3 1When it was the right time, John the Baptizera began telling people a message from God. This was out in the desert area of Judea. 2John said, "Change your hearts and lives, because God's kingdomb is now very nearc." 3John is the one Isaiah the prophetd was talking about when he said,
7Many Phariseesh and Sadduceesi came to where John was baptizing people. When John saw them, he said, "You are all snakes! Who warned you to run from God's judgment that is coming? 8Change your hearts! And show by the way you live that you have changed. 9I know what you are thinking. You want to say, 'but Abrahamj is our father!' That means nothing. I tell you, God could make children for Abrahamj from these rocks. 10The ax is now ready to cut down the treesk. Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 11"I baptize you with water to show that you have changed your hearts and lives. But there is someone coming later who is able to do more than I can. I am not good enough to be the slave who takes off his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spiritl and with fire. 12He will come ready to clean the grainm. He will separate the good grain from the straw, and he will put the good part into his barn. Then he will burn the useless part with a fire that cannot be stopped." 15Jesus answered, "Let it be this way for now. We should do whatever God says is right." Then John agreed. 16So Jesus was baptized. As soon as he came up out of the water, the sky opened, and he saw God's Spirit coming down on him like a dove. 17A voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the one I love. I am very pleased with him." aJohn the Baptizer The man God chose to tell people about Christ’s coming and to prepare them by warning them to change their lives and by baptizing them (see “baptize”) as a sign of their decision to change. Read Mt. 3; Mk. 1:1-11; Lk. 1:5-25, 57-80; 3:1-18. bGod’s kingdom The “reign” or “rule” of God over all people who submit to him by accepting Jesus as the Messiah (the appointed king), who represents God’s kingdom on earth. Jesus was the perfect example of submission to the will of God. When people give control of their lives to Jesus, they become part of God’s kingdom and begin to enjoy the blessings he has promised his people from the beginning. (Note that in Matthew this term also translates the Greek word “kingdom” by itself or the phrase, “the kingdom of the heavens,” which was used by Jews as a way to avoid saying the divine name.) c3:2 is now very near Or “is coming soon” or “has come.” dprophet A person who speaks a message from God. Many of the books in the Old Testament are messages spoken or written by “the prophets,” who were some of those God chose to speak for him. God often used dreams or visions to tell or show his prophets what they should say. eIsaiah 40:3 flocusts Insects like grasshoppers that could destroy a large crop very quickly. See Ex. 10. The Law of Moses said that locusts could be eaten. See Lev. 11:21-22. gbaptize To perform the act of baptism. See “baptism.” hPharisee A person who belonged to a Jewish religious group that claimed to follow carefully all Jewish laws and customs. iSadducees A leading Jewish religious group. They accepted only the first five books of the Old Testament and believed that people will not live again after death. jAbraham The most respected ancestor of the Jewish people. Through him God promised to make a great nation and bless all the people of the earth. Read Gen. 12:1-3. k3:10 trees The people who don’t obey God. They are like “trees” that will be cut down. lHoly Spirit Also called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, and the Comforter. In union with God and Christ, he does God’s work among people in the world. m3:12 clean the grain Meaning that Jesus will separate the good people from those who are bad. |