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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 3:1-6

We have here an account of the preaching and baptism of John, which were the dawning of the gospel-day. Observe, I. The time when he appeared. In those days (Matt. 3:1), or, after those days, long after what was recorded in the foregoing chapter, which left the child Jesus in his infancy. In those days, in the time appointed of the Father for the beginning of the gospel, when the fulness of time was come, which was often thus spoken of in the Old Testament, In those days. Now the last of... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 3:1-6

3:1-6 In those days John the Baptizer arrived on the scene, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea. "Repent," he said, "for the Kingdom of the Heavens has come near." It was this man who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet when he said, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Make ready the road by which the Lord is coming, and make straight the paths which he must travel!"' John himself wore a garment made from camel's hair, and he had a leathern belt round his waist; and his food was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 3:4

The same John had his raiment ,.... The Evangelist goes on to describe this excellent person, the forerunner of our Lord, by his raiment; the same John of whom Isaiah prophesied, and who came preaching the doctrine in the place and manner before expressed, had his raiment of camel's hair ; not of camel's hair softened and dressed, which the Talmudists F26 Misn. Negaim. c. 11. sect. 2. & Kilaim, c. 9. sect. 1. Talmud, Bab. Menachot, fol. 39. 2. call צמר גמלים "camel's... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 3:4

His raiment of camel's hair - A sort of coarse or rough covering, which, it appears, was common to the prophets, Zechariah 13:4 . In such a garment we find Elijah clothed, 2 Kings 1:8 . And as John had been designed under the name of this prophet, Malachi 4:5 , whose spirit and qualifications he was to possess, Luke 1:17 , he took the same habit and lived in the same state of self-denial. His meat was locusts - Ακριδες . Ακρις may either signify the insect called the locust,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 3:4

Verse 4 Matthew 3:4.And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair The Evangelist does not desire us to reckon it as one of John’s chief excellencies, that he followed a rough and austere way of living, or even that he avoided a moderate and ordinary degree of elegance: but, having already stated that he was an inhabitant of the mountains, he now adds, that his food and clothing were adapted to his residence. And he mentions this, not only to inform us, that John was satisfied with the food... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 3:1-4

The herald. "In those days," viz. while Jesus dwelt at Nazareth, the place of separation and reproach, "came John the Baptist," viz. to herald him. Man's order is to champion that which is popular, God's order is to herald truth. We note— I. THAT JOHN CAME IN THE QUALITY OF ELIJAH . 1 . In this quality he was predicted. 2 . John accordingly behaved like Elijah. (a) John was simply the "voice," Jesus is the "Word." (b) This voice arose out of silence.... 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 3:1-12

The forerunner. I. HIS ANNOUNCEMENT . 1 . His sudden appearance. It is the first mention of John the Baptist in St. Matthew's Gospel. He flashes upon us suddenly, like his prototype Elijah in the Old Testament. St. Luke tells us of his birth, of his solitary life: he "was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel." Now the time was come. "In those days," St. Matthew says, while the Lord was still at Nazareth, living a family life with brethren and sisters—the children,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 3:1-12

The forerunner. I. JOHN 'S APPEARANCE AND CHARACTER . He claimed to belong to the old prophetic line by appearing clad in the prophetic garb, the single rough garment of skin. His manner of life harmonized with his dress; leaving the comfortable home and well-provided life and fair prospects of a priestly family, he adopted the meagre, comfortless life of an ascetic. To entangle himself with the world would have tended to blind him to its vices and silence his remonstrance. He... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 3:1-15

The appearance of John the Baptist. The interval between the last verse of the second chapter and the first verse of this chapter measures the period of the life of Christ stretching from his earliest childhood to his entrance on his public ministry, or close thereupon. Meantime we are here brought to the time when appeared one of the most distinctly marked, most honoured, characters of all history. John the baptist, son of Zacharias and Elisabeth, was the child of prophecy. He was one of... read more

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