Comment on Matthew 3.1-12 - Nate Paschall's Writings

[[Comment on Matthew 2.13-23|« 2:13-23]] | **3:1-12** | [[Comment on Matthew 3.13-17|3:13-17 »]] # Preface # Original Text Matthew 3 (NA28) **1** Ἐν δὲ ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις παραγίνεται^[Pres, Act, Dep, 3rd Sg] Ἰωάννης ὁ βαπτιστὴς κηρύσσων^[Pres, Act, Ptc, Masc, Nom, Sg; adverbial: parallel] ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ τῆς Ἰουδαίας **2** \[καὶ] λέγων· μετανοεῖτε·^[Pres, Act, Imp] ἤγγικεν^[Perf, Act, Ind, 3rd, Sg; Intensive Perfect (Burton, \#77)] γὰρ ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν. ^2dcc9b **3** οὗτος γάρ ἐστιν ὁ ῥηθεὶς διὰ Ἠσαΐου τοῦ προφήτου λέγοντος· *&ensp; φωνὴ βοῶντος^[Pres, Act, Ptc, Masc, Gen, Sg; Substantive?] ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ·* *&ensp; ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν κυρίου,* *&ensp; εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ.* **4** αὐτὸς δὲ ὁ Ἰωάννης εἶχεν τὸ ἔνδυμα αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τριχῶν καμήλου καὶ ζώνην δερματίνην περὶ τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτοῦ, ἡ δὲ τροφὴ ἦν^[Imp, Act, Ind, 3rd, Sg] αὐτοῦ ἀκρίδες καὶ μέλι ἄγριον. **5** Τότε ἐξεπορεύετο πρὸς αὐτὸν Ἱεροσόλυμα καὶ πᾶσα ἡ Ἰουδαία καὶ πᾶσα ἡ περίχωρος τοῦ Ἰορδάνου, **6** καὶ ἐβαπτίζοντο ἐν τῷ Ἰορδάνῃ ποταμῷ ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ ἐξομολογούμενοι^[Pres, Act, Ptc, Masc, Nom, Pl] τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν. **7** Ἰδὼν^[Aor, Act, Ptc, Masc, Nom, Sg; Adverbial - Time] δὲ πολλοὺς τῶν Φαρισαίων καὶ Σαδδουκαίων ἐρχομένους^[Pres, Act, Ptc, Masc, Nom, Pl; Historical Present] ἐπὶ τὸ βάπτισμα αὐτοῦ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· γεννήματα ἐχιδνῶν, τίς ὑπέδειξεν^[Aor, Act, Ind, 3rd, Sg] ὑμῖν φυγεῖν^[Aor, Act, Inf] ἀπὸ τῆς μελλούσης ὀργῆς; **8** ποιήσατε οὖν καρπὸν ἄξιον τῆς μετανοίας **9** καὶ μὴ δόξητε λέγειν ἐν ἑαυτοῖς· πατέρα ἔχομεν τὸν Ἀβραάμ. λέγω γὰρ ὑμῖν ὅτι δύναται ὁ θεὸς ἐκ τῶν λίθων τούτων ἐγεῖραι τέκνα τῷ Ἀβραάμ. **10** ἤδη δὲ ἡ ἀξίνη πρὸς τὴν ῥίζαν τῶν δένδρων κεῖται· πᾶν οὖν δένδρον μὴ ποιοῦν^[Pres, Act, Ptc, Neut, Nom, Sg] καρπὸν καλὸν ἐκκόπτεται καὶ εἰς πῦρ βάλλεται. **11** Ἐγὼ μὲν ὑμᾶς βαπτίζω ἐν ὕδατι εἰς μετάνοιαν, ὁ δὲ ὀπίσω μου ἐρχόμενος ἰσχυρότερός μού ἐστιν, οὗ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς τὰ ὑποδήματα βαστάσαι· αὐτὸς ὑμᾶς βαπτίσει ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ καὶ πυρί· **12** οὗ τὸ πτύον ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ διακαθαριεῖ τὴν ἅλωνα αὐτοῦ καὶ συνάξει τὸν σῖτον αὐτοῦ εἰς τὴν ἀποθήκην, τὸ δὲ ἄχυρον κατακαύσει πυρὶ ἀσβέστῳ. # Textual Notes ##### 3.1.a. δὲ omitted; preference given to Alexandrinus # Translation 1 And in those days John the Baptist appeared preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has drawn near." 3 For this is that which was said through Isaiah the prophet, saying, >"A voice of one crying in the wilderness. Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths" 4 And this John had his garments from hair of a camel and a leather belt around his waist. And his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem came out to him and all Judea and all the surrounding region of the Jordan 6 And they were being baptized in the Jordan river by him while confessing their sins. 7 And when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees were coming to his baptism he said to them, "Offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath which is coming?" 8 bear fruit therefore that corresponds to repentance 9 and do not suppose to say in yourselves, 'For a father we have Abraham' for I say to you that God is able from these stones to raise up children of Abraham." 10 already the axe is laid at the root of the tree. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into fire 11 I myself baptize you in water for repentance, but the one after me who is coming is more powerful than me, of whom the sandal I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 whom the winnowing fork is in his hands and he will clear out his threshing floor and will gather his wheat to his storehouse, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire # Structure 1-4 — John appears 5-6 — People baptized confessing sins 7-10 — Pharisees & Sadducees come for Baptism 11-12 — The Greater Baptism 1. The Call to Repentance 1. The Messenger 1. A preacher 2. In the wilderness 3. Dressed funny 4. Eats weird food 5. Baptizing in the Jordan 2. The Message 1. 1. The Call to Repentance 1. The Messenger 1. A preacher 2. In the wilderness 3. Dressed funny 4. Eats weird food 5. Baptizing in the Jordan 2. The Message 1. # Commentary ## General Comments Review Sections in Kline *By Oath Consigned* and in Vos, *Biblical Theology* ## 3.1 "ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις" - Given the presence of the article this refers to a specific period of time not just a general reference. "παραγίνεται Ἰωάννης ὁ βαπτιστὴς κηρύσσων" - the fact of him "appearing" seems to be abnormal. We get no introduction into his life as we do in Luke. His appearance is similar to the Magi—they are simply noted but given no further explanation. Only their actions and words are indicated. ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ τῆς Ἰουδαίας - His appearance is noted in the wilderness. ## 3.2 μετανοεῖτε - A continuous action ἤγγικεν - What existed in the Old Covenant was a portrayal of the kingdom of heaven, but now it has begun to draw near. The Old Covenant was a *[[Typology|type]]* of the kingdom of heaven. While it was a kind of intrusion of it, it was not an intrusion of the kingdom in the same way that it intrudes with Christ. What has approached now presses the intensification and urgency of repentance. The coming of Christ presents the presseing need for all within reach of this gospel to repent. ## 3.3 Fulfillment of OT Prophecy ## 3.4 Mirroring the ministry of Elijah (cf. 2 Kings 1:8). Note the scene here in 2 Kings 1:8. ## 3.5 The southern portion of the kingdom is coming to John, notably the Jewish aspect (cf. [[Comment on Matthew 4.12-25#Analysis|4:25]] for more details). ## 3.6 The baptism is one in which those who receive it are also confessing their sins at the same time. This is why John is so offended when Jesus comes to him in order to be baptized. It's significant that the baptisms takes place after John shows up preaching in the wilderness. The delay between the preaching and the baptism (albeit insignificant in time) in the narrative shows that the preaching begat the repentance of the people. Their coming to the wilderness signifies the end of the exilic status of the people of God. They would return through the wilderness, cross the Jordan, replicating the Joshua experience (@ ## 3.7 The Pharisees and Sadducees are introduced here as 'brood' (lit: offspring) of vipers. Their coming to John is not to be seen necessarily as a sincere repentace. They are performing the outward works in order to be seen. How could all Israel go out to be baptized yet they not go? Surely the Pharisees would not want to be seen *not* confessing their sins. This provides the foil for Jesus later when he confronts the cheif priests and elders in [Matthew 21:25-27](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/MAT.21.25-27). There is no textual evidence that John refused to baptize them. While John perceives their possible ill intent (which is born out throughout Matthew’s gospel), he does provide them with a stern warning. This ought to inform us that all who seek baptism ought not be refused on grounds of apparent false motive. That is something that must be born out over time. The judgment of charity, with appropriate levels of concern, prevails. ## 3.8 ## 3.9 ## 3.10 ## 3.11 ## 3.12 # Application # [[Matthew 3.1-12| Sermon on Matthew 3.1-12]] ### Text Approach ##### Explanation of Text Historical consideration of John the Baptist - Fulfilling many roles - Last of the Old Testament Prophets - Seen in his Elijah-like approach, calling the people of Israel to Repentance - Flattening of perspective in Old Testament - Illustration of painting: when we look at a painting there is perspective in that we can see things that are considered at a distance ##### Meaning of Text ##### Application of Text >[!Bible] [Psalm 74:14 ESV](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/PSA.74.14) >You crushed the heads of Leviathan; >you gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness. Psalm 74 speaks of Jesus passing th # Footnotes