In
those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” 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.”
Matthew 3:1-3
Matthew 2 [21.] He arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee, and came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.”
Matthew 3 [1.] In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” 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.”
Matthew 3 [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. Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. 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? Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance! 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.
Meaning:
Matthew 2 ended with the young Jesus settling in Nazareth (Matthew 2:19-23). Chapter 3 moves forward about thirty years. Before Jesus begins his public ministry, a forerunner appears in the desert with a startling message. Mark’s Gospel opens with the same scene (Mark 1:1-2; Mark 1:3; Mark 1:4-8).
- “In those days, John the Baptizer came”
John was the son of the priest Zechariah and of Elizabeth, Mary’s relative. Before his birth an angel announced that he would go before the Lord “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17). Israel had heard no prophet for about four hundred years. The last prophetic book ended with the promise, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of Yahweh comes” (Malachi 4:5). John’s appearance meant that God was speaking again and that the long-awaited day was near. He was called “the Baptizer” because he immersed people in water as a sign of repentance.
- “preaching in the wilderness of Judea”
The wilderness of Judea is the dry, rocky land between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea. For Israel the wilderness was full of meaning. It was where God led his people after the exodus, tested them and made his covenant with them. The prophets spoke of a new beginning in the wilderness. John did not preach in the temple courts but in the desert, calling people to leave the comfort of the city and come out to meet God.
- “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”
To repent means to change one’s mind and turn around: to turn away from sin and back to God. It is more than feeling sorry; it is a change of direction. Peter later preached, “Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19). Matthew usually says “Kingdom of Heaven” where the other Gospels say “Kingdom of God”, following the Jewish habit of reverently avoiding God’s name. The Kingdom is God’s rule, promised by the prophets, an “everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away” (Daniel 7:14). It was “at hand” because the King himself was about to appear. Jesus would begin his ministry with the very same words (Matthew 4:17).
- “The voice of one crying in the wilderness”
Matthew identifies John with the voice in Isaiah: “Prepare the way of Yahweh in the wilderness! Make a level highway in the desert for our God” (Isaiah 40:3). In ancient times, before a king visited a region, workers would prepare the road, filling holes and straightening the route. John’s task was to prepare hearts. In Isaiah the way is prepared for Yahweh himself; Matthew applies it to the coming of Jesus, showing who Jesus truly is. Malachi likewise had foretold, “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me” (Malachi 3:1). John himself said he was only “the voice” (John 1:23), pointing away from himself to the one who was coming.
The Significance of Matthew 3:1-3
- Preparing the way today
The road to Jesus still needs to be cleared in human hearts. Pride, unconfessed sin and distractions block the way. Repentance is how we straighten the path so that Christ can come in.
- A message for everyone
John called all people to repent, not only notorious sinners. Every person needs to turn to God. The good news is that God’s Kingdom is near and open to all who turn to him.
- A voice that points to Christ
John was content to be a voice. Those who serve God today are called to the same humility: to point others to Jesus rather than to themselves.
Cross-References:
Isaiah 40:3: "Prepare the way of Yahweh in the wilderness!" The prophecy fulfilled by John.
Malachi 3:1: "Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me;" The promised messenger.
Malachi 4:5: "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet" The coming of Elijah fulfilled in John.
Acts 3:19: "Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out," The meaning of repentance.
Conclusion: Matthew 3:1-3 introduces John the Baptizer, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” Matthew identifies him as the voice foretold by Isaiah, sent to prepare the way of the Lord. John’s call to turn from sin and get ready for the coming King still speaks to every heart that needs to make room for Jesus.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible