V1.   In those days John the Baptist came into the wilderness of Judea proclaiming,

 

Matthew does not record for us the details of John's birth, in fact it is only in Luke's gospel that this is given.  When Matthew says "in those days" he is not referring to the time of the previous chapter as John was only six months older than Jesus.   A. Barnes says that perhaps Matthew was referring to the time when Jesus still lived in Nazareth.   John took as his pulpit the desert area of Judea to proclaim his message.

 

V2.  "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

 

His message consisted of two headings, repent and the kingdom of heaven is near.  The call to repentance is fundamental to the message of salvation.  At the time of John's ministry salvation had not been provided because Christ had not yet died for the sins of the world nevertheless the people needed to repent.   This word repent simply means to "think differently" to "reconsider"(Strong's Dictionary) to have a change of heart or direction, to be sorry for our sins against God (2 Corinthians 7:10), indeed it is only against God that we sin (Psalm 51:4), it is the actions of sin that causes others to suffer.   But it is not only a turning away from but a looking to God the only one who can save (Isaiah 45:22, Hebrews 7:25).   The kingdom of heaven does not refer to the kingdom of glory that is in the heavenly places but to the coming of the Messiah, the Christ into the world.   It was near, or at hand, because Jesus Christ was about to commence His ministry on earth that would culminate in His death on the cross for the atonement of sin thus opening the door of the kingdom of heaven for all that believe and receive Him as their Saviour.

 

V3.   For he is the one about whom Isaiah the prophet had spoken: "The voice of one shouting in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make his paths straight."

 

The coming of John and the message that proclaimed was prophesied in the Old Testament through Isaiah 40: 3.   He was the forerunner, the herald, the one who went before the Christ to announce that He was on His way.   Therefore people had to get themselves ready for His coming.

 

V4.   Now John wore clothing made from camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his diet consisted of locusts and wild honey.

 

John was unmistakable he was distinct from everybody else of his day.   The clothes that he wore were woven of course camel hair tied with a leather belt around the waist. His diet consisted of locusts for meat and the honey of free bees, that is those that were not housed in bee hives.

V5.   Then people from Jerusalem, as well as all Judea and all the region around the Jordan, were going out to him,

 

He had no problem with getting the people to come out to hear his message, they came from the city of Jerusalem and from all over Judea to the bank of the river Jordan.

 

V6.   and he was baptizing them in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins.

 

They not only came and heard the word but responded to it and repented and were baptized confessing their sins.

 

V7.    But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "You offspring of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

 

However, there were the skeptics who came also, the Pharisees and the Sadducees.  John knew that they did not come to hear or repent and be baptized but to criticize.   He told them straight what they were a bunch of snakes.   Jesus later said the same of them (Matthew 12: 34) and that they were of their father the devil (John 8:44).   John was fully aware that these people were hypocrites, self righteous that they considered themselves to be the elect of God and without sin and therefore rejected his message.  So he asks them who had warned them to escape from the wrath of God that is coming?

 

V8.   Therefore produce fruit that proves your repentance,

 

He calls upon them to prove that they had repented from their sins  and yielding their lives to God by living a godly life (Matthew 7: 20).

 

V9.   and don't think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones!

 

The biggest boast of the Scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees was that they were descended from Abraham and that guaranteed them acceptance with God and entrance into heaven.   He tells them that it meant nothing to God for He is able to raise up children from the very stones around them.

 

V10.   Even now the ax is laid at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

 

Already the hand of God is outstretched in judgment against those who He had entrusted with His Word and whom He had separated unto Himself, the people of Israel.   Everyone who does not produce fruits of righteousness will be destroyed.

 

V11.   "I baptize you with water, for repentance, but the one coming after me is more powerful than I am – I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

 

John's commission from God was to baptize with water those who repent and turn to God.   The One who will come after Him is mightier, has a greater ability the power to do anything.   In comparison to Him, John says that he is not even worthy to be His slave to carry His sandals.   This coming one, the Messiah, the Christ will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire (Acts 1:5).

 

V12.   His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clean out his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the storehouse, but the chaff he will burn up with inextinguishable fire."

 

To separate the chaff from the wheat a winnowing fork or spade was used.   Jesus Christ is pictured here as having a winnowing fan in His hand with which He will sort out the real from the false.   The wheat, that is those who are truly His He will gather to Himself but those that are not will be cast into the never ending fire (Revelation 20:15).

 

V13.   Then Jesus came from Galilee to John to be baptized by him in the Jordan River.

 

While John was still by the banks of the Jordan Jesus also came to be baptized by him.

 

V14.   But John tried to prevent him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?"

 

John had the witness within him that Jesus was the Christ.  In John 1: 29  it says  "the next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"    John knowing who Jesus was therefore strenuously objected to baptizing Him for he saw his own need of being baptized by Jesus.

 

V15.   So Jesus replied to him, "Let it happen now, for it is right for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then John yielded to him.

 

Although Jesus had no need to repent or be baptized in water (1 Peter 2:22) He told John that he must do so now for it is the right way for them both to show that they are carrying out what God requires of them.   So John baptized Jesus in the river Jordan.

 

V16.   After Jesus was baptized, just as he was coming up out of the water, the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming on him.

 

After He was baptized Jesus came up out of the water.    It is quite clear from this that John's baptism was by full immersion and not a sprinkling of water.  As He was coming up out of the water the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove settled upon Him.   This was the sign of confirmation that God had given to John (John 1: 33).

 

V17.   And a voice from heaven said, "This is my one dear Son; in him I take great delight."

At the same time the voice of God spoke from heaven declaring that Jesus to be His beloved Son in whom He delights (Psalm 2:7)