One of my favorite moments in American political pomp is when the President is introduced at the annual State of the Union address. The Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives announces, “Mr. Speaker, The President of the United States!” The announcement sets the stage for the entrance of the President who then enters the room to give his address.
Like the Sergeant at Arms, Matthew consistently announces Jesus as King. In chapter one, Matthew showed us the lineage and the birth of the King. We saw in chapter two that Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecy and is crowned by the king makers, the Magi. Here in Chapter 3, we meet the herald who paves the way for the Messiah to begin his earthly ministry!
The Forerunner
Matthew’s Jewish audience had been watching for a herald, someone who would come before the Messiah. The Scriptures prophesied of this in Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3, for instance. Both passages told of a herald coming, even describing what he will be like: “a voice…calling in the wilderness.” Matthew quickly points out that John is the fulfillment of Isaiah 40:3.
Have you noticed how many times Matthew references the Old Testament? Only the Book of Romans contains more references to the Old. Matthew draws our attention to prophecy after prophecy so make us see that Jesus aligns with things foretold long ago.
Malachi 4:5 — Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.
The people were looking for a herald, specifically Elijah. During their Passover Feasts, the Jews would even leave an extra cup or chair open at the table in expectation that Elijah might come.
To the crowds that gathered around John the Baptist, he was a sight to behold—a camel hair garment with an interesting diet. No, John wasn’t Elijah. John even said he wasn’t (John 1:21).
The disciples, like everyone else, wondered about Elijah. If Jesus is the Messiah, the who’s John the Baptist? Aren’t we supposed to see Elijah first? That’s what the disciples asked in Matthew 17:10. Jesus explained that Elijah is yet to come (v. 17:11). Elijah will be the herald who announces Jesus’ second return to earth, Christ coming in glory and power to establish his kingdom. John the Baptist was Elijah-like.
Luke’s Gospel helps us see that John the Baptist “came in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Lk 1:17). John as a herald 2,000 years ago is a glimpse of what Elijah will be when Christ returns. John the Baptist preached with power, and yet it’s only a glimpse of the power of what’s to come when Elijah announces the return of the king.
The people back in John’s day missed the point. But what about Elijah? The scribes, the crowds, and even the disciples were struggling to understand. They couldn’t grasp that Jesus hadn’t come to set up His kingdom just yet. The Messiah would come again, and that’s when Elijah could come first.
The Message
Matthew 3:1-2 — Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
Repent! John called on the crowd to repent. Repentance is more than just feeling bad over sin. It is a strong sorrow over sin that produces a reaction. The word literally means “to turn away from” or “to convert.” It’s a 180-degree turn from sin.
Keep in mind that many of the people in Matthew’s Gospel were working to keep the law. They were going to the temple and offering animal sacrifices to atone for their sins as law commanded. Suddenly, John the Baptist preaches something very different. John doesn’t say to go make another sacrifice but to repent. Turn from your sin!
As John preaches on the banks of the Jordan river, the crowd grows. He is preparing the way for Jesus by challenging the crowds. He urges them to consider their need and to incline their heart toward God. He’s telling them that their outward expressions of sacrifice are not enough. He’s preparing their hearts to meet their Messiah.
Three Interactions
John’s preaching began to be noticed in a significant way. The crowds began to come out to the desert to hear John. The Jewish leadership came, and finally Jesus came out to John. Each of these interactions are significant as Matthew builds his case that Jesus is the Messiah!
I. The Crowd
Matthew 3:5 tells us that “Jerusalem was going out to [John], and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan…” The Capital was Jerusalem. Judea was the district around the Jordan and Jerusalem. In other words, it was a crowd that represented the entire region going out to see John.
Matthew 3:6 — and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.
They were coming from everywhere, and they were confessing their sins and being baptized! This is a significant step. Jews were the “children of God” by being “children of Abraham.” They believed they were saved by birth (John 8:39). Baptism symbolized a washing, a cleansing that only non-Jews who converted into Judaism received. Baptism was a ceremonial washing to signify a man had come into God’s family. Yet, John told Jews to be baptized, to repent and confess their sins. This is an amazing turn of events. Being a physical child of Abraham won’t save you.
II. The Rebuke
The crowds and the dramatic step of confession and baptism drew the Jewish leadership out of Jerusalem. In their eyes, something wasn’t right.
Matthew 3:7 — But when [John] saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, You brood of vipers, who warned you of the wrath to come?
John noticed the religious leaders coming, and he immediately, rebuked them. The Pharisees and Sadducees had significant political clout. Though the Romans ruled Judea, the Jewish religious leadership was allowed some authority to keep peace.
The Pharisees were ultra-religious and outwardly pious. They were the lawmakers who kept tradition. The Sadducees were pragmatic and wealthy. They were politically motivated and kept the temple. The two groups didn’t care for each other, but they liked power, and they didn’t anyone who threatened it. John’s message threatened their power.
So, why did the religious leaders come to be baptized? Why did John baptize some of them? John saw through their outward efforts, and he was laying the foundation for how Jesus would deal with them. John proclaimed that wrath is coming for them (v. 3:7). He implies that someone other than God brought them out to him. Worse, John destroys their faith in Abraham to save them! (v. 3:9).
III. “Then Cometh Jesus”
Matthew 3:13 is when Jesus finally steps onto the scene. He comes to John to be baptized. John puts up a mild argument saying that Jesus should baptize him instead. Baptism was for the symbolic cleansing of the sinner, and Jesus was without sin. Jesus explained it was the Father’s will (v. 3:15).
As Jesus came up from the water, the heavens opened and the Spirit descended upon Jesus like a dove. The Father spoke, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (v. 3:17). All three members of the Trinity participate in this event. Jesus’ baptism was a public commissioning by God Himself upon the ministry of His Son.
John the Baptist, the herald, announced the coming of the King. He told the people how to prepare: Repent! The message hasn’t changed. May we turn from sin and incline our hearts toward God. The Kingdom of Heaven is near!