Mat 3:9-12 | TNotes | STEP | 3:9 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 ; 21:43 ; 22:1-14 ; 28:16-20 ; Rom 4:9-25 ; Gal 3:6-14 , 29 ).

3:9 ^a 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 ^b; 21:43 ^c; 22:1-14 ^d; 28:16-20 ^e; Rom 4:9-25 ^f; Gal 3:6-14 ^g, 29 ^h).
3:11 ⁱ 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 ^j; Acts 2:1-47 ^k); the ministry of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit (see Matt 12:28 ^l; Luke 4:14 ^m), may also be included. Fire may refer to purification (Zech 13:9 ⁿ) or judgment (Mal 4:1 ^o; see Isa 1:25 ^p; 4:4 ^q; Mal 3:2-3 ^r). It is a “Spirit-and-fire baptism”; the Messiah puts into effect what John could only prepare—thoroughgoing judgment and purification.
3:12 ^s 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 ^t).