1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” 4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”(Matthew 3:1-6 NIV)
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
We have here an account of the preaching and baptism of John, which were the beginning of the gospel era. Observe,
I. The time when he appeared.
Glorious things were spoken about both John and Jesus at and before their births, which might have led people to expect some extraordinary displays of divine presence and power with them when they were very young. But it was not so. Other than Christ’s discussion with the teachers at twelve years old, nothing noteworthy is recorded about either of them until they were about thirty. Nothing is mentioned about their childhood and youth; most of their early lives are wrapped up in obscurity: these children appeared no different outwardly from other children, as an heir, while still underage, is no different from a servant, even though he is the lord of all. And this was to show:
- That even when God acts as the Savior of Israel, truly, He is a God who hides Himself (Isaiah 45:15). The Lord is in this place, and I didn’t realize it (Genesis 28:16). Our beloved hides behind the wall long before He looks out through the windows (Song of Solomon 2:9).
- That our faith must mainly focus on Christ in His mission and work, for that’s where His power is displayed; but in His person, His power was hidden. During this time, Christ was fully God and man, yet we’re not told what He said or did until He appeared as a prophet; and then, “Listen to Him.”
- That young men, even if well-qualified, shouldn’t rush into public service but should remain humble, modest, and self-restrained, eager to listen and slow to speak.
Matthew doesn’t mention John the Baptist’s conception and birth (which Luke describes in detail). Instead, he introduces John as an adult. For over 300 years, the Jewish people had no prophets. Prophecy had ceased after Malachi, so John’s arrival was highly anticipated. Malachi had prophesied about him, calling him God’s messenger (Malachi 3:1).
John’s lifestyle reflected his message. He wore a simple outfit, camel’s hair, and a leather belt. This showed his humility and detachment from worldly comforts. His diet was what the wilderness had to offer, locusts and wild honey. This teaches that spiritual leaders should themselves lead holy lives marked by self-denial and spiritual priorities.
II. John the Baptist’s Ministry
We have here an account of the preaching and baptism of John, which marked the early dawn of the gospel era. Let’s remember that glorious things were spoken about both John the Baptist and Jesus at and before their births, leading people to expect some extraordinary divine signs when they were young. But this wasn’t the case.
Apart from Jesus debating with the teachers at age twelve, nothing remarkable was recorded about either of them until they were about thirty. Most of their early years remain obscure. These children looked no different outwardly from other children, much like an heir underage, who is indistinguishable from a servant, though destined to rule. This was meant to show:
- That even when God acts as the Savior of Israel, He often remains hidden (Isaiah 45:15). “The Lord was in this place, and I didn’t know it” (Genesis 28:16).
- That our faith should primarily focus on Christ’s role and mission, where His power is displayed, rather than on His mere physical presence. All this time, Jesus was fully God and fully man, yet nothing of His words or deeds was recorded until He appeared as a preacher.
- That young men, even if gifted, shouldn’t rush into public roles but remain humble, patient, and eager to listen before speaking.
III. The place where John first appeared.
John preached in the wilderness of Judea. This wasn’t an uninhabited desert but a less densely populated area without many fields or vineyards. It included cities and villages (Joshua 15:61–62). John preached in this region where he had lived, near his birthplace in Hebron. Even when he began his ministry, he showed a preference for solitude, only stepping out as much as his mission required. The word of the Lord found John in the wilderness.
No place is too remote for God’s grace to reach. Often, the sweetest communion with Heaven happens when we withdraw from the noise of the world. David wrote Psalm 63, speaking of his communion with God, while in this wilderness. The Old Testament law was given in a wilderness, and now the New Testament Israel begins in a desert, where God leads and instructs His people (Deuteronomy 32:10).
John, a priest by lineage, preached in the wilderness rather than officiating in the temple. By contrast, Jesus, not a descendant of Aaron, was often in the temple and taught there with authority. Malachi had foretold this: “The Lord you seek will suddenly come to His temple” (Malachi 3:1). This shift symbolized the end of Aaron’s priesthood and the beginning of Christ’s.
The gospel beginning in a wilderness brings hope to the Gentile world, often described as a spiritual desert. Prophecies like “I will plant in the wilderness the cedar” (Isaiah 41:18-19) and “the wilderness shall be a fruitful field” (Isaiah 32:15) now find fulfillment.
IV. John’s preaching.
Preaching was John’s main focus. He didn’t come to fight or debate but to preach (Matthew 3:1).
- His message was one of repentance: “Repent” (Matthew 3:2). He preached repentance to Jews who already considered themselves religious because even they needed it. He preached repentance in the wilderness, not in Jerusalem, addressing people far from the temptations of city life. John called people to rethink their lives, to correct past errors, and to walk in new ways. True repentance changes our view of God, Christ, sin, and holiness.
- The reason for repentance: “The kingdom of heaven is near.” Old Testament prophets called people to repent to secure earthly blessings or avoid disasters. John’s call was different—it was spiritual and personal. The kingdom of heaven, ruled by Christ, was at the door. This kingdom was spiritual, originating in heaven and leading to heaven.
V. The prophecy fulfilled in John (Matthew 3:3).
Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 40:3-4) spoke of John as a voice in the wilderness preparing the way for the Lord.
- John described himself as “the voice” (John 1:23). He was merely the messenger, but God was the one speaking through him.
- John prepared the way by calling people to repentance and humility, breaking down their pride and self-righteousness. His message laid the groundwork for Christ’s teaching.
VI. The Pharisees and the Sadducees
Earlier, John preached to the people, saying, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven is near.” But when he saw the Pharisees and Sadducees, he knew he had to explain himself and speak more directly. These two groups were among the main Jewish sects at the time. The third, the Essenes, aren’t mentioned in the Gospels, as they preferred a secluded life and avoided public affairs.
The Pharisees were devoted to ceremonies, religious authority, and traditions of the elders. The Sadducees, on the other hand, leaned the opposite way and were almost like deists, denying the existence of spirits and an afterlife. It was surprising they came to John’s baptism, likely out of curiosity. Some might have been baptized, but most weren’t. Jesus even said (Luke 7:29-30) the tax collectors accepted to be baptized by John, but the Pharisees and their kind refused baptism.
John the Baptist addresses them as a “brood of vipers.” Jesus used the same term later (Mt 12:34, Mt 23:33). They were like vipers: seemingly harmless yet venomous, full of malice and opposition to what was good. They were spiritually descended from the serpent (Genesis 3:15), not Abraham.
VII. A Warning of Impending Judgment
John’s warning: “Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?” This implies they were in real danger of God’s judgment. Their situation seemed almost hopeless—they were hardened in sin. Take note that:
- There is future judgment, besides the difficulties we face now.
- Each of us must escape this coming wrath.
- God’s mercy is evident in warning us ahead of time through the Bible, pastors, and our consciences.
- These warnings sometimes even shake those who seem most resistant.
John told them, “The axe is already at the root of the trees.”(Matthew 3:10). The Pharisees clung to their religious facade, and the Sadducees relied on their intellectual arguments against faith. This symbolized God’s judgment being imminent. If they didn’t repent quickly, judgment would fall. Every tree (person) not bearing good fruit would be cut down and thrown into the fire—likely referring to the destruction of Jerusalem and, ultimately, eternal judgment.
VIII. A Warning Against False Confidence
John cautioned them not to rely on their heritage as Abraham’s descendants, saying, “Don’t tell yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’(Matthew 3:9)” John meant to say, “Don’t think that because you’re Abraham’s descendants, you have nothing to repent of or that you’ll escape judgment. Your connection to Abraham won’t save you if you don’t live righteously.” Hence, note:
- Being related to godly people doesn’t save us unless we’re godly ourselves.
- Good family backgrounds, religious upbringing, and supportive communities won’t help if we don’t live lives of repentance and faith.
John reminded them that God could create new descendants of Abraham from the stones near them (possibly referencing the stones Joshua placed by the Jordan in Joshua 4:20). This showed them how powerless their lineage was to save them.
XI. A Call to Action and Change (Matthew 3:8)
At this point, John showed these religious elites what to do, saying, “Produce fruit consistent with repentance. If you’re warned about judgment and claim to repent, your life should reflect it.” True repentance starts in the heart, but it can’t stay hidden. It must produce outward results—turning away from sin and doing good. Without these actions, repentance is meaningless. Those who claim to repent but continue in sin aren’t genuine.
XII. A Declaration About Jesus (Matthew 3:11-12)
Finally, John pointed to Jesus, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who comes after me is mightier than I.” John saw his role as preparing the way for Jesus, who would baptize people with the Holy Spirit and fire. This referred to the outpouring of the Spirit on believers. Jesus would also separate the wheat (true believers) from the chaff (unbelievers). The wheat would be gathered into God’s storehouse (heaven), while the chaff would be burned in unquenchable fire (hell).