Matthew 3
Chosen Bible Study Reading Plan, Season 1, Episode/Week 5, Day 3
3 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’ ” b
4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.
16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Mt 3:1–17.
STOP!
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Theme(s): John the Baptist, Repentance, Obedience
Best Verse(s): 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Command to Obey: --
Sin to Avoid: --
Promise to Claim: Jesus is God's son, pleases God and God loves him.
Application to Make: Follow Jesus!
Something New About God: God is triune: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit
Reflection: John baptizes Jesus out of obedience, Jesus gets baptized out of obedience, and God is well pleased with the event. It is the only simultaneous appearance of the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are all present at the same time. Not only does this point clearly to the Trinity, it also showcases how important baptism is. It was such a significant event that when Jesus was baptized, both the other persons of God made an appearance to celebrate it. Therefore, Christians should follow Jesus's example and practice believer's baptism, taking the opportunity to publicly declare that they believe God raised Jesus from the dead and to declare that Jesus is Lord (Rom. 10:9), and then being baptized in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).
