Matthew Chapter 3: John the Baptist

John the Baptist's Preaching and Message

• John the Baptist preached in the wilderness of Judea.
• He wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather girdle around his waist.
• People from Jerusalem, Judea and all the region around the Jordan River came to John's baptism, seeking repentance for their sins.
• John told the Pharisees and Sadducees that they were a brood of vipers, and that they needed to produce fruits worthy of repentance.
• John prophesied that the one coming after him would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
• He stated that trees that do not bear good fruit would be cut down and thrown into the fire.

Significance of John's Message and Actions

• John the Baptist's message was a call to repentance and to prepare for the coming of the Messiah.
• The fruit expected from those who repent included being compassionate, sharing with the poor, helping the vulnerable, and making peace.
• The axe being laid unto the root of the trees symbolizes God's judgment on those who do not repent.
• The one coming after John the Baptist is Jesus, who would baptize people with the Holy Spirit and bring about spiritual transformation through his teachings and miracles.
• The simple clothing of John the Baptist was a symbol of his humility and his focus on the message of repentance.
• The prophet Esaias' prophecy (Isaiah 40:3) concerning the voice of one crying in the wilderness, preparing the way for the Lord, was fulfilled by John the Baptist's ministry.