Matthew 3:1
¶ In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
{G1161} In {G1722} those {G1565} days {G2250} came {G3854} John {G2491} the Baptist {G910}, preaching {G2784} in {G1722} the wilderness {G2048} of Judaea {G2449},
It was during those days thatYochanan the Immerser arrived in the desert ofY'hudah and began proclaiming the message,
In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea
And in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judæa, saying,
Cross-References
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Isaiah 40:3 (13 votes)
¶ The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. -
Isaiah 40:6 (13 votes)
The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh [is] grass, and all the goodliness thereof [is] as the flower of the field: -
John 1:6 (8 votes)
There was a man sent from God, whose name [was] John. -
John 1:8 (8 votes)
He was not that Light, but [was sent] to bear witness of that Light. -
Luke 1:76 (7 votes)
And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; -
Luke 3:1 (6 votes)
¶ Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, -
Luke 3:20 (6 votes)
Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.
Commentary
Matthew 3:1 (KJV)
¶ In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
Commentary
This verse introduces a pivotal figure in the Gospels: John the Baptist. "In those days" refers to the period leading up to Jesus' public ministry, likely around 26-28 AD, following the events described in Matthew 1-2 (Jesus' birth, the visit of the wise men, the flight to Egypt, and the return to Nazareth). After decades of relative silence from God since the last Old Testament prophets, John emerges as a powerful voice.
John is identified as "the Baptist," a title derived from his practice of baptizing followers as a sign of repentance and cleansing. He appears in the "wilderness of Judaea," a harsh, sparsely populated region east of Jerusalem, stretching towards the Dead Sea. This setting is significant; it mirrors the wilderness experiences of Israel in the Old Testament and provides a stark contrast to the religious and political centers of the time. It emphasizes John's austere lifestyle and his role as a prophet outside the established religious system.
His activity is described as "preaching." The Greek word is related to proclaiming or announcing, often used for a herald making a public declaration. John's message, as revealed in the following verses, was a call to repentance and preparation for the coming Messiah and His kingdom. He fulfills the Old Testament prophecies about a messenger who would prepare the way for the Lord (Malachi 3:1, Isaiah 40:3).
Key Themes: The emergence of God's messenger after a long silence, the call to prepare for the Messiah, the symbolic significance of the wilderness, and the practice of baptism for repentance.
Cross-references: Also see Mark 1:4 and Luke 3:3 for parallel accounts of John's ministry in the wilderness.
Practical Application: John's appearance reminds us that God often works in unexpected places and through unexpected people. His message of preparation and repentance is timeless, urging us to examine our lives and make ready for Christ's presence and work in our lives and in the world.
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