Matthew 3: Prepare the Way of the Lord
John calls the nation to repent, then baptizes Jesus, and heaven declares him the beloved Son.
Matthew 3 (WEB)
1 In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,
2 “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”
3 For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make ready the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight.”
4 Now John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him.
6 They were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance!
9 Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
10 “Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.
11 I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.
12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.”
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.
14 But John would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?”
15 But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him.
16 Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him.
17 Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Matthew 3 (KJV)
1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
4 And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan,
6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matthew 3 (ASV)
1 And in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judæa, saying,
2 Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
3 For this is he that was spoken of through Isaiah the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight.
4 Now John himself had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then went out unto him Jerusalem, and all Judæa, and all the region round about the Jordan;
6 and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said unto them, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance:
9 and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
10 And even now the axe lieth at the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
11 I indeed baptize you in water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire:
12 whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor; and he will gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.
13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
14 But John would have hindered him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
15 But Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffereth him.
16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him;
17 and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Summary
John the Baptizer appears in the wilderness of Judea, preaching, Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. He is the voice Isaiah foretold, crying to make ready the way of the Lord. Clothed in camel's hair and eating locusts and wild honey, he draws crowds from Jerusalem and Judea who are baptized, confessing their sins. When Pharisees and Sadducees come, John warns them to produce fruit worthy of repentance and not to trust their descent from Abraham. He points beyond himself to one mightier, who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and gather his wheat while burning the chaff. Then Jesus comes from Galilee to be baptized. John resists, but Jesus insists it fulfills all righteousness. As Jesus rises from the water, the Spirit descends like a dove and the Father's voice names him beloved Son.
Main Characters
- John the Baptizer — The wilderness preacher who calls Israel to repentance and prepares the way for the mightier one to come.
- Jesus — Comes from Galilee to be baptized, fulfilling all righteousness, and is declared God's beloved Son.
- The Pharisees and Sadducees — Religious leaders whom John warns to bear real fruit rather than rely on descent from Abraham.
- The Holy Spirit — Descends like a dove and rests on Jesus at his baptism.
- The Father — The voice from heaven declaring Jesus to be his beloved Son, in whom he is well pleased.
Key Verse
Matthew 3:2 (WEB)
“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”
Lessons Learned
- True repentance shows itself in changed lives, not in religious pedigree.
- Greatness in God's eyes is humility that points away from self to Christ.
- Jesus identifies with sinners, choosing baptism to fulfill all righteousness.
- At Jesus' baptism the Father, Son, and Spirit are present, revealing who he is.
- The kingdom calls for repentance. John preaches, 'Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!' (Matthew 3:2, WEB), the first response God's reign requires.
- Repentance bears visible fruit. John warns, 'Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance!' (Matthew 3:8, WEB); heritage and religion cannot replace a changed life.
- Christ is greater than even the greatest prophet. John says, 'He who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry' (Matthew 3:11, WEB).
- Jesus humbly identifies with sinners. He tells John, 'Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness' (Matthew 3:15, WEB).
- The Father delights in his Son. A voice from heaven declares, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased' (Matthew 3:17, WEB).
- What is the heart of John's message, and how do the crowds respond to him?
- Why does John rebuke the Pharisees and Sadducees, and what does he tell them to produce?
- How does John describe the one who comes after him compared to himself?
- Why does Jesus insist on being baptized, and what happens as he comes up from the water?
- What would producing fruit worthy of repentance look like in your own life right now?
- John preaches repentance because the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand (3:2). Crowds from Jerusalem, all Judea, and the region around the Jordan go out to him and are baptized, confessing their sins (3:5-6).
- John rebukes the Pharisees and Sadducees as offspring of vipers because they presume on having Abraham as their father (3:7-9). He tells them to produce fruit worthy of repentance, since every fruitless tree is cut down (3:8, 10).
- John says the coming one is mightier, and he is unworthy even to carry his shoes (3:11). While John baptizes with water, that one will baptize with the Holy Spirit and judge, gathering wheat and burning chaff (3:11-12).
- Jesus insists it is fitting to fulfill all righteousness (3:15), identifying with sinners. As he rises from the water, heaven opens, the Spirit descends like a dove, and the Father's voice calls him beloved Son (3:16-17).
- This is a personal application question. Invite members to name specific, concrete changes. As leader, keep it grace-filled rather than guilt-driven, and offer your own example so honesty feels safe.