John the Baptist Preaching by the JordanBible World
3:5Matthew 3:5
Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
People from Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the country around the Jordan went out to John to hear him at the Jordan in the wilderness of Judea. Multitudes flocked with common consent from towns, cities, and villages, of every rank, because his fearless, plain, direct preaching in the spirit and power of Elijah denounced sin and reproved prevailing corruption instead of giving a smooth message. Those who responded repented, confessed their sins, and were baptized by him in the Jordan as the evidence of that repentance, preparing them to have faith in the coming One. Their going out and repentance prepared the people for the first coming of the Lord and prepared the way for Christ's ministry as the Lamb of God. The same turning for salvation is still called for while the prophecies of the second coming are fulfilled, requiring the same plain telling of present truth to prepare for the kingdom of heaven at hand.
Places and Historical Setting
Then went out to him means people from Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region round about the Jordan went out to John to hear him at the Jordan in the wilderness of Judea. They came to him there where he was preaching and were baptized by him in the Jordan while confessing their sins. Their going out was their response to his preaching that prepared them to repent and to have faith in the coming One and prepared the people for the first coming of the Lord.
This going out belongs to the ministry among Israel of the promised son of Zacharias and Elizabeth, who was to prepare the Lord's way as the Messiah's forerunner. It happened when he began his work in an unsettled time of discord and insurrection. The nation was stirred by expectation that the Messiah had come, recalling God's past works nearby in the crossing of the Jordan into the promised land and the fall of Jericho.
John lived a lonely, sorrowful, self-denying life in the wilderness, having left his father's family and its society to fulfill his mission, and he was seldom heard except there. His singular dress and appearance resembled the ancient seers, so that multitudes flocking to the wilderness saw this resemblance and supposed him to be one of the prophets risen from the dead.
Preaching That Drew Multitudes
Matthew 3:5 describes multitudes flocking with common consent from towns, cities, and villages to hear John in the wilderness. Those who went out came from Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan, including people of every rank, rulers and kings, and visitors who had come to Jerusalem for the annual feasts. His fame spread throughout the land, and his ministry had a wide reach and powerful national effect connected with the reformation then in progress.
He drew them because his message had something in it that brought them. He did not speak in a whispering voice, give a smooth message, preach fancifully to draw a congregation, or rely on outward display, but truth itself awakened people to their condition. In the spirit and with the power of Elijah he fearlessly denounced sin and the corruptions of the Jews, reproved prevailing sins, and gave plain, direct, pointed, and convincing truth that flattered none. He delivered that pointed message even at the risk of his life, and it became more and more pointed, so that the people would not be deceived.
His voice went out from the wilderness with new and strange trumpet-like power that thrilled all who heard. His urgent appeals, warnings, and reproofs stirred consciences, cut to the hearts of hearers, and startled and aroused them to tremble over their great wickedness. Many who listened to his warning message were stirred and convinced by his teaching, though some lacked the courage to openly become his disciples.
Not all response was genuine, for some scribes and Pharisees also sought baptism while their outward response concealed self-interest rather than genuine conviction of sin.
Repentance Confession and Baptism
Those who went out to John from Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan came to hear him in the wilderness and, responding to his preaching, repented, confessed their sins, and were baptized by him in the Jordan. Multitudes came with common consent from towns and beyond, people of every rank including rulers, and many were stirred to repentance as preparation for the kingdom he announced and for Christ's ministry. Their baptism in the Jordan was the evidence of that repentance. Their coming in confession prepared them to repent and to have faith in the coming One.
Baptism follows the forsaking of sin. It is a step of identification with Jesus Christ. Those who took that step in response to John were turned toward repentance and baptism, prepared to have faith in the coming One and to seek an inheritance in the kingdom of heaven. That turning for salvation is still the response called for today while the prophecies of the second coming are fulfilled and the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
John's wilderness preaching called all to repent because the kingdom of heaven was at hand and near. His voice went out like a trumpet with new and strange power, fearlessly denouncing sin, startling and arousing the people to tremble because of their great wickedness, and his plain words that flattered none could not be resisted. Those who answered came repenting and confessing and were baptized in Jordan. Rich and poor, honorable and lowly alike were taught that without repentance and thorough conversion they could not enjoy the favor of God nor have part in the kingdom of the Messiah whose coming he announced.
John's plain, pointed, and convincing preaching in the spirit and power of Elijah denounced corruption, reproved prevailing sins, convicted many, and brought them to repentance, and their baptism by him in Jordan was the evidence of that repentance as the preparatory work for the ministry of Christ. His work prepared people to receive Christ. Those who were convicted by his plain truths but rejected the light his message gave became enshrouded in deeper darkness, left in deeper darkness and more ready to turn away from the evidences attending Jesus that He was the true Messiah.
Preparing Way for Christ
People from Jerusalem and all Judea and the region round about Jordan went out to John as he prepared them for the first coming of the Lord. Many who heard his preaching repented and were baptized by him in the Jordan, and that repentance and baptism prepared the way for Christ's ministry. People of every rank, including rulers, responded to his call to repentance as preparation for the kingdom he announced and for Christ's ministry. Their baptism in the Jordan was the evidence of that repentance after his plain, convicting preaching. John's work prepared people to receive Christ, while those who rejected the light his message gave were left in deeper darkness and more ready to reject the evidence that Jesus was the Messiah. Multitudes came out to the wilderness to hear John the Baptist as he prepared the way for Christ.
No human effort can prevent God's Word from being fulfilled. In fulfillment of prophecy John preached in the wilderness of Judea, calling for repentance because the kingdom of heaven was at hand, and Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region round about Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in Jordan, confessing their sins. Jews who visited Jerusalem for the annual feasts heard him proclaim Christ as the promised Messiah and carried this news back to distant lands, preparing people for Paul's later preaching. Many went out to hear John at the Jordan, including visitors who had come to Jerusalem for the annual feasts, and they heard Jesus proclaimed as the Promised One and carried the news to distant lands, preparing the way for the apostles' work.
John lived a lonely, sorrowful, self-denying life in the wilderness, seldom heard except there, having left his father's family and its society to fulfill his mission to herald the first advent of Christ. Multitudes left the busy cities and villages and flocked to the wilderness to hear John, the wonderful prophet. He taught his disciples that Jesus was the promised Messiah, the Saviour of the world, and as his own work closed taught them to look to Jesus and follow Him as the great teacher. To the crowds he reproved sin fearless of consequences, laying the axe to the root of the tree, and so prepared the way for the Lamb of God. His preaching reached Jerusalem and all Judea, and the people heard his testimony about Jesus, including the Sanhedrin's deputation and the multitude.
Pattern for Work Today
Matthew 3:5 shows people coming from Jerusalem, Judea, and the region around the Jordan to hear John, and that widespread public response to a call to repentance and readiness for the Lord is the model for bringing the warning message to those who come to Southern California today. Men moved by the Holy Spirit are to meet crowds of visitors in places of resort such as San Diego and Los Angeles with the message borne by John, that they should repent because the kingdom of heaven was near. In this way those who have never heard the truth may have opportunity to hear the last message of mercy inviting perishing souls to come to the Saviour. They were baptized by him in the Jordan while confessing sins, and their going out to his wilderness preaching is the pattern for the work needed now.
The turning for salvation then called for is still called for while the prophecies of the second coming are fulfilled and the kingdom of heaven is at hand. John drew crowds out to him at Jordan where they were baptized confessing sins because there was something in his message that brought them. He did not speak in a whispering voice and did not give a smooth message, but spoke out the truth of the situation, and the same plain, direct telling of the truth is to be given again. His message as the messenger sent of God was plain present truth about the life people must live in this world to prepare for future life that measures with the life of God. That life is serving God with full purpose of a renewed heart sanctified and made holy by the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, and not side questions like whether the world is round or flat that are brought in by minds not worked by the Spirit of God.
John bore a warning message that called people out to hear truth, and a message similar to his must be heard now. His preaching was pointed and became more and more pointed to keep the people from being deceived, and he delivered it even at the risk and cost of his life. Warnings must now be given without drawing souls into Battle Creek, pressing the true issues for this time while guarding against men who will seek to divert minds from heeding them. The work must be carried on for those who still need the truth and have not exchanged evidences of the truth for fallacies and scientific presentations of satanic origin.
Matthew 3 calls church members to turn from their backslidings. John's call to repentance that drew large numbers from Jerusalem, Judea, and the region around the Jordan is the model for reaching large numbers of people today with a call to repentance.
People from Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the country around the Jordan went out to John to hear him at the Jordan in the wilderness of Judea. Multitudes flocked with common consent from towns, cities, and villages, of every rank, because his fearless, plain, direct preaching in the spirit and power of Elijah denounced sin and reproved prevailing corruption instead of giving a smooth message. Those who responded repented, confessed their sins, and were baptized by him in the Jordan as the evidence of that repentance, preparing them to have faith in the coming One. Their going out and repentance prepared the people for the first coming of the Lord and prepared the way for Christ's ministry as the Lamb of God. The same turning for salvation is still called for while the prophecies of the second coming are fulfilled, requiring the same plain telling of present truth to prepare for the kingdom of heaven at hand.
Places and Historical Setting
Then went out to him means people from Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region round about the Jordan went out to John to hear him at the Jordan in the wilderness of Judea. They came to him there where he was preaching and were baptized by him in the Jordan while confessing their sins. Their going out was their response to his preaching that prepared them to repent and to have faith in the coming One and prepared the people for the first coming of the Lord.
This going out belongs to the ministry among Israel of the promised son of Zacharias and Elizabeth, who was to prepare the Lord's way as the Messiah's forerunner. It happened when he began his work in an unsettled time of discord and insurrection. The nation was stirred by expectation that the Messiah had come, recalling God's past works nearby in the crossing of the Jordan into the promised land and the fall of Jericho.
John lived a lonely, sorrowful, self-denying life in the wilderness, having left his father's family and its society to fulfill his mission, and he was seldom heard except there. His singular dress and appearance resembled the ancient seers, so that multitudes flocking to the wilderness saw this resemblance and supposed him to be one of the prophets risen from the dead.
Preaching That Drew Multitudes
Matthew 3:5 describes multitudes flocking with common consent from towns, cities, and villages to hear John in the wilderness. Those who went out came from Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan, including people of every rank, rulers and kings, and visitors who had come to Jerusalem for the annual feasts. His fame spread throughout the land, and his ministry had a wide reach and powerful national effect connected with the reformation then in progress.
He drew them because his message had something in it that brought them. He did not speak in a whispering voice, give a smooth message, preach fancifully to draw a congregation, or rely on outward display, but truth itself awakened people to their condition. In the spirit and with the power of Elijah he fearlessly denounced sin and the corruptions of the Jews, reproved prevailing sins, and gave plain, direct, pointed, and convincing truth that flattered none. He delivered that pointed message even at the risk of his life, and it became more and more pointed, so that the people would not be deceived.
His voice went out from the wilderness with new and strange trumpet-like power that thrilled all who heard. His urgent appeals, warnings, and reproofs stirred consciences, cut to the hearts of hearers, and startled and aroused them to tremble over their great wickedness. Many who listened to his warning message were stirred and convinced by his teaching, though some lacked the courage to openly become his disciples.
Not all response was genuine, for some scribes and Pharisees also sought baptism while their outward response concealed self-interest rather than genuine conviction of sin.
Repentance Confession and Baptism
Those who went out to John from Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan came to hear him in the wilderness and, responding to his preaching, repented, confessed their sins, and were baptized by him in the Jordan. Multitudes came with common consent from towns and beyond, people of every rank including rulers, and many were stirred to repentance as preparation for the kingdom he announced and for Christ's ministry. Their baptism in the Jordan was the evidence of that repentance. Their coming in confession prepared them to repent and to have faith in the coming One.
Baptism follows the forsaking of sin. It is a step of identification with Jesus Christ. Those who took that step in response to John were turned toward repentance and baptism, prepared to have faith in the coming One and to seek an inheritance in the kingdom of heaven. That turning for salvation is still the response called for today while the prophecies of the second coming are fulfilled and the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
John's wilderness preaching called all to repent because the kingdom of heaven was at hand and near. His voice went out like a trumpet with new and strange power, fearlessly denouncing sin, startling and arousing the people to tremble because of their great wickedness, and his plain words that flattered none could not be resisted. Those who answered came repenting and confessing and were baptized in Jordan. Rich and poor, honorable and lowly alike were taught that without repentance and thorough conversion they could not enjoy the favor of God nor have part in the kingdom of the Messiah whose coming he announced.
John's plain, pointed, and convincing preaching in the spirit and power of Elijah denounced corruption, reproved prevailing sins, convicted many, and brought them to repentance, and their baptism by him in Jordan was the evidence of that repentance as the preparatory work for the ministry of Christ. His work prepared people to receive Christ. Those who were convicted by his plain truths but rejected the light his message gave became enshrouded in deeper darkness, left in deeper darkness and more ready to turn away from the evidences attending Jesus that He was the true Messiah.
Preparing Way for Christ
People from Jerusalem and all Judea and the region round about Jordan went out to John as he prepared them for the first coming of the Lord. Many who heard his preaching repented and were baptized by him in the Jordan, and that repentance and baptism prepared the way for Christ's ministry. People of every rank, including rulers, responded to his call to repentance as preparation for the kingdom he announced and for Christ's ministry. Their baptism in the Jordan was the evidence of that repentance after his plain, convicting preaching. John's work prepared people to receive Christ, while those who rejected the light his message gave were left in deeper darkness and more ready to reject the evidence that Jesus was the Messiah. Multitudes came out to the wilderness to hear John the Baptist as he prepared the way for Christ.
No human effort can prevent God's Word from being fulfilled. In fulfillment of prophecy John preached in the wilderness of Judea, calling for repentance because the kingdom of heaven was at hand, and Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region round about Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in Jordan, confessing their sins. Jews who visited Jerusalem for the annual feasts heard him proclaim Christ as the promised Messiah and carried this news back to distant lands, preparing people for Paul's later preaching. Many went out to hear John at the Jordan, including visitors who had come to Jerusalem for the annual feasts, and they heard Jesus proclaimed as the Promised One and carried the news to distant lands, preparing the way for the apostles' work.
John lived a lonely, sorrowful, self-denying life in the wilderness, seldom heard except there, having left his father's family and its society to fulfill his mission to herald the first advent of Christ. Multitudes left the busy cities and villages and flocked to the wilderness to hear John, the wonderful prophet. He taught his disciples that Jesus was the promised Messiah, the Saviour of the world, and as his own work closed taught them to look to Jesus and follow Him as the great teacher. To the crowds he reproved sin fearless of consequences, laying the axe to the root of the tree, and so prepared the way for the Lamb of God. His preaching reached Jerusalem and all Judea, and the people heard his testimony about Jesus, including the Sanhedrin's deputation and the multitude.
Pattern for Work Today
Matthew 3:5 shows people coming from Jerusalem, Judea, and the region around the Jordan to hear John, and that widespread public response to a call to repentance and readiness for the Lord is the model for bringing the warning message to those who come to Southern California today. Men moved by the Holy Spirit are to meet crowds of visitors in places of resort such as San Diego and Los Angeles with the message borne by John, that they should repent because the kingdom of heaven was near. In this way those who have never heard the truth may have opportunity to hear the last message of mercy inviting perishing souls to come to the Saviour. They were baptized by him in the Jordan while confessing sins, and their going out to his wilderness preaching is the pattern for the work needed now.
The turning for salvation then called for is still called for while the prophecies of the second coming are fulfilled and the kingdom of heaven is at hand. John drew crowds out to him at Jordan where they were baptized confessing sins because there was something in his message that brought them. He did not speak in a whispering voice and did not give a smooth message, but spoke out the truth of the situation, and the same plain, direct telling of the truth is to be given again. His message as the messenger sent of God was plain present truth about the life people must live in this world to prepare for future life that measures with the life of God. That life is serving God with full purpose of a renewed heart sanctified and made holy by the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, and not side questions like whether the world is round or flat that are brought in by minds not worked by the Spirit of God.
John bore a warning message that called people out to hear truth, and a message similar to his must be heard now. His preaching was pointed and became more and more pointed to keep the people from being deceived, and he delivered it even at the risk and cost of his life. Warnings must now be given without drawing souls into Battle Creek, pressing the true issues for this time while guarding against men who will seek to divert minds from heeding them. The work must be carried on for those who still need the truth and have not exchanged evidences of the truth for fallacies and scientific presentations of satanic origin.
Matthew 3 calls church members to turn from their backslidings. John's call to repentance that drew large numbers from Jerusalem, Judea, and the region around the Jordan is the model for reaching large numbers of people today with a call to repentance.