Matthew 3 Reading

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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?

Episode Transcript

Pastor Plek (00:10):
Matthew, chapter 3.
In those days, john the Baptistcame preaching in the
wilderness of Judea Repent, forthe kingdom of heaven is at hand
.
For this is he who was spokenof by the prophet Isaiah when he
said the voice of one crying inthe wilderness prepare the way

(00:31):
of the Lord, make his pathsstraight.
Now.
John wore a garment of camel'shair and a leather belt around
his waist, and his food waslocusts and wild honey.
Then Jerusalem and all Judeaand all the region about the
Jordan were going out to him andthey were baptized by him in
the river Jordan, confessingtheir sins.
But when he saw many of thePharisees and Sadducees coming
to his baptism, he said to themyou brood of vipers who warned

(00:52):
you to flee from the wrath, tocome, bear fruit in keeping with
repentance and do not presumeto 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 theroot of the trees.
Every tree, therefore, thatdoes not bear good fruit is cut
down and thrown in the fire.
I baptize you with water forrepentance, but he who is coming

(01:16):
after me is mightier than I,whose sandals I am not worthy to
carry.
He will baptize you with theHoly Spirit and fire.
His winnowing fork is in hishand and he will clear his
threshing floor and gather hiswheat into the barn, but the
chaff he will burn withunquenchable fire.
Then Jesus came from Galilee tothe Jordan, to John, to be
baptized by him.
John would have prevented him,saying I need to be baptized by

(01:38):
you and do you come to me.
But Jesus answered him and saidthis is my beloved son, with

(02:02):
whom I'm well pleased.
This is the word of the Lord.