Matthew 3 Reading

Matthew chapter 3 transports us to the rugged wilderness of Judea where John the Baptist emerges as a powerful prophetic voice, calling people to repentance as the kingdom of heaven draws near. Dressed in camel's hair with a leather belt, subsisting on locusts and wild honey, John embodies the ancient prophetic tradition – particularly Elijah – as he fulfills Isaiah's prophecy of "a voice crying in the wilderness."

The response to John's ministry is remarkable. People from Jerusalem, all Judea, and the Jordan region flock to him, confessing their sins and receiving baptism in the Jordan River. But when religious leaders – Pharisees and Sadducees – approach, John doesn't mince words. He calls them a "brood of vipers" and challenges their presumption of spiritual security based on ancestry alone. His vivid metaphors of axes at tree roots and winnowing forks separate true repentance from empty religious observance.

The climactic moment arrives when Jesus himself appears, seeking baptism. John's hesitation reveals his recognition of Jesus' superior status – "I need to be baptized by you." This powerful encounter concludes with divine affirmation as Jesus is declared God's beloved Son. The passage beautifully contrasts John's ministry of preparation with Jesus' coming mission – one baptizes with water, while the other will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. This pivotal scripture invites us to consider what true repentance looks like in our lives and how we're preparing the way for God's work in our world. Are we bearing fruit worthy of repentance? How might God be calling us to make straight paths in our own wilderness?

Chapters

• 0:00 John's Call to Repentance
• 0:36 People Confessing Sins in Jordan
• 0:45 Warning to Religious Leaders
• 1:12 Jesus Comes for Baptism
• 2:03 Conclusion of Scripture Reading

Transcript

Pastor Plek: 0:10

Matthew, chapter 3. 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. Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

Pastor Plek: 0:45

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 ax is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree, therefore, that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire. 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.

Pastor Plek: 1:32

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 and said this is my beloved son, with whom I'm well pleased. This is the word of the Lord.