Book of Matthew – Matthew Chapter 3 Summary

Quick Chapter Summary

1. John the Baptist is introduced preaching in the desert of Judea.
2. John is described as a man of simple clothing and food, wearing camel’s hair and eating locusts and wild honey.
3. Many people come out listen to his preaching. Some confess their sins and are baptized.
4. He rebukes the Pharisees telling them that the time for the coming of the Messiah is near, that He will weed out of all the trees that don’t produce fruit and baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire vs. John baptizing with water.
5. Jesus comes to be baptized by John.
6. John, not without protest, baptizes Jesus.
7. The heavens open and a Dove descends along with the voice of God declaring, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.”

Full Chapter Summary

John the Baptist in the Desert (Matthew 3:1-6)

In Chapter 3 of Matthew, John the Baptist ministry has begun in the Desert of Judea. John is preaching that everyone should “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” Verse 3 is a direct quote of Isaiah 40:3 referring to the ‘voice of the one crying in the wilderness’ to emphasis the old testament tie in. This is a theme in the book of Matthew used to anchor this new writing on the foundation of the prophets.

John is described as wearing clothes made of camel’s hair with a simple leather belt about him. The food he ate is described as ‘locusts and wild honey’. His ministry drew people out from the whole region including Jerusalem. Many confessed their sins to him and were baptized in the Jordan river.

John Rebukes the Pharisees (Matthew 3:7-12)

Among the people that came out to listen to John in the desert were many Pharisees and Sadducees. He is very harsh with them calling them a ‘brood of vipers’ and warning them that their stubbornness and hypocrisy can only lead to being ‘cut down and thrown into the fire’. He also warns them that their time to do this is running short and that there is another coming (Jesus) who will “baptize with the Spirit and with fire…His winnowing fork is in His hand and He will clear the threshing floor, gathering up all the wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Jesus Baptism (Matthew 3:13-17)

Jesus comes down from Galilee to see John and to be baptized by him. When Jesus asks John to do this, John points out that it should be John coming to Jesus to be baptized and not the other way around. Jesus replies to John that it is okay, and that John should trust Him that this is what needs to be done. John consents to Jesus and baptizes Him.

Upon completion, the Heavens open and the Spirit of God descends upon Jesus. It is accompanied by a voice from heaven declaring, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.”

Matthew Chapter 3

¹In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, ²And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. ³For 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. ⁴And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. ⁵Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, ⁶And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁷But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: ⁹And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. ¹⁰And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. ¹¹I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: ¹²Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. ¹³Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. ¹⁴But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? ¹⁵And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. ¹⁶And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: ¹⁷And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.