Mat 3:1-6 | 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).