The Gospel of Matthew 3:1-6

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

Commentary

Vs. 1-3 1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’ ”

 Mathews Gospel having revealed to us the origins, purpose, and the birth place of the Lord Jesus Christ, and how as an infant and young child Jesus was moved about by Joseph and Mary in fulfillment of the Word of God before they settled in Nazareth (again according to the Word of God) where He grew up until His Manifestation (see Luke 2:21-52 for Christ’s circumcision and early years). Now moves forward to the time when John the Baptist as Christ’s forerunner came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand!” Now John the Baptists going out into the Wilderness and preaching such was done in fulfillment of the Word of God which foretold that before the Christ God would send His Messenger before His face to prepare the way for Him, as the prophet Isaiah foretold (vs. 3 see Isaiah 40:3). And so Johns preaching to one and to all to “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand!” was so that people would set their hearts and lives right and prepare themselves to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as God’s King and the Savior of the world who will rule on throne of David forever, for it is through the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone that the King and the Kingdom of God comes into each and every repented and believing persons heart and life (consider Luke 17:21). Bringing to us who believe in Him through His Word, Holy Spirit regeneration, and thus eternal salvation and Spirit union with God through Christ, transferring us then out of the realm of sin and darkness and into the Kingdom of God the moment we believe! And thus the Kingdom of God is both a literal realm, the realm where God rules and reigns, as well as a state which one enters into when the Lord Jesus Christ comes to dwell in them, and ultimately live through them by His Spirit, manifesting the Person of Christ and Kingdom of God through us all who believe in Him. That is what Jesus means when He says that we are the light of the world (Matt. 5:14-16).

 Vs. 4-6 4 Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

 Now unlike the Scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees whose apparel and appearances made their position and stature within the Jews religion and community readily apparent to all who observed them (consider Matt 23:1-11, vs. 5). John the Baptists appearance hearkened back to the days of Elijah the prophet of whom the Lord Jesus Christ said He was (see Matt. 11:13-15). Now John the Baptist was not Elijah incarnate, just as he himself said (John 1:21-23), rather as Jesus meant John came in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17), in the fulfillment of God’s prophecy about him, therefore John the Baptist was: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight”. And so John the Baptist came in the fulfillment of the Word of God before the Christ so as to turn people back to God through Christ (see Malachi 4:5-6; Luke 1:16-17). Now the effect of John preaching in the Wilderness was that multitudes of people from Jerusalem, Judea and the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan confessing their sins. For though they were all steeped in religion, they were all hungry not for more religion, (i.e. the aimless traditions of their fathers that could never bring them near to God or God near to them) but God Himself through the Word of God Himself! For religion (like everything else in this life) can never satisfy the soul. Only when one comes know God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ whom He sent to save us, lead us and guide us into an everlasting relationship with God our Father does ones whole person find true peace and rest, when they believe and rather than striving through “religion” receive the Lord Jesus Christ for themselves (Matt. 11:28-30). And so just as John’s preaching in the Wilderness was a move of God to prepare the way for His Son, so too was the multitudes of people who came to hear His Word for them through His messenger John the Baptist, who was preparing the way for the Lord Jesus Christ to come not only to them, but to us all, so that we all would receive Him for ourselves and have Him, God’s Son, Savior and King who brings us into the Kingdom of God forever.

Scripture Citations

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.


 

 

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