Mateus 3

Mateus 3

Charts from Jensen's Survey of the NT - used by permission Another Chart from Charles Swindoll THE LIFE OF JESUS AS COVERED BY MATTHEW (shaded area) Matthew 3:1 Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, NET Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came into the wilderness of Judea proclaiming, GNT Matthew 3:1 Ἐν δὲ ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις παραγίνεται Ἰωάννης ὁ βαπτιστὴς κηρύσσων ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ τῆς Ἰουδαίας NLT Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, KJV Matthew 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, ESV Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, NIV Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea ASV Matthew 3:1 And in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, saying, CSB Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Wilderness of Judea NKJ Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, NRS Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, YLT Matthew 3:1 And in those days cometh John the Baptist, proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea, those - Lu 3:1,2 John - Mt 11:11 14:2-14 16:14 17:12,13 21:25-27,32 Mk 1:4,15 6:16-29 Lu 1:13-17,76 3:2-20 Joh 1:6-8,15-36 3:27-36 Ac 1:22 13:24,25 Ac 19:3,4 preaching - Isa 40:3-6 Mk 1:7 Lu 1:17 the wilderness - Mt 11:7 Jos 14:10 15:61,62 Lu 7:24 Matthew 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Source: Ryrie Study Bible JOHN CAME AS A DIVINE HERALD In the first century a herald was a Crier, Messenger or Proclaimer who made a public proclamations for kings, princes and military commanders, which is apropos for John heralded Jesus, who was the rightful King of the Jews (Mt 2:2+), the prophesied Prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6+) and the coming conqueror as King of kings (Rev 19:11-16+). The kerux served as a close confidant of the king, and would travel throughout the realm announcing to the people whatever the king wished to make known. John understood his purpose for existence and stuck with the divine plan for his life. Certain qualities were required of heralds. They must have powerful voices, so voice auditions were often held. Also they had to be capable of calming down an unruly mob, in order to faithfully communicate the command. An honest disposition was also required, as a protection against the exaggeration of a royal decree. Furthermore, they could make no additions or subtractions from the received message. Later these heralds were also used to declare the message of a Greek deity or a religious oracle. THOUGHT - Do you know God's plan for your life? Paul writes of every believer that "we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. " (Eph 2:10+). So clearly our goal is to discern the "good works" God has pre-prepared for us to walk in! Now in those days John the Baptist came (see summary of John the Baptist below) - Moffatt translates it "came on the scene," and what a "scene" John must have made in his out of vogue "garment of camel's hear and a leather belt about his waist." (Mt 3:4). Mark's presentation of the prophet is even more sudden Mk 1:4+ stating that "John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." Obviously this phrase "in those days" is somewhat vague and there is a divergence of opinions in the answer to the question "what days?", but most consider it to be "a general term that reveals little chronologically but insists that the account is historical." (D A Carson). Luke's passage does give us a general sense of when John came on the scene writing "in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar...the word of the Lord came to John...so he began saying to the crowds...." (Lk 3:1, 3, 7+)