Mat 3:2 | KingComments | STEP | Without any introduction, John the baptist appears on the scene. He comes with the sound of the footsteps of His Lord behind him. John lives in the wilderness and preaches in the wilderness, away from the residential area of the people. This clearly expresses God’s opinion about Jerusalem, the holy city, where the priests do service. John withdraws from all this. He has no part in it. The expression “kingdom of heaven” comes from the Old Testament. In the New Testament this expression is only found in this Gospel. Matthew uses it more than thirty times. John the baptist uses this expression without any explanation. His hearers and readers of this Gospel are familiar with it from the book of Daniel. Daniel speaks in this way to Nebuchadnezzar about the God of heaven Who will establish a kingdom that will never be destroyed, that is the kingdom of heaven ( ). Other expressions are kingdom of God, kingdom of the Father, kingdom of the Son of Man, kingdom of the Son of His love, the eternal kingdom. They all refer to the reign of God, to “the days … as long as the heavens [remain] above the earth” ( ), those are the days when “[it is] Heaven [that] rules” ( ). As has been said, Matthew in the only one of the four evangelists who uses the expression ‘kingdom of heaven’. The other evangelists always speak of the ‘kingdom of God’. It concerns the same kingdom, but with a different accent. With the ‘kingdom of heaven’ the emphasis is on the reign over the earth according to heavenly standards later in the millennium. With the ‘kingdom of God’ reference is made not only to a kingdom on earth, but also to the rule of the Lord Jesus over the hearts of His subjects now. The kingdom of heaven is more about the outward reign. The kingdom of God is more about the inner reign. John announces the kingdom as “at hand” because the King is there (cf. ). Israel, however, rejects its King. This gives the kingdom a hidden character. This is what the Lord speaks about in Matthew 13. In his preaching John announces the kingdom of heaven. But before it can really come, there must first be repentance. The prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled in him ( ). John calls himself only “a voice”, which means that his person does not matter. The quotation also makes it clear that it is Someone else Who will do the work. The prophecy of Isaiah is about Yahweh . Matthew applies this here to the Lord Jesus. It is one of many proofs that the Lord Jesus is Yahweh , the God of the covenant. As for John’s appearance, his clothing and his food fit his preaching. It is simple clothing and simple food. They also seem to refer to the fact that he does not accept anything from people. The explicit mention of the material of his clothing and belt seems to indicate that he did not receive it from people. They come from nature, creation, just like his food. In all respects, he goes his way separate from people because of their sinful state and in dependence on God.

‏ Matthew 3:2

John the Baptist

Without any introduction, John the baptist appears on the scene. He comes with the sound of the footsteps of His Lord behind him. John lives in the wilderness and preaches in the wilderness, away from the residential area of the people. This clearly expresses God’s opinion about Jerusalem, the holy city, where the priests do service. John withdraws from all this. He has no part in it.

The expression “kingdom of heaven” comes from the Old Testament. In the New Testament this expression is only found in this Gospel. Matthew uses it more than thirty times. John the baptist uses this expression without any explanation. His hearers and readers of this Gospel are familiar with it from the book of Daniel. Daniel speaks in this way to Nebuchadnezzar about the God of heaven Who will establish a kingdom that will never be destroyed, that is the kingdom of heaven (Dan 2:44).

Other expressions are kingdom of God, kingdom of the Father, kingdom of the Son of Man, kingdom of the Son of His love, the eternal kingdom. They all refer to the reign of God, to “the days … as long as the heavens [remain] above the earth” (Deu 11:21), those are the days when “[it is] Heaven [that] rules” (Dan 4:26).

As has been said, Matthew in the only one of the four evangelists who uses the expression ‘kingdom of heaven’. The other evangelists always speak of the ‘kingdom of God’. It concerns the same kingdom, but with a different accent. With the ‘kingdom of heaven’ the emphasis is on the reign over the earth according to heavenly standards later in the millennium. With the ‘kingdom of God’ reference is made not only to a kingdom on earth, but also to the rule of the Lord Jesus over the hearts of His subjects now. The kingdom of heaven is more about the outward reign. The kingdom of God is more about the inner reign.

John announces the kingdom as “at hand” because the King is there (cf. Lk 17:21). Israel, however, rejects its King. This gives the kingdom a hidden character. This is what the Lord speaks about in Matthew 13. In his preaching John announces the kingdom of heaven. But before it can really come, there must first be repentance.

The prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled in him (Isa 40:3). John calls himself only “a voice”, which means that his person does not matter. The quotation also makes it clear that it is Someone else Who will do the work. The prophecy of Isaiah is about Yahweh. Matthew applies this here to the Lord Jesus. It is one of many proofs that the Lord Jesus is Yahweh, the God of the covenant.

As for John’s appearance, his clothing and his food fit his preaching. It is simple clothing and simple food. They also seem to refer to the fact that he does not accept anything from people. The explicit mention of the material of his clothing and belt seems to indicate that he did not receive it from people. They come from nature, creation, just like his food. In all respects, he goes his way separate from people because of their sinful state and in dependence on God.