Mat 3 | TNotes | STEP | 3:1 John the Baptist announced Jesus’ coming (see Mark 1:1-11 ; Luke 3:1-22 ; John 1:6-8 , 19-34 ) and prepared people to receive him (Matt 3:3 ). John attracted large crowds (3:5 ) and a group of disciples (9:14 ). This group continued for a short time as a movement, even as the Christian church emerged (see Acts 18:24-28 ). • John’s locale in the Judean wilderness had symbolic significance: The wilderness was associated with the giving of the law (see Exod 19:1 ) and with God’s final redemption of Israel at the end of history (see Isa 40:3 ).

3:1 ^a John the Baptist announced Jesus’ coming (see Mark 1:1-11 ^b; Luke 3:1-22 ^c; John 1:6-8 ^d, 19-34 ^e) and prepared people to receive him (Matt 3:3 ^f). John attracted large crowds (3:5 ^g) and a group of disciples (9:14 ^h). This group continued for a short time as a movement, even as the Christian church emerged (see Acts 18:24-28 ⁱ).

• John’s locale in the Judean wilderness had symbolic significance: The wilderness was associated with the giving of the law (see Exod 19:1 ^j) and with God’s final redemption of Israel at the end of history (see Isa 40:3 ^k).
3:2 ^l The prophetic call to return to God in repentance (cp. Isa 1:16-20 ^m) involves total reorientation from pride and sin to humble obedience to God (see Jer 3:11-22 ⁿ). John’s message included specific practical application (Luke 3:11-14 ^o).
3:3 ^p Isaiah had spoken of a messenger preparing a highway in the wilderness for Israel’s God to return to the land (Isa 40:1-11 ^q). John’s ministry prepared the way for Jesus’ arrival (see Matt 11:10 ^r; cp. John 12:41 ^s).
3:4 ^t John’s clothes and food correspond to those of his prophetic predecessor, Elijah (2 Kgs 1:8 ^u; Mal 4:5 ^v; Sirach 48:10-11).
Summary for Matt 3:5-6: 3:5-6 ^w John’s ministry became so popular that many people from Jerusalem and Judea came to hear him.

• they confessed their sins: Those who responded to John’s preaching and turned away from sin were prepared to receive Jesus’ ministry (Luke 7:27 ^x, 29 ^y).

• he baptized them: John’s practice of baptism may have originated with the Old Testament idea of purification (see Isa 1:16 ^z; 4:4 ^aa; Ezek 36:25 ^ab).
3:7 ^ac The Pharisees’ name derives from the Hebrew term perushim, meaning either separated ones or exact interpreters.

• The Sadducees, a priestly class, probably derive their name from Zadok the priest (2 Sam 15:24-29 ^ad; Ezek 44:10-16 ^ae).
3:8 ^af Prove ... that you have ... turned to God (literally make fruit that accords with repentance): John calls for action and true ethical change; mere lip service will not do (see Luke 3:10-14 ^ag; cp. Matt 5:19-20 ^ah, 46 ^ai; 7:21 ^aj; 23:3 ^ak).
3:9 ^al We’re safe: Some had wrongly assumed that, since they were descendants of Abraham, they were exempt from judgment.

• A prominent theme in Matthew is how God will create new children of Abraham by bringing the Gentiles into God’s people and removing from his people Jews who reject the Messiah (see 8:11-12 ^am; 21:43 ^an; 22:1-14 ^ao; 28:16-20 ^ap; Rom 4:9-25 ^aq; Gal 3:6-14 ^ar, 29 ^as).
3:11 ^at who is greater than I am: Despite his popularity and growing following, John had a clear sense of his role as subordinate to the Messiah.

• I’m not worthy even to be his slave: In Jewish culture, to remove and carry someone’s sandals, even those of a rabbi, was too lowly a task even for the rabbi’s disciple. It was a job reserved for slaves.

• with the Holy Spirit and with fire: This happened at Pentecost (see Joel 2:28-29 ^au; Acts 2:1-47 ^av); the ministry of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit (see Matt 12:28 ^aw; Luke 4:14 ^ax), may also be included. Fire may refer to purification (Zech 13:9 ^ay) or judgment (Mal 4:1 ^az; see Isa 1:25 ^ba; 4:4 ^bb; Mal 3:2-3 ^bc). It is a “Spirit-and-fire baptism”; the Messiah puts into effect what John could only prepare—thoroughgoing judgment and purification.
3:12 ^bd Farmers would use a winnowing fork to toss harvested grain into the air, allowing the useless husks (chaff) to blow away. The Messiah’s ministry divides all humanity into two groups: (1) the wheat, that is, those who respond, forming the new people of God; and (2) the chaff, the unrepentant (see 3:8 ^be).
3:14 ^bf As John had already confessed (3:11-12 ^bg), he was lesser than the Messiah, so he felt unfit to baptize him.
3:15 ^bh for we must carry out all that God requires: Or for we must fulfill all righteousness. This statement refers to accomplishing what the Old Testament demanded or foreshadowed (e.g., Jer 31:31-34 ^bi). “Righteousness” in Matthew refers to behavior that conforms to God’s will (see Matt 5:20 ^bj; 6:1 ^bk, 33 ^bl; 21:32 ^bm).
3:16 ^bn The Spirit of God descending like a dove was anointing Jesus, through whom salvation would come. This event was like a king’s being anointed with oil at his coronation. The Holy Spirit empowered Jesus to accomplish God’s salvation and defeat Satan (see 12:18 ^bo, 28 ^bp). This same Spirit empowers Jesus’ followers (10:20 ^bq; Acts 1:8 ^br).
3:17 ^bs my dearly loved Son (see Ps 2:7 ^bt): The title “Son of God” reveals and clarifies Jesus’ nature and role (see Matt 4:3 ^bu, 6 ^bv; 14:33 ^bw; 16:16 ^bx; 17:5 ^by; 26:63 ^bz; 27:54 ^ca; 28:19 ^cb). In his unique relationship to the Father, Jesus accomplishes salvation as the trusting and obedient Son.

• who brings me great joy: God the Father confirmed his Son’s ministry with language from Isaiah (Isa 42:1 ^cc) and so prepared Israel for his ministry.