Matthew 3:1-4

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Matthew 3:1-4
Each of the Gospel accounts follow the same pattern of first telling us about John the Baptist prior to showing us the work of Jesus. As in the case of any great person, especially a king, Jesus does not appear before He is first announced. John is the herald preparing the way before Him. Luke 1:17 tells us that John was “preparing a people ready for the Lord.” These were evil days in the history of Israel and John came in likeness of Elijah the prophet turning the people back to true righteousness and readying them for the appearance of Jesus.”Repent” is the first word of the gospel. It is universal because no person can say they have no need of it (Acts 17:30). It is continuous because no person can say they have ceased from sin (1 Jn. 1:8). It is imperative because no person can be saved without it (Lk. 13:3). But change - giving up those sins and practices we love - is the reason most people will be lost eternally. John’s command encourages an urgency - “for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” The kingdom was about to begin in his day; it has already arrived in our day and the Lord could return at any time. How much more should we heed the urgency?

It is significant that John’s ministry was in the wilderness. The nation of Israel had spiritually become a parched and dry wilderness. Isaiah had pictured these days in his prophecy as days in which Israel had become like a wilderness (Isa. 32:15-16). But in the same prophecy, Isaiah spoke of God turning the wilderness into a fruitful field. As the Lord’s kingdom was nearing, so were the days in which Israel would again be spiritually fruitful.

What is this coming kingdom of which John speaks? “Kingdom,” and specifically the “kingdom of heaven” was the fulfillment of all that the prophets foretold and the greatest hope of Israel. Unfortunately, the common belief of the day was that God’s new kingdom would be a great physical kingdom that would rule over the whole earth. But Matthew introduces to us the kingdom of heaven. It would not be earthly, but spiritual, with its headquarters in heaven. Matthew uses this term 37 times to impress upon his people the spiritual nature of the coming kingdom.
Berry Kercheville