3 For G1063 this G3778 is he G2076 that was spoken G4483 of by G5259 the prophet G4396 Esaias, G2268 saying, G3004 The voice G5456 of one crying G994 in G1722 the wilderness, G2048 Prepare ye G2090 the way G3598 of the Lord, G2962 make G4160 his G846 paths G5147 straight. G2117
The voice H6963 of him that crieth H7121 in the wilderness, H4057 Prepare H6437 ye the way H1870 of the LORD, H3068 make straight H3474 in the desert H6160 a highway H4546 for our God. H430
Behold, I will send H7971 my messenger, H4397 and he shall prepare H6437 the way H1870 before H6440 me: and the Lord, H113 whom ye seek, H1245 shall suddenly H6597 come H935 to his temple, H1964 even the messenger H4397 of the covenant, H1285 whom ye delight H2655 in: behold, he shall come, H935 saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts. H6635
And G2532 he G846 shall go G4281 before G1799 him G846 in G1722 the spirit G4151 and G2532 power G1411 of Elias, G2243 to turn G1994 the hearts G2588 of the fathers G3962 to G1909 the children, G5043 and G2532 the disobedient G545 to G1722 the wisdom G5428 of the just; G1342 to make ready G2090 a people G2992 prepared G2680 for the Lord. G2962
And shall say, H559 Cast ye up, H5549 cast ye up, H5549 prepare H6437 the way, H1870 take up H7311 the stumblingblock H4383 out of the way H1870 of my people. H5971 For thus saith H559 the high H7311 and lofty One H5375 that inhabiteth H7931 eternity, H5703 whose name H8034 is Holy; H6918 I dwell H7931 in the high H4791 and holy H6918 place, with him also that is of a contrite H1793 and humble H8217 spirit, H7307 to revive H2421 the spirit H7307 of the humble, H8217 and to revive H2421 the heart H3820 of the contrite ones. H1792
And G2532 he came G2064 into G1519 all G3956 the country about G4066 Jordan, G2446 preaching G2784 the baptism G908 of repentance G3341 for G1519 the remission G859 of sins; G266 As G5613 it is written G1125 in G1722 the book G976 of the words G3056 of Esaias G2268 the prophet, G4396 saying, G3004 The voice G5456 of one crying G994 in G1722 the wilderness, G2048 Prepare ye G2090 the way G3598 of the Lord, G2962 make G4160 his G846 paths G5147 straight. G2117 Every G3956 valley G5327 shall be G2071 filled, G4137 and G2532 every G3956 mountain G3735 and G2532 hill G1015 shall be brought low; G5013 and G2532 the crooked G4646 shall be made G1519 straight, G2117 and G2532 the rough G5138 ways G3598 shall be made G1519 smooth; G3006 And G2532 all G3956 flesh G4561 shall see G3700 the salvation G4992 of God. G2316
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Matthew 3
Commentary on Matthew 3 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 3
At the start of this chapter, concerning the baptism of John, begins the gospel (Mk. 1:1); what went before is but preface or introduction; this is "the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ.' And Peter observes the same date, Acts 1:22, beginning from the baptism of John, for then Christ began first to appear in him, and then to appear to him, and by him to the world. Here is,
Mat 3:1-6
We have here an account of the preaching and baptism of John, which were the dawning of the gospel-day. Observe,
The beginning of the gospel in a wilderness, speaks comfort to the deserts of the Gentile world. Now must the prophecies be fulfilled, I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, Isa. 41:18, 19. The wilderness shall be a fruitful field, Isa. 32:15. And the desert shall rejoice, Isa. 35:1, 2. The Septuagint reads, the deserts of Jordan, the very wilderness in which John preached. In the Romish church there are those who call themselves hermits, and pretend to follow John; but when they say of Christ, Behold, he is in the desert, go not forth, ch. 24:26. There was a seducer that led his followers into the wilderness, Acts 21:38.
Mat 3:7-12
The doctrine John preached was that of repentance, in consideration of the kingdom of heaven being at hand; now here we have the use of that doctrine. Application is the life of preaching, so it was of John's preaching.
Observe,
Mat 3:13-17
Our Lord Jesus, from his childhood till now, when he was almost thirty years of age, had lain hid in Galilee, as it were, buried alive; but now, after a long and dark night, behold, the Sun of righteousness rises in glory. The fulness of time was come that Christ should enter upon his prophetical office; and he chooses to do it, not at Jerusalem (though it is probable that he went thither at the three yearly feasts, as others did), but there where John was baptizing; for to him resorted those who waited for the consolation of Israel, to whom alone he would be welcome. John the Baptist was six months older than our Saviour, and it is supposed that he began to preach and baptize about six months before Christ appeared; so long he was employed in preparing his way, in the region round about Jordan; and more was done towards it in these six months than had been done in several ages before. Christ's coming from Galilee to Jordan, to be baptized, teaches us not the shrink from pain and toil, that we may have an opportunity of drawing nigh to God in ordinance. We should be willing to go far, rather than come short of communion with God. Those who will find must seek.
Now in this story of Christ's baptism we may observe,
Now, when he was coming up out of the water, and all the company had their eye upon him,