Matthew 3:1
In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea
In those days
This phrase situates the narrative within a specific historical context, indicating a transition from the previous events described in Matthew 2. It suggests a period of divine activity and fulfillment of prophecy. The phrase "in those days" often marks significant moments in biblical history, drawing attention to God's unfolding plan. Historically, this was a time of great expectation among the Jewish people for the coming of the Messiah, as they were under Roman occupation and longing for deliverance.

John the Baptist
John is a pivotal figure in the New Testament, serving as the forerunner to Jesus Christ. His title, "the Baptist," highlights his central role in administering the baptism of repentance. The name "John" (Greek: Ἰωάννης, Ioannes) is derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning "Yahweh is gracious." John's life and ministry were a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, such as those found in Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 3:1, which speak of a messenger preparing the way for the Lord. His unique lifestyle and message set him apart as a prophet in the tradition of Elijah, calling people to repentance and readiness for the coming Kingdom of God.

came
The verb "came" (Greek: παραγίνεται, paraginomai) implies a sudden or significant arrival. John's emergence in the narrative is not just a physical arrival but a divinely appointed mission. His coming marks the beginning of a new era in God's redemptive history, as he prepares the way for Jesus. This word underscores the divine timing and purpose behind John's ministry, as he steps onto the stage of history to fulfill his prophetic role.

preaching
The act of preaching (Greek: κηρύσσων, kērussōn) is central to John's ministry. This term conveys the idea of proclaiming or heralding a message with authority. John's preaching was not merely informative but transformative, calling people to repentance and a new way of life. His message was urgent and authoritative, echoing the prophetic tradition of calling God's people back to faithfulness. Preaching in this context is a divine mandate, as John serves as God's mouthpiece to prepare the hearts of the people for the coming Messiah.

in the wilderness of Judea
The wilderness (Greek: ἐρήμῳ, erēmō) is a significant location in biblical history, often associated with testing, preparation, and divine encounters. It is in the wilderness that God met with His people, such as during the Exodus, and where prophets like Elijah experienced God's presence. The wilderness of Judea, a rugged and desolate region, symbolizes a place of spiritual renewal and repentance. John's choice of this location for his ministry is intentional, drawing people away from the distractions of daily life to a place where they can encounter God. The wilderness setting also fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah 40:3, emphasizing the need for spiritual preparation and purification in anticipation of the Lord's coming.

Persons / Places / Events
1. John the Baptist
A pivotal figure in the New Testament, John is known for his role as the forerunner to Jesus Christ. He is characterized by his ascetic lifestyle and his powerful call to repentance. His ministry marks the transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant.

2. Wilderness of Judea
This is the region where John the Baptist conducted his ministry. The wilderness symbolizes a place of preparation and purification, echoing the Israelites' journey through the desert and the prophetic tradition of encountering God in desolate places.

3. Preaching
John's primary activity was preaching, specifically calling people to repentance in preparation for the coming Messiah. His message was direct and urgent, emphasizing the need for spiritual renewal.
Teaching Points
The Call to Repentance
John's message is timeless, reminding us of the importance of repentance in our spiritual journey. Repentance is not just a one-time act but a continual turning away from sin and turning towards God.

Preparation for Christ's Coming
Just as John prepared the way for Jesus' first coming, we are called to prepare our hearts for His return. This involves living a life of holiness and readiness.

The Wilderness Experience
The wilderness is often a place of testing and growth. In our own lives, we may experience "wilderness" seasons that God uses to refine and prepare us for greater purposes.

Boldness in Proclaiming Truth
John's fearless proclamation of truth, even in the face of opposition, challenges us to be bold in sharing the Gospel and standing firm in our faith.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does John the Baptist's message of repentance challenge your current spiritual walk?

2. In what ways can you prepare your heart for Christ's return, drawing from John's example in the wilderness?

3. Reflect on a "wilderness" experience in your life. How did it prepare you for a deeper relationship with God?

4. How can you be bold in proclaiming the truth of the Gospel in your community, following John's example?

5. What connections do you see between John's ministry and the prophecies in Isaiah and Malachi, and how do they affirm the continuity of God's plan throughout Scripture?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Isaiah 40:3
This prophecy speaks of a voice calling in the wilderness to prepare the way for the Lord, directly connecting to John's role as the one who prepares the way for Jesus.

Malachi 3:1
This verse predicts the coming of a messenger who will prepare the way before the Lord, further establishing John's prophetic mission.

Luke 1:76-77
This passage highlights John's role as a prophet who will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, emphasizing his mission of calling people to repentance.
John the BaptistD. C. Hughes,M. A.Matthew 3:1
Solitude Necessary to Inward RealizationS. Brooke, M. A.Matthew 3:1
Solitude Sometimes Conducive to UsefulnessB. Jones.Matthew 3:1
The Herald of the KingAlexander MaclarenMatthew 3:1
The Mission of PreachingR. Tuck Matthew 3:1
WildernessJeremy Taylor.Matthew 3:1
Wilderness of JudaeaLieut. Condor, R. E.Matthew 3:1
Preparation for ChristW.F. Adeney Matthew 3:1-3
The HeraldJ.A. Macdonald Matthew 3:1-4
The ForerunnerMarcus Dods Matthew 3:1-12
The Appearance of John the BaptistP.C. Barker Matthew 3:1-15
People
Esaias, Isaiah, Jesus, John
Places
Galilee, Jerusalem, Jordan River, Judea
Topics
Appearance, Baptist, Baptizer, Desert, John, Judaea, Judea, Preaching, Proclaiming, Saying, Waste, Wilderness
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Matthew 3:1

     4230   desert
     5098   John the Baptist

Matthew 3:1-2

     2376   kingdom of God, coming
     5048   opportunities, and salvation

Matthew 3:1-3

     1429   prophecy, OT fulfilment
     5335   herald
     5624   witnesses, to Christ

Matthew 3:1-6

     6029   sin, forgiveness
     6735   repentance, examples
     7240   Jerusalem, history
     7757   preaching, effects

Matthew 3:1-12

     8168   way, the

Matthew 3:1-15

     5098   John the Baptist

Library
February 14. "He Shall Baptize You with Fire" (Matt. Iii. 11).
"He shall baptize you with fire" (Matt. iii. 11). Fire is strangely intense and intrinsic. It goes into the very substance of things. It somehow blends with every particle of the thing it touches. There are the severe trials that come to minds more sensitive, to the minds that have more points of contact with what hurts; so that the higher the nature the higher the joy, and the greater the avenues of pain that come. And then there are deeper trials that come as we pass into the hands of God, as we
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

The Baptism in Fire
'He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.'--MATT. iii. 11 There is no more pathetic figure in Scripture than that of the forerunner of our Lord. Lonely and ascetic, charged to light against all the social order of which he was a part, seeing many of his disciples leave him for another master; then changing the free wilderness for a prison cell, and tortured by morbid doubts; finally murdered as the victim of a profligate woman's hate and a profligate man's perverse sense of honour:
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Dove of God
'He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him.' MATT. iii. 16. This Gospel of Matthew is emphatically the gospel of the Kingdom. It sets forth Jesus as the long-promised Messiah, the Son of David. And this conception of Him and of His work, whilst it runs through the whole of the Gospel, is more obviously influential in shaping the selection of incidents and colouring the cast of the language, in the early portion. Hence the genealogy with which the Gospel begins dwells
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Herald of the King
'In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2. And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3. 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. 4. 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. 5. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Baptism of Jesus
'Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14. But John forbad Him, saying, I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me? 15. And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered Him. 16. And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: 17.
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Repentance,
And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of Heaven is at band.--MATT. iii. 2. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.--MATT. iv. 17. "Whereupon, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: but shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Qentiles, that they should repent and torn to God, and do works meet for repentance."--ACTS xxvi. 19,20. In the mouths of three
Catherine Booth—Godliness

John the Baptist's Person and Preaching.
(in the Wilderness of Judæa, and on the Banks of the Jordan, Occupying Several Months, Probably a.d. 25 or 26.) ^A Matt. III. 1-12; ^B Mark I. 1-8; ^C Luke III. 1-18. ^b 1 The beginning of the gospel [John begins his Gospel from eternity, where the Word is found coexistent with God. Matthew begins with Jesus, the humanly generated son of Abraham and David, born in the days of Herod the king. Luke begins with the birth of John the Baptist, the Messiah's herald; and Mark begins with the ministry
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus Baptized by John in the Jordan.
(Jordan East of Jericho, Spring of a.d. 27.) ^A Matt. III. 13-17; ^B Mark I. 9-11; ^C Luke III. 21-23. ^b 9 And { ^a 13 Then} ^b it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came { ^a cometh} ^b from Nazareth of Galilee, ^a to the Jordan [Tradition fixes upon a ford of Jordan east of Jericho as the place where Jesus was baptized. It is the same section of the river which opened for the passage of Israel under Joshua, and later for Elijah and Elisha. This ford is seventy or eighty miles from Nazareth]
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

In the Fifteenth Year of Tiberius Cæsar and under the Pontificate of Annas and Caiaphas - a Voice in the Wilderness
THERE is something grand, even awful, in the almost absolute silence which lies upon the thirty years between the Birth and the first Messianic Manifestation of Jesus. In a narrative like that of the Gospels, this must have been designed; and, if so, affords presumptive evidence of the authenticity of what follows, and is intended to teach, that what had preceded concerned only the inner History of Jesus, and the preparation of the Christ. At last that solemn silence was broken by an appearance,
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Baptism of Jesus: Its Higher Meaning.
The more we think of it, the better do we seem to understand how that Voice crying in the wilderness: Repent! for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand,' awakened echoes throughout the land, and brought from city, village, and hamlet strangest hearers. For once, every distinction was levelled. Pharisee and Sadducee, outcast publican and semi-heathen soldier, met here as on common ground. Their bond of union was the common hope of Israel' - the only hope that remained: that of the Kingdom.' The long winter
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Baptism with the Holy Spirit.
One of the most deeply significant phrases used in connection with the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures is "baptized with the Holy Ghost." John the Baptist was the first to use this phrase. In speaking of himself and the coming One he said, "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" (Matt. iii. 11). The second "with" in this passage is in italics. It is
R. A. Torrey—The Person and Work of The Holy Spirit

Conversion --Human Agency In
What part and responsibility pertain to the human will in this matter? Before we leave the subject of conversion, it is important that we consider and understand this question also. For on this point also grievous and dangerous views and practices prevail. Human nature tends to extremes. Here too, there is a tendency to go too far, either in the one direction or the other. There are those, on the one hand, who virtually and practically make this change of heart and of nature a human work. They
G. H. Gerberding—The Way of Salvation in the Lutheran Church

The Present, a Dispensation of Means.
We have seen that the carnal, sinful nature of the child unfits it for the kingdom of heaven; that, therefore, there must be a change in that nature, even the birth of a new life, and the life of a new creature, before there can be either part or lot in the kingdom of God. We have also expressed our firm conviction that it is the good and gracious will of God in Christ to bestow upon the poor sin-sick and unholy child the Grace needed to so change it as to make it a partaker of His great salvation.
G. H. Gerberding—The Way of Salvation in the Lutheran Church

Oration on the Holy Lights.
Oration on the Holy Lights. The Oration on the Holy Lights was preached on the Festival of the Epiphany 381, and was followed the next day by that on Baptism. In the Eastern Church this Festival is regarded as more particularly the commemoration of our Lord's Baptism, and is accordingly one of the great days for the solemn ministration of the Sacrament. It is generally called Theophania, and the Gospel in the Liturgy is S. Matthew iii. 13-17. The Sunday in the Octave is called meta ta phota (After
St. Cyril of Jerusalem—Lectures of S. Cyril of Jerusalem

Power --Its Source
In vain do the inhabitants of London go to their conduits for supply unless the man who has the master-key turns the water on; and in vain do we think to quench our thirst at ordinances, unless God communicates the living water of His Spirit.--Anon. It was the custom of the Roman emperors, at their triumphal entrance, to cast new coins among the multitudes; so doth Christ, in His triumphal ascension into heaven, throw the greatest gifts for the good of men that were ever given.--T. Goodwin. To
Dwight L. Moody—Secret Power

My Beloved is White and Ruddy, the Chiefest among Ten Thousand.
My Well-beloved, replies the Spouse, is white by His purity, innocence and simplicity. He is ruddy by His charity, and because He has chosen to be dyed and purpled in His own blood. He is white by His frankness, ruddy by the fire of His love. He is chiefest among ten thousand, that is to say, He is above all I have chosen and preferred Him to every other. His Father has chosen Him above all the children of men as His Beloved Son in whom He is well pleased (Matt. iii. 17). In short, if you would know,
Madame Guyon—Song of Songs of Solomon

"Because I have Lived So Many Years"
Monday, 20.--We embarked between three and four in the morning, in a very small, inconvenient sloop, and not a swift sailer; [38] so that we were seven hours in sailing what is called seven leagues. About eleven we landed at St. Helier, and went straight to Mr. Brackenbury's house. It stands very pleasantly, near the end of the town; it has a large, convenient garden, with a lovely range of fruitful hills, which rise at a small distance from it. I preached in the evening to an exceedingly serious
John Wesley—The Journal of John Wesley

The King's Herald.
"On Jordan's banks the Baptist's cry Announces that the Lord is nigh; Awake and hearken, for he brings Glad tidings of the King...." When the Saviour of the world was about to enter upon His public ministry, the Jewish nation was startled with the cry, "The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand" (S. Matt. iii. 2). Such was God's call to His people of old time, to prepare themselves to take part in the fulfilment of the promises, on which their faith and hopes were founded. The fulness of the times had come;
Edward Burbidge—The Kingdom of Heaven; What is it?

The Synoptic Gospels
ALL the gospels describe the sufferings and death of Christ with a minuteness which has no parallel in their narratives of other events of His life, and they all, to a certain extent, by references to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy or otherwise, indicate their sense of its meaning and importance. This, however, reveals the mind of the evangelists rather than that of the Lord. It is in His life, rather than in the record of His death itself, that we must look for indications of His mind.
James Denney—The Death of Christ

Repentance and Restitution.
"God commandeth all men everywhere to repent."--Acts xvii. 30. Repentance is one of the fundamental doctrines of the Bible. Yet I believe it is one of those truths that many people little understand at the present day. There are more people to-day in the mist and darkness about Repentance, Regeneration, the Atonement, and such-like fundamental truths, than perhaps on any other doctrines. Yet from our earliest years we have heard about them. If I were to ask for a definition of Repentance, a great
Dwight L. Moody—The Way to God and How to Find It

Christ's Priestly Office
Q-35: HOW DOES CHRIST EXECUTE THE OFFICE OF A PRIEST? A: In his once offering up of himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God, and in making continual intercession for us. 'Now once in the end of the world has he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.' Heb 9:96. What are the parts of Christ's priestly office? Christ's priestly office has two parts - his satisfaction and intercession. I. His Satisfaction; and this consists of two branches. [1] His active
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

The First Ministry of the Baptist.
(LUKE III.) "Hark, what a sound, and too divine for hearing, Stirs on the earth and trembles in the air! Is it the thunder of the Lord's appearing? Is it the music of his people's prayer? "Surely He cometh, and a thousand voices Shout to the saints, and to the deaf and dumb; Surely He cometh, and the earth rejoices, Glad in his coming who hath sworn, I come." F. W. H. MYERS. The Preaching of Repentance--His Power as a Preacher--His Message--Warning of Impending Judgment--The Wages of Sin Thirty
F. B. Meyer—John the Baptist

From the Birth to the Ascension of Jesus.
The Four Gospels. The Story of this Period. It is common to designate this period as the "Life of Christ," meaning the time he spent on earth. There is, however, no scripture life of Jesus. The gospels do not claim to present such a life. They do, however, give us a vast amount of material and though different in purpose and consequently in content, they do present the same general picture of Jesus. The matter of arranging the material in an orderly way presents much difficulty. If a topographical
Josiah Blake Tidwell—The Bible Period by Period

The Security of Contemplatives Lies in their not Ascending to High Things if Our Lord Does not Raise Them. The Sacred Humanity must be the Road
1. There is one thing I should like to say--I think it important: and if you, my father, approve, it will serve for a lesson that possibly may be necessary; for in some books on prayer the writers say that the soul, though it cannot in its own strength attain to this state,--because it is altogether a supernatural work wrought in it by our Lord,--may nevertheless succeed, by lifting up the spirit above all created things, and raising it upwards in humility, after some years spent in a purgative life,
Teresa of Avila—The Life of St. Teresa of Jesus

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