Matthew 3

• John the Baptist announced the arrival of Jesus (see Mark 1:1–11; Luke 3:1–22; John 1:6–8, 19–34). John helped people get ready to welcome him (Matt 3:3). John drew large crowds (3:5) and gathered a group of followers (9:14). This group continued for a short time as a movement, even after the Christian church began (see Acts 18:24–28).

• John lived in the Judean wilderness. This was symbolic because the wilderness linked to God giving the law (see Exodus 19:1). It also related to God's final redemption of Israel at the end of time (see Isaiah 40:3).

The prophetic call to return to God means turning away from pride and sin and choosing humble obedience to God (compare Isaiah 1:16–20 and Jeremiah 3:11–22). John’s message included specific practical advice (Luke 3:11–14).

Isaiah talked about someone making a path in the desert for God to come back to Israel (Isaiah 40:1–11). John's work got things ready for Jesus to arrive (see Matthew 11:10; compare John 12:41).

John wore the same kind of clothes and ate the same kind of food as Elijah, a prophet who had lived many years before (2 Kings 1:8; Malachi 4:5; Sirach 48:10–11).

• John's ministry became so popular that many people from Jerusalem and Judea came to hear him.

• Confessing their sins: Those who listened to John's preaching and turned away from sin were ready to accept the ministry of Jesus (Luke 7:27, 29).

• they were baptized: John's practice of baptism might have started with the Old Testament idea of purification (see Isaiah 1:16; 4:4; Ezekiel 36:25).

• The Pahrisees' name comes from the Hebrew word perushim, which means separated ones or exact interpreters.

• The Sadducees, a group of priests, probably got their name from Zadok the priest (2 Samuel 15:24–29; Ezekiel 44:10–16).

Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance: John calls for action and real ethical change. Only talking about it is not enough (see Luke 3:10–14; compare Matthew 5:19–20, 46; 7:21; 23:3).

• Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’: Some people had wrong assumptions. They thought that being descendants of Abraham meant they were free from God's judgment.

• A key theme in Matthew is that God will create new children of Abraham. He will include non-Jews (Gentiles) in God's people. He will remove Jews who reject the Messiah (see 8:11–12; 21:43; 22:1–14; 28:16–20; Romans 4:9–25; Galatians 3:6–14, 29).

• One more powerful than I: Even though he was popular and many people continued to follow him, John knew he was less important than the Messiah.

• whose sandals I am not worthy to carry: In Jewish culture, removing and carrying sandals was a task for slaves. Not even a rabbi's disciple would do it.

• with the Holy Spirit and with fire: This happened at Pentecost (see Joel 2:28–29; Acts 2:1–47). This may include the ministry of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit (see Matthew 12:28; Luke 4:14). Fire could mean purification (Zech 13:9) or judgment (Malachi 3:2–3; 4:1; see Isaiah 1:25; 4:4). It is a “Spirit-and-fire baptism.” The Messiah completes what John could only start (full judgment and purification).

Farmers used a winnowing fork to throw harvested grain into the air, letting the useless husks (chaff) blow away.

The Messiah's work separates humanity into two groups:

1. the wheat, those who respond and become God's new people; and

2. the chaff, those who refuse to repent (see Matthew 3:8).

John had already admitted (Matthew 3:11–12) that he was less important than the Messiah, so he felt unworthy to baptize him.

“It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness in this way”: This means completing what the Old Testament required or prophesied (for example, Jeremiah 31:31–34). In Matthew, “righteousness” means acting according to God’s will (see Matthew 5:20; 6:1, 33; 21:32).

The Spirit of God came down like a dove to anoint Jesus, who would bring salvation. This was similar to a king being anointed with oil at his crowning. The Holy Spirit gave Jesus the strength to achieve God's salvation and defeat Satan (see Matthew 12:18, 28). This same Spirit gives strength to the disciples of Jesus (10:20; Acts 1:8).

• This is My beloved Son (see Psalm 2:7): The title “Son of God” explains the nature and role of Jesus (see Matthew 4:3, 6; 14:33; 16:16; 17:5; 26:63; 27:54; 28:19). In his special relationship with God the Father, Jesus achieves salvation as the faithful and obedient Son.

• in whom I am well pleased: God the Father confirmed his Son’s work with words from Isaiah (Isaiah 42:1) and prepared Israel for the work of Jesus.