Get Ready For The King

Matthew 3
Mike Maglish

Part of Matthew: Everyone Willing to Go

September 13, 2026

THE VOICE 

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’” Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. —Matthew 3:1–4

Matthew deliberately paints John the Baptist in prophetic colors…
In the voice of Isaiah (40:3) - the Messianic Prophet. 
In the silhouette of Elijah (2 Kings 1:8) - The Prophet of Preparation. 

They answered him, “He wore a garment of hair, with a belt of leather about his waist.” And he said, “It is Elijah the Tishbite.” —2 Kings 1:8What then did you go out to see? A prophet?[a] Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is he of whom it is written, “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ —Matthew 11:9–10For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. —Matthew 11:13–14“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.” —Malachi 4:5-6Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. —Matthew 3:5–6

BAPTISM FACTS: 
1) Jewish ritual immersion was already familiar (Temple) 
2) John’s baptism was distinctive - It was for repentance and not part of temple ritual. 
3) John’s baptism was directly tied to urgent preparation for the Kingdom of God at hand. 
4) People confessed their sins. 
5) It is NOT identical to post-resurrection Christian baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 

Is my heart READY for CHANGE? 

THE WARNING

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. —Matthew 3:7–10

Brood of Vipers - γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν (gennemata echidnon)

Stones, Roots, and Fruit 
STONES - God is not dependent on anyone’s ancestry to create a people for Abraham. 
The Axe at the root means judgment - A fruitless tree is cut down! 

Religious status, family history, heritage, and appearances cannot replace repentance. No one can stand before the coming King on inherited spiritual credentials. 

CONFESSION names the sin.  REPENTANCE turns from the sin. FRUIT demonstrates the change.

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” —Matthew 3:11–12

*Holy Spirit and Fire *
The Holy Spirit points to God’s Promised renewal and presence among his people. 
Fire represents judgment: Fruitless trees are burned (Vs 10, 12)

Am I depending on ROOTS or FRUIT?

THE KING ARRIVES

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” —Matthew 3:13–17

“Jesus, the one without sin, put himself among sinners.” - Pope Benedict XVI

“The baptism of Jesus is the anticipation of the cross.” John A.T. Robinson

The commissioning of Jesus by the Father publicly unveils Jesus’ identity. Those in attendance would not have been confused. This is the one John The Baptist had been preparing everyone for.

BAPTISM ARC TO THE GREAT COMMISSION
Jesus is baptized to fulfill righteousness 
Jesus’ disciples baptized others (though Jesus never did) 
Jesus commissioned his followers to baptize (Matthew 28:19-20) 
Acts shows baptism as a regular response to the proclamation of the risen Jesus

What’s stopping ME from getting BAPTIZED?