1 Now in those days John i the immerser ii came preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens iii has come near!” iv 3 For this is the one who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying:
“A voice shouting in the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” v
4 Now John himself had his clothing from camel’s vi hair and a leather belt was around his waist, vii and his food was locust and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all of Judea and all of the surrounding area of the Jordan were coming out to him 6 and being immersed in the Jordan by him confessing their sins.
7 And when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees viii coming to his immersion, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! ix Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Do then fruit worthy of the repentance. 9 And do not think x to say to yourselves, ‘We have father Abraham.’ For I say to you that God is able out of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10 And even now, the ax is laid at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that does not bear good fruit he cuts off and casts into the fire.
11 xi I indeed immerse you in water unto repentance. But one who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy xii to carry. He will immerse xiii you in the Holy Spirit, xiv 12 whose winnowing fan xv is in his hand, and he will thoroughly clean out his threshing floor, and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff xvi he will burn in inextinguishable xvii fire.”
13 Then Joshua came from Galilee to xviii the Jordan to John to be immersed by him. 14 But John was trying to prevent him, saying, “I have need to be immersed by you, and you come to me?” xix 15 But Joshua answered saying to him, “Permit it now, for thus it is proper for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted him. xx 16 And when Joshua was immersed, he raised up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens opened to him; and he saw the Spirit of God descend as a dove and come upon him. 17 And behold, a voice from the heavens said, “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Translated by Darwin Fish. See original pdf. xxi
- iwannhv (iôannas) - “John” ^
- See footnote for Luke 3:3. ^
- ouranwn (ouranôn) - “heavens” - plural - Although it is typically translated in the singular (“heaven”), everytime this is mentioned, it is in the Greek plural (i.e. “kingdom of the heavens”) and found only in Matthew (except for about 7 manuscripts that have this in John 3:5, “kingdom of the heavens” rather than “kingdom of God,” MT, RT, CT). See Matthew 4:17; 5:3, 10, 19, 20; 7:21; 8:11; 10:7; 11:11-12; 13:11, 24, 31, 33, 44-45, 47, 52; 16:19; 18:1, 3-4, 23; 19:12, 14, 23; 20:1; 22:2; 23:14; 25:1, 14 (NKJV in italics, not in Greek). ^
- hggiken (êngiken) - “has come near” - This verb is in the perfect form and is used elsewhere for drawing near (Matthew 21:1, 34; Luke 7:12; Luke 12:33; 15:1, 25; 19:37, 41; 21:8, 20, 28; 22:1, 47; Acts 7:17; Philippians 2:30; 7:19; 10:25; James 4:8), to be at hand (Matthew 26:45-46; Romans 13:12; James 5:8; 1 Peter 4:7). See also Luke 10:9 for usage of this word similar to here. ^
- Isaiah 40:3; see also footnotes for Luke 3:4. ^
- kamhlou (kamêlou) ^
- ὀσφὺν (osphun) “waist” – see footnote for Acts 2:30. ^
- saddoukaiwn (saddoukaiôn) - "Sadducees" ^
- See foonote for Luke 3:7. ^
- doxhte (doxête) - Matthew uses the word for “think,” Luke 3:8 uses the word for “begin” arxhsye (arxêsthe). ^
- These next two verses in Matthew are in the context of John speaking to the Pharisees and Sadducees. Similar words (not identical) are found in Luke 3:16-17 in a different context. ^
- ikanov (ikanos) - “worthy” - used also, for example, in Matthew 8:8; Luke 7:6; 1 Corinthians 15:9; 2 Corinthians 2:16; 3:5; 2 Timothy 2:2 (“able” NKJV). ^
- “immerse you in the Holy Spirit” - see John 7:37-39; 14:16-18, 25-26; 16:7-15; Acts 2; 8:14-17; 10:44-46; 11:15-16; Romans 8:9-17; 1 Corinthians 12:13 (see also Numbers 11:16-29; 24:2; 27:18; 1 Samuel 10:5-6; 11:6; 16:13-14; 1 Chronicles 12:18; Job 34:14; Psalm 51:11; 139:7; Daniel 4:9, 18; Isaiah 63:11). ^
- CT and RT add kai puri (kai turi) “and fire.” Luke 3:16 has kai puri in every text. ^
- ptuon (ptuon) - “winnowing fan” (KJV, NIV), KJV “fan,” NAS, NIV “fork.” ^
- God likens the wicked to worthless chaff that is burned up. ^
- asbestw (asbestô) - “inextinguishable” - found in only two other places, Mark 9:43 and Luke 3:17. ^
- epi (epi) - “to” - used likewise in Matthew 3:7 for those who came to his baptism (epi to baptisma autou). This could also be translated “upon” (as in Matthew 3:16; 24:2; John 1:51). ^
- See John 1:31-33 for how John knew who Joshua was. ^
- Matthew 5:6 ^
- Mirrored here. ^
Every tree not making good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. -- Matthew 3:10; Revelation 20:15
"In that time Joshua answering said, "I confess to you, father, Lord of the heaven and the earth, that you hid these things from wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. -- exomologoumai (exomologoumai) - "confess" - found also in Matthew 3:6; Mark 1:5; Luke 10:21 (NKJV "thank"); 22:6 (NKJV "promised"); Acts 19:18; Romans 14:11; 15:9; Philippians 2:11; James 5:16.
And I say to you that I will by no means drink from now out of this the product of the vine until that day when I drink it with you new in the kingdom of my father.” -- γεννήματος (gennêmatos) - “product” - more literally, “offspring.” For example, this same root word is also only found in Matthew 3:7 (“brood”); 12:34 (“brood”); 23:33 (“brood”); Mark 14:25 (“fruit”); Luke 3:7 (“brood”); 12:18 (“crops” see also footnote); 22:18 (“fruit”); 2 Corinthians 9:10 (“fruits”). See also footnote for Luke 12:
..and the nations to glorify the God for mercy. Just as it has been written, “Because of this, I will confess to you among nations, and to your name I will sing praise.” -- ἐξομολογήσομαί (exomologêsomai) “confess” NKJV; “give praise” NAS; “give thanks” NOG – translated most often as “confess” (NKJV, e.g. Matthew 3:6), but also as “thank” (e.g. Matthew 11:25). Used in LXX 17:50 (H18:50; E18:49) for אוֹדְךָ (odkhâ) translated “praise” (NKJV, e.g. in Psalm 52:9[H52:11]).