthew intended to embrace in his narrative the whole time that Jesus lived at Nazareth; and the meaning is, “in those days while Jesus still dwelt at... [ Continue Reading ]
REPENT YE - Repentance implies sorrow for past offences 2 Corinthians 7:10; a deep sense of the evil of sin as committed against God Psalms 51:4; and a full purpose to turn from transgression and to lead a holy life. A true penitent has sorrow for sin, not only because it is ruinous to his soul, but... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PROPHET ESAIAS - The prophet Isaiah. Esaias is the Greek mode of writing the name. This passage is taken from Isaiah 40:3. It is here said to have been spoken in reference to John, the forerunner of Christ. The language is such as was familiar to the Jews. and such as they would understand. It w... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS RAIMENT OF CAMEL’S HAIR - His clothing. This is not the fine hair of the camel from which our elegant cloth is made called camlet, nor the more elegant stuff brought from the East Indies under the name of “camel’s hair,” but the long shaggy hair of the camel, from which a coarse cheap cloth is m... [ Continue Reading ]
JERUSALEM - The people of Jerusalem. ALL JUDEA - Many people from Judea. It does not mean that literally all the people went, but that great multitudes went. It was general. Jerusalem was in the part of the country called Judea. Judea was situated on the west side of the Jordan. See the notes at Ma... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE BAPTIZED - The word “baptize” βαπτίζω baptizo signifies originally to tinge, to dye, to stain, as those who dye clothes. It here means to cleanse or wash anything by the application of water. See the notes at Mark 7:4. Washing, or ablution, was much in use among the Jews, as one of the rites o... [ Continue Reading ]
PHARISEES AND SADDUCEES - The Jews were divided into three great sects - the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Essenes. In addition to these, some smaller sects are mentioned in the New Testament and by Josephus: the Herodians, probably political friends of Herod; the Galileans, a branch of the Phar... [ Continue Reading ]
BRING FORTH THEREFORE FRUITS ... - That is, the proper fruits of reformation; the proper evidence that you are sincere. Do not bring your cunning and dissimulation to this work; do not carry your hypocrisy into your professed repentance, but evince your sincerity by forsaking sin, and thus give evid... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THINK NOT TO SAY ... - They regarded it as sufficient righteousness that they were descended from so holy a man as Abraham. Compare John 8:33, John 8:53. John assured them that this was a matter of small consequence in the sight of God. Of the very stones of the Jordan he could raise up children... [ Continue Reading ]
THE AXE IS LAID AT THE ROOT OF THE TREE - Laying the axe at the root of a tree is intended to denote that the tree is to be cut down. It was not merely to be trimmed, or to be cut about the limbs, but the very tree itself was to be struck. That is, a searching, trying kind of preaching has been comm... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSE SHOES I AM NOT WORTHY TO BEAR - The word translated here as “shoes” has a signification different from what it has in our language. At first, in order to keep the feet from the sharp stones or the burning sand, small pieces of wood were fastened to the soles of the feet, called “sandals.” Leat... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS FAN - The word used here and rendered “fan” means a winnowing shovel instead. It was used for throwing the grain, after it was threshed, into the air, so that the chaff might be driven away by the wind. This mode of separating the grain from the chaff is still practiced in the East. It is not pr... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN COMETH JESUS - The Saviour is now introduced as about to enter on his work, or as about to be solemnly set apart to his great office of Messiah and Redeemer. The expression “cometh” implies that the act was voluntary on his part; that he went for that purpose and for no other. He left the part... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN FORBADE HIM - Refused him. I HAVE NEED - It is more suitable that I should be baptized with thy baptism, the Holy Spirit, than that thou shouldest be baptized in water by me. I am a sinner, and unworthy to administer this to the Messiah.... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS IT BECOMETH US - It is suitable and proper. And though you may feel yourself unworthy, yet it is proper it should be done. ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS - There was no particular precept in the Old Testament requiring this, but he chose to give the sanction of his example to the baptism of John, as to a d... [ Continue Reading ]
OUT OF THE WATER - This shows that he had descended to the river. It literally means, “he went up directly from the water.” The original does not imply that they had descended into the river, and it cannot be proved, therefore, from this passage, that his baptism was by immersion; nor can it be prov... [ Continue Reading ]
A VOICE FROM HEAVEN - A voice from God. This was probably heard by all who were present. This voice, or sound, was repeated on the mount of transfiguration, Matthew 17:5; Luke 9:35; 2 Peter 1:17. It was also heard just before his death, and was then supposed by many to be thunder, John 12:25. It was... [ Continue Reading ]