Matthew 3:5-10
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Loading ...Matthew 3:5-10
First, in this section we need to be impressed with John’s baptism. John taught a “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Mk. 1:4). Here we see the people being baptized and at the same time “confessing their sins.” This confession of sin was unique to John’s baptism and in keeping with its purpose. This was a baptism of repentance and was used to turn the people away from their immoral life. Christ’s baptism, which begins in Acts 2:38, was different from John’s in regard to its purpose as well as different in what one believed and understood (Acts 19:4).The picture of John’s baptism, that of an immersion in water, was perfect as a transition from Judaism to Christianity. The Jews were accustomed to “washings” that cleansed and prepared them for worship and fellowship with God. So John’s baptism prepared them for fellowship with the Messiah and entrance into the kingdom.
The popularity of John’s baptism is remarkable. Even the Jewish leaders, Pharisees and Sadducees, were making the trek to the Jordan for baptism. But John recognized their insincerity. They apparently were joining in this new fad for appearances sake, but had no intention of changing their lives. Thus, John calls them a pit of poisonous snakes who were fleeing a desert fire. Their doctrines killed anyone who came near. It would do them no good to submit to this baptism if they were not intending to actually change. How many today follow the “fad” of Christianity, but have no intention of living a pure and righteous life?
Verse nine reveals one of the common errors of the Jewish people. They believed that since they had a physical connection to Abraham, they would escape the wrath of God. But God judges without partiality (Rom. 2:6-11). In fact, John says their judgment was near. God was ready to cut down every tree that did not bear good fruit. The judgment on the Israel nation as prophesied in Daniel 9 would happen in 70 A.D. A Jew would say, “How could this be? We are the Lord’s people?” But John’s answer is that God was able to raise up children to Abraham from stones. This is certainly a veiled reference to bringing in the Gentiles. Matthew has now mentioned the Gentiles in a favorable light in each of the first three chapters.
Berry Kercheville
