Matthew 3

Matthew 3:1-6

In this chapter we have, 1. The life, doctrine, and baptism of John, ver. 1—12. 2. Jesus baptized of him, ver. 13—17.

1. IN those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2. And saying, “Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4. And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathery girdle about his hair, and his meat was locusts and wild hooey. 5. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan, 6. And were baptized of him in Jordan, 7. confessing their sins.

Prophecy under the Old Testament closed with the promise of the coming of Elijah, that is, of one in his spirit and temper; and here we find that prophecy accomplished in John the Baptist, is called from the ordinance of baptism be

14. ¶ But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20. Saying, Arise, and take the young child, and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which fought the young child’s life. 21. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea, in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: “norewithstanding being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: 23. And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

demidemidemi-

efferently at Christ’s appearing, when the eternal state of men shall be determined. The redeemed then shall be gathered as the wheat into God’s garner in heaven, separated from all chaff for ever, and not a grain lost; and the impenitent and reprobate be consigned to the everlasting burning.

Ibid. 1. p. Labe ii. 41.