Matthew 3

• Matthew 3:1 – John was not a Baptist. John was a baptizer.
  • See Luke 1:36. Elizabeth was a blood relative, but not technically a cousin.
• Matthew 3:2
  • Repentance does not primarily mean, “change the way you are living” but “change the way you are thinking.” See Matthew 3:8 – “bear fruit consistent with repentance.”
  • “kingdom of heaven”: See definitions in Colossians 1:13; Revelation 17:18; Luke 1:32-33; Matthew 12:26-28; Luke 17:20-21. The kingdom of heaven is the domain of God – the people over whose hearts He reigns. Church and kingdom both refer to the same group of people, but the words are not synonymous.
  • “at hand” – See Mark 9:1. The kingdom would come within some of their lifetimes.
• Matthew 3:3 – See Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1; 4:5-6. There are about 100 quotes and allusions from the Old Testament in Matthew.
• Matthew 3:4 – John had unusual looks and diet.
• Matthew 3:6 – See Matthew 3:23. John baptized where there was much water, making it convenient to immerse people.
• Matthew 3:7-9 – John’s audience: the Pharisees and Sadducees.
• Matthew 3:10-12 – “Clearing the threshing floor” may be a reference to the destruction of Jerusalem. See Acts 1:4-5.
• Matthew 3:16 – We don’t currently know precisely where Jesus was baptized. Jesus was baptized as an example of obedience to God. He had no sin to be forgiven of. Note that there are not three Gods. There are three who are God.