Matthew 3:2 KJV

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 3:1-11

D. The King’s preparation 3:1-4:11Matthew passed over Jesus’ childhood quickly to relate His preparation for presentation to Israel as her King."The material of this section of the Gospel is particularly important since the baptism of Jesus serves as the occasion of his special anointing by the Holy Spirit for the ministry that follows, but it is also Christologically significant in that his divine Sonship is confirmed and the non-triumphalist nature of the present phase of that Sonship is... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 3:1-12

1. Jesus’ forerunner 3:1-12 (cf. Mark 1:2-8; Luke 3:3-18)It was common when Jesus lived for forerunners to precede important individuals to prepare the way for their arrival. For example, when a king would visit a town in his realm his emissaries would go before him to announce his visit. They would make sure the town was in good condition to receive him. Sometimes his servants even had to do minor roadwork to smooth the highway the king would take as he approached his destination. [Note:... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 3:1-17

Appearance of the Baptist. Baptism of Jesus1-12. John the Baptist’s ministry. The circumstances of John’s birth are detailed in Luke 1 (see notes there). He was sanctified from birth to be the forerunner of the Messiah (Luke 1:13-17, Luke 1:76.), and received a special revelation to enable him to recognise the Expected One when He appeared (John 1:33). His mother Elisabeth was a cousin of the virgin, and he was born about six months before Jesus. Knowing what his work in life was to be, he... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Matthew 3:2

(2) Repent.—Etymologically, the word “repent,” which has as its root-meaning the sense of pain, is hardly adequate as a rendering for the Greek word, which implies change of mind and purpose. In the Greek version of the Old Testament, the word is used of divine rather than human repentance, i.e., of a change of purpose implying pity and regret (1 Samuel 15:29; Jeremiah 4:28; Jeremiah 18:8). In Wis. 5:3; Sir. 17:24; Sir. 48:15, it includes the sorrow out of which the change comes.The kingdom of... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Matthew 3:1-17

The Preaching of the Baptist Matthew 3:1 And what did he preach? This chapter in St. Matthew's Gospel tells us pretty plainly what was the burden of his message. I. He Spoke Plainly About Sin. He taught the absolute necessity of 'repentance' before anyone can be saved; he preached that repentance must be proved by its 'fruits'; he warned men not to rest on outward privileges, or outward union with the Church. This is just the teaching that we all need. II. He Spoke Plainly About our Lord... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Matthew 3:1-12

Chapter 3His Herald - Matthew 3:1-12THIRTY years have gone since all Jerusalem was in trouble at the rumour of Messiah’s birth. But as nothing has been heard of Him since, the excitement has passed away. Those who were troubled about it are aging or old or dead; so no one thinks or speaks of it now. There have been several political changes since, mostly for the worse. Judea is now a province of Rome, governed by procurators, of whom the sixth, called Pontius Pilate, has just entered on his... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Matthew 3:1-17

3. The Herald of the King; the Entrance upon His Public Ministry. 1. The Herald of the King. (Matthew 3:1-6 .) 2. His Message and His Baptism. (Matthew 3:7-12 .) 3. The King in Jordan's Waters. (Matthew 3:13-17 .) CHAPTER 3 The third chapter relates the ministry of the herald of the King, who announces that the kingdom of the heavens has drawn nigh, and the presence of the King Himself, who is to come after him; the baptism of the King, who comes from Galilee to the Jordan to John, and... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Matthew 3:2

3:2 And saying, {c} Repent ye: for the {d} kingdom of heaven is at hand.(c) The word in the greek signifies a changing of our minds and heart from evil to better.(d) The kingdom of Messiah, whose government will be heavenly, and nothing but heavenly. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 3:1-17

Though John was of a priestly family, this too is not mentioned. He does not preach in the temple, but in the wilderness of the river Jordan, at least thirteen miles from Jerusalem. For a priest to preach in the wilderness is totally out of character, and nothing but the sovereign power of the Spirit of God can account for his large audience coming from Jerusalem and all Judea out into the wilderness to hear the unusual messenger of God. But the formal religion of the Jews, though... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Matthew 3:1-17

PREPARATION FOR PUBLIC MINISTRY BAPTIZED BY JOHN (Matthew 3:0 ) For the earlier history of John the Baptist compare Luke 1:0 . In Matthew 3:1-6 of the present lesson, however, we have the place and theme of his ministry, a statement of his official relationship to the Messiah, his description, and an account of the interest awakened by his mission. “The Kingdom of heaven” or “the heavens” (Matthew 3:2 ) means the earthly kingdom promised to Israel in the Old Testament, over which the... read more