Matthew Chapter 3
This chapter begins with the ministry of John the Baptist. So John is an adult already, and preaching. Likely he is 30 or so years old. In vs 3 Matthew says that John and his preaching is a fulfillment of scripture, which Matthew quotes as Is 40:3.
3 A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. [Isa 40:3 ESV]
Note the difference in the way ESV punctuates this verse and the way we usually say it! ESV punctuates it so that the way is in the wilderness. As I always "heard" it, the voice was in the wilderness. Wonder which is correct? The old way seems better to me. John was in the wilderness.
2021 - Actually, the ESV way is based on the Masoretic text of the OT. There is a good history of what the Masoretic text is about linked here somewhere in the notes, but the short version is that the Masoretic was a "modified", maybe even "amplified" version of the original Hebrew text which had no vowels. So the vowels were supplied by those reading the text aloud as it was passed down through history. The "reading" was therefore an oral requirement of accurately interpreting the original Hebrew text. They were inseparable. So, this punctuation comes from the oral tradition of reading that text. As spoken, it would be obvious that the ESV translation is the correct one.
2021 - This verse:
4 Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. [Mat 3:4 ESV] This clearly identified John with Elijah, who had similar costume and diet in the OT. There just wasn't any doubt that John was a prophet after the pattern of Elijah.
Many were moved by John's message, likely without realizing that he was the one prophesied in Isaiah. God must have prepared many for the initiation of the church age which was now coming to pass. This verse:
6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. [Mat 3:6 ESV]
"Confessing" is very likely a verb showing continuous action. They probably didn't confess, get baptized and then confess no more. Would like to look this up.
vs 7-10 are John's message to the Pharisees and Sadducees, who both came to hear him. He warned them of the wrath, and he warned them that it was futile to depend on their heritage - their birth as traceable descendants of Abraham - for salvation. John told them they should be doing "works in keeping with repentance". If correctly translated, this verse also says that the works are a result of repentance, NOT a path to repentance! Another good phrase for study. Another part of the message in these verses is here:
10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. [Mat 3:10 ESV]
This acknowledges/predicts/prophesies that Israel will reject Christ in the main. It timestamps what is about to happen as the coming completion of the double punishment and of the cutting off of Israel until the end times. Israel was looking for the coming of Christ as the beginning of their restoration - which it will someday be - when in reality his coming was the end of their part in the history of the world for a very long time. God's work with the nation of Israel was coming to an abrupt end, and the beginning of His work with the church was about to start.
This message:
11 "I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. [Mat 3:11 ESV]
"For" repentance...or because repentance? KJV and NKJV say "unto". NLT says - paraphrased a little - "I baptize those who repent" which is what I would have guessed. But this is the only one that translates it this way...making me think that like me, their translation is based on prior thinking rather than on what it actually says. Don't do this. Might still be worth a deeper look.
MSB has extensive notes on this verse also. It says there are three baptisms here. Baptism with water for repentance, which symbolized cleansing. I wonder if repentance is "continuous"? This is what John's was about. Baptism with the Holy Spirit, which all believers in Christ receive, and with fire. MSB says that since fire is used throughout this context as judgement, this baptism is what unbelievers will receive. It is a baptism of judgement. I never heard it put this way before. Makes sense though since non-bearing trees are thrown into the fire. End of vs 12 also refers to the chaff being thrown into the fire. Pretty obvious when someone tells you about it...
Then in vs 13-17 we have the baptism of Jesus. And this very important verses, which set Christianity apart from all others:
16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." [Mat 3:16-17 ESV]
Jesus, the Son, present physically, dripping wet, the Spirit of God, "like" a dove, but not a physical entity, and a voice from an invisible source but originating in heaven, all in the same scene at the same time. These are the three distinguishable persons of the One True God, all present together, and obviously separate. Three functions, one God, three roles, one God. None greater, none lesser. Three manifestations to accomplish one end.
2024 - These verses:
14 John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 15 But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. [Mat 3:14-15 ESV].
Why did John need to be baptized by Jesus? Jesus acknowledges the truth of this by his answer. "Well, yes, I know, but for bigger reasons, you must baptize me instead". We have no record that John was EVER baptized, so it was certainly not necessary to save John. So what then was the efficacy of baptism and what was the "authority structure" of who ought to baptize whom?