Matthew 3:12 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 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, 1. To whom he applied it; to the Pharisees and Sadducees that came to his baptism, Matt. 3:7. To others he thought it enough to say, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand; but when he saw these Pharisees and Sadducees come about him, he found it necessary to... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 3:7-12

3:7-12 When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who put it into your minds to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit to fit repentance. Do not think that you can say to yourselves. 'We have Abraham as a father.' For I tell you that God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones. The axe is already applied to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not produce good fruit is on the point of being cut... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 3:7-12

But after John's threat there came the promise--which had also a threat within it. As we have said, John pointed beyond himself to the one who was to come. At the moment he was enjoying a vast reputation, and he was wielding a most powerful influence. Yet he said that he was not fit to carry the sandals of the one who was to come-and to carry sandals was the duty of a slave. John's whole attitude was self-obliteration, not self-importance. His only importance was, as he saw it, as a signpost... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 3:7-12

There is a word and a picture in John's message which combine both promise and threat. John says that the baptism of the one who is to come will be with fire. In the thought of a baptism with fire there are three ideas. (i) There is the idea of illumination. The blaze of a flame sends a light through the night and illuminates the darkest corners. The flame of the beacon guides the sailor to the harbour and the traveller to his goal. In fire there is light and guidance. Jesus is the beacon... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 3:7-12

In all John's preaching there was one basic demand--and that basic demand was: "Repent!" ( Matthew 3:2 ). That was also the basic demand of Jesus himself, for Jesus came saying, "Repent, and believe in the gospel" ( Mark 1:15 ). We will do well to seek to understand what this repentance is, and what this basic demand of the King and his herald means. It is to be noted that both Jesus and John use the word repent without any explanation of its meaning. They use it as a word which they... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 3:7-12

There is an almost terrifying note in the ethical demand of the Jewish idea of repentance, but there are other comforting things. Repentance is always available. "Repentance." they said, "is like the sea--a man can bathe in it at any hour." There may be times when even the gates of prayer are shut; but the gates of repentance are never closed. Repentance is completely essential. There is a story of a kind of argument that Abraham had with God. Abraham said to God, "Thou canst not lay... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 3:12

Whose fan is in his hand ,.... The Jews had their hand fans, and which were like a man's hand; their names were מגוב מעבר מורה ; which, as Maimonides says F14 In Misn. Celim. c. 13. sect. 7. Vid. Jarchi & Bartenora in ib. & in Misn. Tibbul. Yom. c. 4. sect. 6. , were three sorts of instruments used in the floor, in form of a man's hand; with which they cleansed the wheat and barley from the straw; and their names differ according to their form: some have many teeth, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 3:12

Whose fan is in his hand - The Romans are here termed God's fan, as, in Matthew 3:10 , they were called his axe, and, in Matthew 22:7 , they are termed his troops or armies. The winnowing fan of the Hindoos is square, made of split bamboo; and the corn is winnowed by waving the fan backwards with both hands - "Whose fan is in his hand." His floor - Does not this mean the land of Judea, which had been long, as it were, the threshing-floor of the Lord? God says, he will now, by the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 3:12

Verse 12 12.Whose winnowing-fan is in his hand In the former verse, John preached concerning the grace of Christ, that the Jews might yield themselves to him to be renewed: now he discourses of judgment, that he may strike despisers with terror. As there are always many hypocrites who proudly reject the grace of Christ offered to them, it is also necessary to denounce the judgment that awaits them. For this reason John here describes Christ as a severe judge against unbelievers. And this is an... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 3:1-12

THE HERALD . His public appearance and proclamation ( Matthew 3:1 , Matthew 3:2 ), as foretold by Scripture ( Matthew 3:3 ). His Elijah-like dress ( Matthew 3:4 ). He is listened to by multitudes ( Matthew 3:5 , Matthew 3:6 ). His faithful warning to typical Jews, and his pointing not to himself, but to the Coming One ( Matthew 3:7-12 ). The date at which he appeared is stated, in Luke 3:1 , to have been "in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar; i.e. ... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 3:7-12

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 3:7-12

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 3:7-12

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 3:7-12

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 3:7-12

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 3:7-12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 3:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 3:12

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 3:12

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 3:1-12

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