fan An instrument by which the corn after being threshed is thrown up against the wind to clear it of chaff.

floor Here put for the contents of the threshing-floor, the mingled grain and chaff.

St Matthew represents the picturesque side of John's preaching, these verses are full of imagery. How many similes are compressed into his teaching! The vipers, the stones, the trees, the slave, the threshing-floor, are all used to illustrate his discourse. St Luke throws into prominence the great teacher's keen discrimination of character. St John has recorded a fragment of the Baptist's deeper teaching as to the nature and mission of the Son of God.

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