Matthew 3
3
John’s Witness to Israel’s Leaders
1In those days, John the Immerser came proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea,
2“Turn away from your sins, for the kingdom of heaven is near!”
3For he is the one Isaiah the prophet spoke about, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of Adonai, and make His paths straight.’”
4Now John wore clothing from camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
5Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the region around the Jordan.
6Confessing their sins, they were being immersed by him in the Jordan River.
7But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his immersion, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
8Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance;
9and do not think that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’! For I tell you that from these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.
10Already the axe is laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire!
11“As for me, I immerse you in water for repentance. But the One coming after me is mightier than I am; I am not worthy to carry His sandals. He will immerse you in the Ruach ha-Kodesh and fire.
12His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He shall clear His threshing floor and gather His wheat into the barn; but the chaff He shall burn up with inextinguishable fire.”
The Heavens Open at Yeshua’s Mikveh
13Then Yeshua came from the Galilee to John, to be immersed by him in the Jordan.
14But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be immersed by You, and You are coming to me?”
15But Yeshua responded, “Let it happen now, for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” So John yielded to Him.
16After being immersed, Yeshua rose up out of the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Ruach Elohim descending like a dove and coming upon Him.
17And behold, a voice from the heavens said, “This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased!”
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Copyright © 2014 - Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
Matthew 3
3
The message of John the Baptist
The preaching of John the Baptist
(Mark 1.1-8; Luke 3.1-18; John 1.19-28)
1Years later, John the Baptist started preaching in the desert of Judea. 2He said, “Turn back to God! The kingdom of heaven#3.2 kingdom of heaven: In the Gospel of Matthew “kingdom of heaven” is used with the same meaning as “God's kingdom” in Mark and Luke. will soon be here.”#3.2 will soon be here: Or “is already here.”#Mt 4.17; Mk 1.15.
3John was the one the prophet Isaiah was talking about, when he said,#Is 40.3 (LXX).
“In the desert someone
is shouting,
‘Get the road ready
for the Lord!
Make a straight path
for him.’ ”
4John wore clothes made of camel's hair. He had a leather strap around his waist and ate grasshoppers and wild honey.#2 K 1.8.
5From Jerusalem and all Judea and from the River Jordan Valley crowds of people went to John. 6They told how sorry they were for their sins, and he baptized them in the river.
7Many Pharisees and Sadducees also came to be baptized. But John said to them:#Mt 12.34; 23.33.
You snakes! Who warned you to run from the coming judgment? 8Do something to show that you have really given up your sins. 9And don't start telling yourselves that you belong to Abraham's family. I tell you that God can turn these stones into children for Abraham.#Jn 8.33. 10An axe is ready to cut the trees down at their roots. Any tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into a fire.#Mt 7.19.
11I baptize you with water so that you will give up your sins.#3.11 so that you will give up your sins: Or “because you have given up your sins.” But someone more powerful is going to come, and I am not good enough even to carry his sandals.#3.11 carry his sandals: This was one of the duties of a slave. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12His threshing fork is in his hand, and he is ready to separate the wheat from the husks.#3.12 His threshing fork is in his hand, and he is ready to separate the wheat from the husks: After Jewish farmers had trampled out the grain, they used a large fork to pitch the grain and the husks into the air. Wind would blow away the light husks, and the grain would fall back to the ground, where it could be gathered up. He will store the wheat in a barn and burn the husks in a fire that never goes out.
The baptism and temptation of Jesus
The baptism of Jesus
(Mark 1.9-11; Luke 3.21,22)
13Jesus left Galilee and went to the River Jordan to be baptized by John. 14But John kept objecting and said, “I ought to be baptized by you. Why have you come to me?”
15Jesus answered, “For now this is how it should be, because we must do all that God wants us to do.” Then John agreed.
16So Jesus was baptized. And as soon as he came out of the water, the sky opened, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down on him like a dove. 17Then a voice from heaven said, “This is my own dear Son, and I am pleased with him.”#Gn 22.2; Ps 2.7; Is 42.1; Mt 12.18; 17.5; Mk 1.11; Lk 9.35.
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