Luk 3:16-17 | TNotes | STEP | 3:16 I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals: The untying of sandals was done only by slaves (to make this connection clear, the NLT adds be his slave and ). John thus greatly honored the Messiah. • baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire: The Old Testament prophets predicted that in the last days, God would pour out his Spirit on his people (Isa 32:15 , Ezek 36:28-29 ; Joel 2:28 ). This prophecy was at least partially fulfilled on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2 ). Fire is an image of judgment (see Luke 3:9 ); it also has the power to cleanse and refine God’s people (see 1 Cor 3:10-15 ; cp. Isa 4:4 ; Mal 3:2 ).

a3:16►

bIsa 32:15►

cEzek 36:28-29►

dJoel 2:28►

eActs 2►

fLuke 3:9►

g1 Cor 3:10-15►

hIsa 4:4►

iMal 3:2►

j3:17►

kIsa 66:24►

‏ Luke 3:16-17

3:16 ^a I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals: The untying of sandals was done only by slaves (to make this connection clear, the NLT adds be his slave and). John thus greatly honored the Messiah.

• baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire: The Old Testament prophets predicted that in the last days, God would pour out his Spirit on his people (Isa 32:15 ^b, Ezek 36:28-29 ^c; Joel 2:28 ^d). This prophecy was at least partially fulfilled on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2 ^e). Fire is an image of judgment (see Luke 3:9 ^f); it also has the power to cleanse and refine God’s people (see 1 Cor 3:10-15 ^g; cp. Isa 4:4 ^h; Mal 3:2 ⁱ).
3:17 ^j After being harvested, the kernels of wheat would be beaten off the stalks and then tossed in the air with a winnowing fork to separate them from the chaff. The heavy grain would fall to the ground as the lighter chaff blew away. This is an image of separation for judgment.

• never-ending fire: See Isa 66:24 ^k.