Matthew 3:8

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 3:8

Bring forth therefore fruits ,.... That is, if you are truly penitent, if you have a proper sense of sin, and true repentance for it, do such works as are suitable to it, and will show the genuineness of it; for fruits meet for repentance are the same as "works meet for repentance", Acts 26:20 and as a tree is known by its fruit, so repentance is known by good works; these are the fruits and effects of repentance, and which are proofs with men of the sincerity of it. Those which follow... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 3:8

Verse 8 Matthew 3:8; Luke 3:8.Yield therefore fruits worthy of repentance. He confirms what I have already said, that the repentance, which is attested by words, is of no value, unless it be proved by the conduct: for it is too important a matter to be estimated lightly, or at random. And so John affirms, that the solemn declaration, which they made, is not enough, but that, in process of time, their works will make it evident, whether or not they have seriously repented. (266) It ought to be... 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

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