Matthew 3:1-11

Matthew 3:1-11

[1] In  those  days  came  John  the Baptist,  preaching  in  the wilderness  of Judaea,  [2] And  saying,  Repent ye:  for  the kingdom  of heaven  is at hand.  [3] For  this  the prophet  Esaias,  saying,  The voice  of one crying  in  the wilderness,  Prepare ye  the way  of the Lord,  make  his  paths  straight.  [4] And  the same  John  had  his  raiment  of  camel's  hair,  and  a leathern  girdle  about  his  loins;  and  his  meat  locusts  and  wild  honey.  [5] Then  went out  to  him  Jerusalem,  and  all  Judaea,  and  all  the region round about  Jordan,  [6] And  were baptized  of  him  in  Jordan,  confessing  their  sins.  [7] But  many  of the Pharisees  and  Sadducees  come  to  his  baptism,  he said  unto them,  O generation  of vipers,  who  hath warned  to flee  from  the wrath  to come?  [8] Bring forth  therefore  fruits  meet  for repentance:  [9] And  think  not  to say  within  yourselves,  We have  Abraham  to our father:  for  I say  that  God  is able  of  stones  to raise up  children  unto Abraham.  [10] And  now  also  the axe  is laid  unto  the root  of the trees:  therefore  every  tree  not  forth  good  fruit  is hewn down,  and  cast  into  the fire.  [11] I  indeed  baptize  with  water  unto  repentance:  but  he that cometh  after  mightier than  whose  shoes  I am  not  worthy  to bear:  he  shall baptize  with  the Holy  Ghost,  and  with fire: 

What does Matthew 3:1-11 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Matthew passed over Jesus" childhood quickly to relate His preparation for presentation to Israel as her King.
"The material of this section of the Gospel is particularly important since the baptism of Jesus serves as the occasion of his special anointing by the Holy Spirit for the ministry that follows, but it is also Christologically significant in that his divine Sonship is confirmed and the non-triumphalist nature of the present phase of that Sonship is indicated ( Matthew 3:17 c and Matthew 4:1-11). Thus Matthew provides information that is vitally important to an understanding of the narrative that follows: what Jesus does in his ministry he does by the power of the Spirit; yet Jesus will not act in the manner of a triumphalist messiah, in accordance with popular expectation, but in his own unique way, in obedience to the will of his Father." [1]
Matthew presented four witnesses to Jesus" messiahship in this section: John the Baptist ( Matthew 3:1-15), the Holy Spirit ( Matthew 3:16), the Father ( Matthew 3:17), and Satan ( Matthew 4:1-11). A fifth witness follows in Matthew 4:12-15, namely, Jesus" ministry.