Matthew 3:1_Now in those days _Luke 3:1._And in the fifteenth year _It could not be gathered from Matthew and Mark in what year of his age John began to preach: but Luke shows sufficiently, that he was about thirty years of age. The ancient writers of the Church are almost unanimously agreed, that h... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 3:2._Repent ye _Matthew differs from the other two Evangelists in this respect, that he relates the substance of John’s doctrine, as uttered by John himself, while they relate it in their own words; though Mark has one word more than Luke: for he says, _he came Baptizing, and preaching the b... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 3:3._The yoke of one crying in the wilderness _Though this passage of the prophet Isaiah (40:3) ought not to be limited exclusively to John, yet he is one of the number of those to whom it certainly refers. After having spoken of the destruction of the city, and of the awful calamities that... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 3:4._And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair _The Evangelist does not desire us to reckon it as one of John’s chief excellencies, that he followed a rough and austere way of living, or even that he avoided a moderate and ordinary degree of elegance: but, having already stated that... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 3:6; Mark 1:5._And were baptized, confessing their sins _This _confession _was a testimony of _repentance: _for, as the Lord, in the sacraments, brings himself under obligation to us, as if he had given his own hand-writing, so it is our duty, on the other hand, to reply to him. In _Baptism,... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 3:7._And when he saw many of the Pharisees. _It is here related by Matthew and Luke, that John did not merely preach repentance in a general manner, but that he also applied his discourse to individuals. And the manner of teaching will, in point of fact, be very unprofitable, if instructors... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 3:8; Luke 3:8._Yield therefore fruits worthy of repentance. _He confirms what I have already said, that the repentance, which is attested by words, is of no value, unless it be proved by the conduct: for it is too important a matter to be estimated lightly, or at random. And so John affirms,... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 3:9._And think not to say within yourselves. _Luke 3:8._And begin not to say within yourselves. _As the import of both phrases is undoubtedly the same, it is easy to ascertain what John meant. Till hypocrites are hard pressed, they either sleep in their sins, or indulge in licentious mirth.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 3:10; Luke 3:9._And now also the axe. _After having stripped hypocrites of the covering of a vain confidence, John announces the approaching judgment of God. He had formerly said that, though they were rejected, God would not want a people: and he now adds, that God is just about to drive ou... [ Continue Reading ]
The three Evangelists relate the Baptist’s discourse in the same words. In one respect, Luke’s account is more full: for he opens it by explaining the occasion on which this discourse was delivered. It arose from the people being in danger of being led, by a false opinion, to convey to him the honor... [ Continue Reading ]
12._Whose winnowing-fan is in his hand _In the former verse, John preached concerning the grace of Christ, that the Jews might yield themselves to him to be renewed: now he discourses of judgment, that he may strike despisers with terror. As there are always many hypocrites who proudly reject the gr... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 3:13._That he might be baptized by him. _For what purpose did the Son of God wish to be baptized? This may be learned, in some measure, from his answer. We have already assigned a special reason. He received the same baptism with us, in order to assure believers, that they are ingrafted into... [ Continue Reading ]
14._I have need to be baptized by thee. _It is certain, that John acknowledged Christ to be not only a distinguished prophet, as many foolishly dream, but the Son of God, as he really was: for otherwise he would have dishonored God by lowering his holy calling to a mortal man. How he came to know th... [ Continue Reading ]
16._And, lo, the heavens were opened to him. The opening of the heavens _sometimes means a manifestation of heavenly glory; but here it means also a _cleft, or opening, _of the visible heaven, so that John could see something beyond the planets and stars. The words of Mark can have no other meaning,... [ Continue Reading ]
17.And, _lo, a voice from heaven _From that _opening of the heavens, _which has been already mentioned, a loud voice was heard, that its majesty might be more impressive. The public appearance of Christ, to undertake the office of Mediator, was accompanied by this announcement, (300) in which he was... [ Continue Reading ]