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 is he that was spoken of by 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 was 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. (Matthew 3:1-6 KJV)
Thomas Haweis’ Commentary
Verses 1-6: Prophecy, under the Old Testament, closed with the promise of the coming of Elijah, that is, of one in his spirit and temper; and here we find that prophecy accomplished in John the Baptist, so called from the ordinance of baptism he administered to his disciples; who appeared in those days, not immediately after the events related in the preceding chapter, but at about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years’ distance; during which time we never but once hear any thing of our blessed Lord, who lived in obscurity, and not improbably maintained himself by manual labour. We have,
1. The place where John opened his ministry, in the wilderness of Judea; not a place literally uninhabited, but a place not so populous as the other parts of the country. See Jos 15:61-62.
2. The doctrine he preached: Repentance; a change of mind and principles, and of manners and practice, in both which respects the Jewish people were exceedingly corrupt: and this he urges on that evangelical consideration, that the kingdom of heaven is at hand; the kingdom of the Messiah, the gospel dispensation, which affords the strongest engagement to draw the minds of sinners to return to God, from the views of the riches of his grace therein revealed. Note, (1.) It is a sense of God’s pardoning love, revealed in the gospel, that alone can work the effectual repentance unto salvation never to be repented of. (2.) The kingdom of Jesus is the kingdom of heaven; for all who are now partakers of his grace are heirs of his glory, and sure to reign with him forever. (3.) All the members of Christ’s kingdom are real penitents, whose minds and hearts are changed by grace, and their lives renewed in holiness.
3. Herein John fulfilled the prophecy delivered concerning him, Isa 40:3-4. The voice of one crying, loud as the ox bellows, intimating the fervor and vehemence with which John preached, Prepare ye the way of the Lord; make his paths straight. As the harbinger or herald, he goes before to clear the way for the King of glory, preaching that repentance which was so peculiarly needful at a time when the traditions of men had made God’s word of no effect, and the corruption of the general practice was the natural effect of their corrupt principles; and pointing them, from their sinful courses, to him who was the way, the truth, and the life, by whom alone they could be saved. Note, (1.) The ways of sin are crooked ways, that lead down to death and hell. (2.) Nothing can save us from them but repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
4. His garb and diet were austere, as his word was startling. He seemed an uncouth courier to prepare the way of the eternal King. A rough garment, girt with a leathern girdle, was his clothing, as being the promised Elias, see 2Ki 1:8 and his meat was plain and abstemious, such as the wilderness afforded, locusts and wild honey. Note, They who preach mortification and repentance to others, should themselves show a becoming indifference to this world, and the gratifications of it.
5. A numerous auditory attended his ministry; struck by the singularity of his appearance and manners, and, above all, by the power of the word he preached. Multitudes from Jerusalem, Judea, and the country beyond Jordan, resorted to him, a general expectation of the Messiah being now raised through the land; and so far were many affected with his discourse, that they made profession of repentance, confessed their sins, and were baptized in Jordan. But, among a multitude of professors, the sequel showed there were few real penitents. Uncommon zeal and striking delivery will often collect an audience, and excite curiosity; but divine grace alone can effect conversion.
It hath been a much disputed point respecting the manner of administering the ordinance of baptism; whether by immersion or sprinkling; and where the form is rested upon, instead of the power of godliness, there is room open for abundant debate. I must confess, for my own part, I see no reason to suppose such immense multitudes were all dipped in Jordan; nor how it would be practicable to provide dipping garments for them; nor does the word (baptize) convey the same meaning as (bapto) but rather seems to intimate sprinkling, or pouring water upon them; and the baptism of the Holy Ghost which this baptism of John’s prefigured, would lead us strongly to that meaning of the world. But while we should avoid all rigid censures on those who differ from us in these ceremonials, and see that in whatever manner baptism be administered, we do not rest upon the ordinance; it is an essential concern, that our souls be really partakers of the thing signified, even sprinkled with the blood of Jesus, and saved by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost.