Is believing without repenting valid? Why did both Jesus and John the Baptist preach repent? Let’s learn why in Matthew 3:1-12.
Preaching & Teaching (vs 1)
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea (Matthew 3:1)
In the Bible the word "preach" means “announce” the Gospel publicly (Matthew 3:1-2; 4:17). We call an in-house sermon preaching, but the Bible calls it teaching. Preaching was public. Teaching was instructing believers (Matthew 28:19-20). What did John preach?
Repent (vs 2a)
and saying, “Repent” (Matthew 3:2a)
Repent of what? What was wrong? What’s wrong with our world? The meaning here is “a change of heart.” Does our world need to change? Repentance brings hope of a new beginning.
Is repentance then just a one time thing? Big “R” repentance is when one first turns from sin to God. Little “r” repentance is like course corrections on our pilgrimage. In this life we never stop repenting.
God’s Kingdom (vs 2b)
“… for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3:2b)
John’s announcement of repentance had a great sense of urgency, “the kingdom of heaven is near.” The rule of God or heaven is now in the lives of those who accept him. A modern equivalent is saying that God is now taking control.1
1 The Gospel of Matthew, The New International Commentary of the New Testament, R. T. France, 2007, Wm B. Eerdmans Publishing Co, p. 102
Wilderness (vs 3)
For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’ ” (vs 3)
John did not preach in Jerusalem or the temple. He preached both in the literal wilderness and the spiritual wilderness of a sinful world. An international trade route passed here. Hence, the analogy of preparing the way and paths. How interesting that there is one way, but many paths. That is like Christianity as one way, but with many denominations.
Country Preacher (vs 4)
Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. (vs 4)
John the baptizer was a wilderness preacher dressed in poor country rags, challenging established religion, likely seen by religious leaders as a rebel. He emphasized repentance, a change of heart. John did not encourage the repentant to make a sin offering (Leviticus 5), but to be baptized in water. He paved the way for a new high priest who would also baptize people with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Baptized (vs 5-6)
Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. (vs 5-6)
We are introduced to one of the most important newscasters of all history. His announcement was made in the wilderness at the edge of Roman imperial control. This last of the Old Testament prophets was dressed in the simple clothing of poor farming folk like Elijah. Where Israel crossed the Jordan to become God’s kingdom on earth, John announced the kingdom of heaven.
Snakes (vs 7)
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (vs 7)
John’s preaching was the uncomfortable truth. Like Jesus, he said repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and called religious leaders snakes. What was needed?
Fruits (vs 8)
Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, (vs 8)
True repentance is accompanied by fruits, action. The unasked question is: What must change? The root cause of all our planet’s ills is spiritual and so is the solution. What are the necessary fruits?
but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. (Acts 26:20)
If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James 2:15-17)
What happens if we don’t bear fruit?
Good Fruit (vs 9-10)
and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (vs 9-10)
What is good fruit?
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; (Colossians 1:10)
How did John speak of Jesus?
A More Powerful One (vs 11)
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (vs 11)
A bishop’s mitre hat pictures tongues of fire of Pentecost. The pouring out of the Holy Spirit is also symbolized by water poured out on the head, practiced by some in baptism.
Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. (Acts 2:3)
Baptism with fire has a double meaning. The unrepentant will also be tossed into a lake of fire.
And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)
What does the lake of fire do?
Unquenchable Fire (vs 12)
“His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (vs 12)
This seems to describe annihilation in hell. Other scriptures seem to describe eternal suffering, not annihilation. Let’s leave that on the shelf until Christ’s return? The bottom line? Hell bad; heaven good; choose heaven. Jesus spoke more about hell than any other in the entire Bible. Should we follow John’s and Christ’s example calling for repentance?
That this is a rebellious people, Lying children, Children who will not hear the law of the Lord; Who say to the seers, “Do not see,” And to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us right things; Speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits. Get out of the way, Turn aside from the path, Cause the Holy One of Israel To cease from before us.” (Isaiah 30:9-11)
Outro/Take Home
Have we in the contemporary church failed God, by preaching smooth things? Instead of a hollow motivational speech do we need to get back to preaching repentance and the kingdom of God like John and Jesus? You decide!
