Matthew 3 Overview

This chapter introduces John the Baptist’s ministry of preaching repentance and baptism in the wilderness, his confrontation with religious leaders, and the baptism of Jesus, marked by a divine affirmation from heaven.

John’s Ministry and Message (vv. 1-6)

1 In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2 “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make the way of the Lord ready! Make his paths straight!” 4 Now John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him. 6 They were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

• John appears in the Judean wilderness, proclaiming repentance because the kingdom of heaven is near, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy. Dressed simply and living ascetically, he attracts crowds from Jerusalem and surrounding areas who confess sins and are baptized in the Jordan River.

John’s Rebuke of Religious Leaders (vv. 7-10)

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance! 9 Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 “Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.

• John confronts Pharisees and Sadducees seeking baptism, calling them a brood of vipers and urging genuine repentance with fruits of changed lives. He warns that ancestry from Abraham offers no security, as God can raise descendants from stones, and judgment is imminent for unfruitful lives.

John’s Prophecy of the Coming One (vv. 11-12)

11 “I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.”

• John contrasts his water baptism for repentance with the greater one to come, who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and bring judgment, separating the righteous from the unrighteous like wheat from chaff.

Jesus’ Baptism (vv. 13-17)

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 But John would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?” 15 But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him. 16 Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him. 17 Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

• Jesus arrives from Galilee to be baptized by John, who initially objects but consents to fulfill righteousness. Upon baptism, the heavens open, the Spirit descends like a dove, and a voice from heaven declares Jesus as God’s beloved Son, in whom He is well pleased.