In this chapter, John the Baptist preaches repentance in the wilderness of Judea, warns religious leaders, foretells the coming of one greater than himself, and baptizes Jesus, with a divine affirmation from heaven. Jesus’ baptism fulfills all righteousness (v. 15).

John’s Preaching and Ministry (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!” (Isaiah 40:3) 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 wilderness, calling for repentance as the kingdom of heaven draws near, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy. Described in simple attire and diet (evoking the prophetic ministry of Elijah, compare 2 Kings 1:8), he attracts crowds from Judea who confess sins and are baptized in the Jordan River.

John’s Warning to 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 rebukes Pharisees and Sadducees as vipers, urging genuine repentance shown by good deeds rather than relying on ancestry. He warns of impending judgment, likening unfruitful lives to trees cut down and burned.

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 and with fire. 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 mightier one’s baptism in the Holy Spirit, who will separate the righteous from the unrighteous like wheat from chaff (signaling impending judgment and separation), burning the latter in unquenchable fire.

The Baptism of Jesus (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 heavenly voice declares Jesus as God’s beloved Son, in whom He is well pleased.