Matthew 3:1-12

John the Baptist (Mark 1:2 *, Luke 3:1) The common Synoptic material begins here. The chief difference from Mk. is the addition of Matthew 3:7 from Q (p. 672), cf. Luke 3:7, where the words are addressed not to the Pharisees and Sadducees, but to the crowd. In Mt.'s view the Pharisees thought to escape the coming judgment by the mere rite of baptism, and he makes John ask who indicated to (not warned) them that such escape was possible. More than outward repentance is needed a better life, and more than a claim to Abrahamic descent (cf. John 8:33). Judgment goes by character, not by race; for unrighteousness there is no escape. Matthew 3:11 f. expands Mark 1:7 f. and intensifies the idea of judgment. Mt. combines Mk.'s Holy Ghost and Q's fire. For the figure in Matthew 3:12 cf. Jeremiah 15:7.

Matthew 3:3. kingdom of heaven: lit. of the heavens. Mt. in accordance with the Jewish practice of avoiding the Divine name, uses this phrase, as Jesus probably did. Mk. and Lk., writing rather for Gentile readers, employ kingdom of God. Both phrases have the same meaning (cf. p. 662; also Matthew 21:43 *)

Matthew 3:7. Pharisees (Matthew 5:20 *) and Sadducees (cf. p. 624). brood of vipers: scorpions and snakes are frequently driven from their holes by moorland and forest fires in Palestine.

Matthew 3:11. bear: better take off (cf. John 12:6).