Matthew Chapter 3 - Helpful Notes

The importance of historicity in the Gospels, cannot be emphasized enough. This is one of the things that makes the Biblical Gospels different from so many other religious writings. It is quite different from the so called “forgotten Gospels,” or Gnostic gospels, which are largely imitations of Scripture, borrowing similar language; a bit like the Book of Mormon.

“I am everything…split a piece of wood. I am there” says the Jesus of the Gospel of Thomas! Doesn’t really sound like the historical Jesus, in fact is no real anchor to historical events, at all. They are conspicuous by their absence! So, taking this on board, I think it is helpful, if we approach the Biblical gospels with the question “do these gospels fit their historical setting?” Do they harmonize with each other? However unprecedented the events that unfold are, what we have are primary sources; age relevant; framed by legitimate historicity. It is not necessary, therefore, to approach them with, what someone has called “the hermeneutic of suspicion,” but rather let the Bible speak; and let it speak to our mind and heart.

Enter, John the Baptist! “Repent ye, the kingdom of heaven is at hand” Compare this saying of John with the saying of Jesus in Mark 1:15. (read). One says “the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” (or is near) the other says, “the kingdom of God is at hand.” Whilst some have made much of the difference in these two terms, I believe in fact they are synonymous; two phrases, in these two instances, there is no suggestion in the text that they mean anything other than the same thing. Notice that there is first a condition given, before a person can enter into that kingdom. The condition given here by John the Baptist and later on by Jesus, is repentance, literally “a change of mind.” Again, we have another OT prophecy fulfilled in verse 3, (Read.)  Let’s look at its origin in Isaiah 40:3,(Read) A couple of things to note:

• Isaiah is talking about the journey of Israel out of Babylonian captivity and into Judea, but he is also looking ahead to the coming of the Messiah, which is the ultimate and most perfect fulfilment of this prophecy, which of course is why Matthew has it here.
• By comparing the quote in Matthew 3 and the quote in Isaiah 40, we can see that Matthew is also, clearly implying, that Jesus is God, since he is the one whose ministry is imminent; and John is the “Elijah” the one who is to prepare the way of the Messiah.

The meaning of the phrase is twofold; on the one hand it refers to the preparation that men must make in their hearts, for the coming of God; and secondly it is a statement, or proclamation in a general and sense, a command by God Himself, for the world to get ready for the coming of the Messiah; which as we have seen over the last two chapters, the foreknowledge of God and the wisdom of God; his use of the wicked and the righteous, has brought everything together at just the right time.

John the Baptist is a rough looking man, a hairy guy! One gets the impression that there was an abruptness about his speech. He is not afraid of confrontation, as we will see by his words to Herod, later on in the Gospels; and he is calling the people (as we see in verse 6) to do two things:

• Confess their sins (freely and openly).
• To be baptized.

Let’s read verse 7 and 8. We have two groups of people: The Pharisees, whose name signifies to separate (they separated themselves from the common people) and the Sadducees, who did not believe in angels, spirits, or the Resurrection. When John sees them, he calls them a name; “O generation of vipers.” Now there is no suggestion that this is said in a fit of anger, or emotion, rather it is an accurate description of their nature and character. They are subtle and cunning, they are crafty and dangerous. Therefore, John warns the Pharisees and the Sadducees, but he also warns those around them; just as we need to warn people of the “religious” (in inverted commas) predators who refuse to repent in our day.

There are two types of repentance, generally acknowledged: They are, Legal Repentance and Evangelical Repentance. Legal Repentance concerns the law and is what we might call an outward repentance; Evangelical Repentance involves the heart, and is what we would call an inner repentance.

Based on William S. Plumer’s principles of repentance(1), we might describe TRUE repentance as being characterised as having:

1. A knowledge of sin. “by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:20)

2. Humility, "Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer you?" Job 40:4 "O God, you know my foolishness."  Psalm 69:5.

3. Confession of sin; not to a priest, but to God. "He who covers his sins shall not prosper; but whoever confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy." Proverbs 28:13. "I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and you forgave the iniquity of my sin." Psalm 32:5.

4. Shame. "Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up." Psalm 40:2. "O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you." Ezra 9:6.

5. Sorrow, for sin. "Godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be repented of." 2 Cor. 7:9, 10.

6. Self-abhorrence.  ”Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:6;

7. Hatred of sin. “Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.” Psalm 119:128.

8. Love of holiness—“I delight in the law of God after the inward man.” Romans 7:22

9. An amendment of life, a thorough reformation, works meet for repentance. Matt. 3:8. "If I have done iniquity, I will do no more." Job 34:32. “If I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.” Luke 19:8.

An absence of these elements would most certainly give cause for concern as to whether repentance had taken place, or if it had, whether the repentance had been thorough.

In verses 8-10 John the Baptist warns the Pharisees and the Sadducees of 3 things:

• To “bring forth fruits meet for repentance.” (verse 8)
• Not to say within themselves, “we have Abraham to our father.” (verse 9)
• And finally he warns them “every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” (verse 10)

The presumption of security with God that does not involve sincere, thorough and true repentance from sin, to God, is here illustrated by this saying of the Pharisees and the Saducees. They were trusting in their Election as Israelites, descendants of Abraham, to be sufficient to grant them favour with God, despite the wickedness of their own hearts and lives. You will see that it is soundly and explicitly condemned by John the Baptist.  

Now in Galatians 3:27-29 we read:

“For as many of you as have been baptised into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek (Gentile) there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

You don’t need me to tell you that if the condemnation of the Pharisees is justified, then we also can apply the same principle to our own lives and ask are we truly repentant, have we honestly, as Paul says, “put on Christ” or are we trusting that we are God’s special people, therefore we don’t need to think about repentance? These Scriptures ought to challenge us.

In verse 10 John the Baptist says, “And now the axe is laid unto the root of the trees…”

John Wesley comments, “Speedy execution is determined against all that do not repent. The comparison seems to be taken from a woodman that has laid down his axe, to put off his coat, and them immediately goes to work to cut down the tree.” (Explanatory Notes on the New Testament – John Wesley)

I wonder if it is even more urgent than that! I picture in my mind the blade of the axe actually laid to the base of the tree. The woodman is pulling back the axe, about to take his first swing!

John goes on to speak about the Lord Jesus as being “mightier than I.” He is one of whom John is not worthy and “he shall baptize…with the Holy Ghost and with fire.” (verse 11) Just as John would cover with water, so Jesus would cover with the Holy Spirit and (certainly in the first fulfilment of this prophecy) with fire. Go to Acts 2:1-4 (Read)

Christ’s fan is in His hand (verse12)

 In the middle East, the farmer would use a fork to dig into the wheat and chaff and throw up it up into the air and let the wind separate the one from the other; the seed being heavier and the chaff, (the seed casing) being lighter. No wonder Psalm 1 says that the ungodly “are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.”

Christ’s fan is the word of his gospel and the floor, those who claim to love and live for God.

Finally in verse 13 we have the first reported appearance in our NT of the adult Jesus.

Jesus comes to John for baptism. John, perhaps understandably, does not feel that it would be appropriate since he esteems Jesus as far higher than himself, in terms of authority, worthiness etc. In fact we are told that initially John forbids it (verse 14) A measure of the humility of the man. But Jesus corrects him.

Here are the first words that Jesus speaks in the Gospel of Matthew. “Suffer it to be so now for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.” (verse 15)

See how even Jesus emphasises the importance of observing righteousness and fulfilling the ordinances of God.

The Bible Commentator John Gill said, ”It became (or it was fitting) for John to administer the ordinance of baptism to Christ, as he was his forerunner, and the only administrator of it, and that he might fulfil the ministry which he had received; and as it became Christ to fulfil all righteousness, moral and ceremonial, and baptism being a part of his Father's will, which he came to do, it became (or it was fitting) for him to fulfil this also. And since it became (or was fitting) Christ, it cannot be unbecoming (for) us to submit to this ordinance; and since he looked upon it as a part of righteousness to be fulfilled by him, it ought to be attended to by all those who would be accounted followers of him.” (John Gill’s Comentary)

That is why when those people in Jerusalem, at the preaching of the Gospel, ask Peter in Acts 2:37 “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Peter replies, “Repent, and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the Holy Ghost.”

Now Jesus did not have any sins, neither did he commit sin. But what we see here is the humble heart and the lowliness of Jesus. He was going to receive the highest honours, he was going to ascend into the highest heaven, all the world would bow “and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” But now he is willing to serve. Christ always taught by example, and if any want to be leaders in the church, elders, Pastors, they ought to take his example and be willing to be of “no reputation…” (Philippians 2;7)  Let’s go to Mark 10:42-45 (Read)

Matthew 3:16-17 (Read)

As Jesus is baptised, the Holy Spirit descends, or hovers down until He until He was resting upon the Lord Jesus. Symbolically, we are seeing a public confirmation of the anointing of Jesus in all his offices of:

• Prophet.
• Priest.
• King.

We then here the voice of the Father saying “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

I don’t know if you have understood the significance of this event. We have Father, Son and Holy Spirit, all manifested together, all confirming the identity and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Copyright © Paul Jennings.