Matthew 03
John the Baptist and the Baptism of Jesus
Full Text (NKJV)
Matthew 3:1-17
1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’”
4 Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto 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. 12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and You are coming to me?”
15 But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.
16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Bull’s Eye: How Matthew 03 Points to Yeshua
John the Baptist serves as the forerunner, preparing the way for the King. He calls the nation to repentance and warns that outward religion is not enough — true fruit must be present.
When Yeshua comes to be baptized, He does not need repentance. Instead, He says it is necessary “to fulfill all righteousness.” In this act, Yeshua identifies with sinners and perfectly obeys the Father’s will.
The heavens then open, the Spirit descends like a dove, and the Father publicly declares: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
This is the first clear revelation of the Trinity in the New Testament. The Son is baptized, the Spirit descends, and the Father speaks from heaven.
Yeshua is the true King who perfectly fulfills all righteousness and receives the full approval of the Father.
Pilgrim’s Progress Reflection
John the Baptist functions much like the Evangelist in Pilgrim’s Progress. He cries out in the wilderness, calls people to repentance, and points them toward the coming King. Just as Christian is directed to leave the City of Destruction and begin his journey, John prepares the way for people to come to Yeshua.
Matthew 3 shows us that the true King has arrived, and the proper response is repentance and faith in Him.
Deep-Study
- John the Baptist – The Forerunner Who Prepared the Way
- The Baptism of Jesus and the Revelation of the Trinity
- The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand
- Fruits Worthy of Repentance
Cross-References
- index (Master Hub)
- bulls-eye–yeshua-alone
- Matthew 02 • Matthew 04