Matthew 3

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 3:1

1. In those days—of Christ's secluded life at Nazareth, where the last chapter left Him. came John the Baptist, preaching—about six months before his Master. in the wilderness of Judea—the desert valley of the Jordan, thinly peopled and bare in pasture, a little north of Jerusalem. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 3:2

2. And saying, Repent ye—Though the word strictly denotes a change of mind, it has respect here (and wherever it is used in connection with salvation) primarily to that sense of sin which leads the sinner to flee from the wrath to come, to look for relief only from above, and eagerly to fall in with the provided remedy. for the kingdom of heaven is at hand—This sublime phrase, used in none of the other Gospels, occurs in this peculiarly Jewish Gospel nearly thirty times; and being suggested by... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 3:3

3. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying— ( :-). The voice of one crying in the wilderness—(See on :-); the scene of his ministry corresponding to its rough nature. Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight—This prediction is quoted in all the four Gospels, showing that it was regarded as a great outstanding one, and the predicted forerunner as the connecting link between the old and the new economies. Like the great ones of the earth, the Prince of... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 3:4

4. And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair—woven of it. and a leathern girdle about his loins—the prophetic dress of Elijah ( :-; and see Zechariah 13:4). and his meat was locusts—the great, well-known Eastern locust, a food of the poor (Zechariah 13:4- :). and wild honey—made by wild bees (1 Samuel 14:25; 1 Samuel 14:26). This dress and diet, with the shrill cry in the wilderness, would recall the stern days of Elijah. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 3:5

5. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan—From the metropolitan center to the extremities of the Judean province the cry of this great preacher of repentance and herald of the approaching Messiah brought trooping penitents and eager expectants. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 3:6

6. And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins—probably confessing aloud. This baptism was at once a public seal of their felt need of deliverance from sin, of their expectation of the coming Deliverer, and of their readiness to welcome Him when He appeared. The baptism itself startled, and was intended to startle, them. They were familiar enough with the baptism of proselytes from heathenism; but this baptism of Jews themselves was quite new and strange to them. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 3:7

7. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them—astonished at such a spectacle. O generation of vipers—"Viper brood," expressing the deadly influence of both sects alike upon the community. Mutually and entirely antagonistic as were their religious principles and spirit, the stern prophet charges both alike with being the poisoners of the nation's religious principles. In Matthew 12:34; Matthew 23:33, this strong language of the Baptist is anew... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 3:8

8. Bring forth therefore fruits—the true reading clearly is "fruit"; meet for repentance—that is, such fruit as befits a true penitent. John now being gifted with a knowledge of the human heart, like a true minister of righteousness and lover of souls here directs them how to evidence and carry out their repentance, supposing it genuine; and in the following verses warns them of their danger in case it were not. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 3:9

9. And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father—that pillow on which the nation so fatally reposed, that rock on which at length it split. for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham—that is, "Flatter not yourselves with the fond delusion that God stands in need of you, to make good His promise of a seed to Abraham; for I tell you that, though you were all to perish, God is as able to raise up a seed to Abraham out of those... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 3:10

10. And now also—And even already. the axe is laid unto—"lieth at." the root of the trees—as it were ready to strike: an expressive figure of impending judgment, only to be averted in the way next described. therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire—Language so personal and individual as this can scarcely be understood of any national judgment like the approaching destruction of Jerusalem, with the breaking up of the Jewish polity and the... read more

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 3:1

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 3:2

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 3:3

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 3:4

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 3:5

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 3:6

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 3:7

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 3:8

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 3:9

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 3:10

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