ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Matthew 3

Matt. 3:1–17 John the Baptist Prepares for the Messianic King­dom. John now appears, preaching in the Judean desert. It is more than 25 years since Joseph and his family moved back to Nazareth. Matthew’s focus shifts to Jesus’ public ministry.

Matt. 3:2 To repent, or “change one’s mind,” called for a change in a person’s attitude toward God that affected one’s actions and life choices. The term kingdom of heaven is found only in Matthew’s Gospel. It is interchangeable with “kingdom of God,” found in the other Gospels (compare 19:14 and Mark 10:14). is at hand. The kingdom of heaven has begun in the person of Jesus (the Messiah). See note on Matt. 4:17.

Matt. 3:3 John the Baptist fulfills Isa. 40:3. He also fulfills the prophecies in Malachi about the messenger who prepares the way for the Lord (Mal. 3:1; compare Matt. 11:10) and about Elijah (Mal. 4:5–6; compare Matt. 11:14; 17:10–13; Luke 1:17).

Matt. 3:4 a garment of camel’s hair. John’s appearance was common to nomads. Locusts and wild honey were (and still are) a source of food for people living in the desert.

Matt. 3:5–6 “Baptize” means “to plunge, dip, immerse.” When people were baptized by him, going under the water symbolized the cleansing of sin.

Matt. 3:7 The Pharisees were Jewish laymen, popular with the common people and connected to local synagogues. They followed extensive extra­biblical traditions, which they carefully obeyed as a means of applying the law to daily life. The Sadducees were a small, aristocratic, priestly group. They received their authority from the activities of the temple.

Matt. 3:11 baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. John’s water baptism will be replaced by the baptism associated with the Messiah, he who is coming (see note on 1 Cor. 12:13). The Holy Spirit will be “poured out” (compare Joel 2:28–29; Acts 2:16–21). Unbelievers will receive the judgment of eternal fire. Even those who repent may endure a purifying fire.

Matt. 3:12 Winnowing fork (see Ruth 3:2) signifies the separation of those who repent and those who do not.

Matt. 3:15 fulfill all righteousness. Jesus’ baptism begins his ministry and fulfills God’s saving activity prophesied throughout the OT (see John 1:31–34). Although he needed no repentance or cleansing, Jesus is baptized to identify with the sinful people he came to save through his substitutionary life and death (compare 2 Cor. 5:21).

Matt. 3:16 The Spirit of God anoints Jesus as Israel’s King and Messiah and commissions him as God’s righteous “servant” (see Isa. 42:1).

Matt. 3:17 The voice from heaven confirms the eternal relationship that the Son and Father share. It also identifies Jesus as the messianic Son of God (Ps. 2:7).