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Scott's Reference Library
December 14, 2003 | December 17, 2006 | December 13, 2009
Luke 3:7 through Luke 3:18 (NIV)
7John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of
vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8Produce fruit in keeping
with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our
father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for
Abraham. 9The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does
not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10“What should we do then?” the crowd asked.
11John answered, “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none,
and the one who has food should do the same.”
12Tax collectors also came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should
we do?”
13“Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.
14Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”
He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with
your pay.”
15The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if
John might possibly be the Christ. 16John answered them all, “I baptize you
with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals
I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with
fire. 17His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to
gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable
fire.” 18And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the
good news to them.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
VERSES 1-14
The scope and design of John’s ministry were, to bring the people from their
sins, and to their Saviour. He came preaching, not a sect, or party, but a
profession; the sign or ceremony was washing with water. By the words here used
John preached the necessity of repentance, in order to the remission of sins,
and that the baptism of water was an outward sign of that inward cleansing and
renewal of heart, which attend, or are the effects of true repentance, as well
as a profession of it. Here is the fulfilling of the Scriptures, Isaiah 40:3, in
the ministry of John. When way is made for the gospel into the heart, by taking
down high thoughts, and bringing them into obedience to Christ, by levelling the
soul, and removing all that hinders us in the way of Christ and his grace, then
preparation is made to welcome the salvation of God. Here are general warnings
and exhortations which John gave. The guilty, corrupted race of mankind is
become a generation of vipers; hateful to God, and hating one another. There is
no way of fleeing from the wrath to come, but by repentance; and by the change
of our way the change of our mind must be shown. If we are not really holy, both
in heart and life, our profession of religion and relation to God and his
church, will stand us in no stead at all; the sorer will our destruction be, if
we do not bring forth fruits meet for repentance. John the Baptist gave
instructions to several sorts of persons. Those that profess and promise
repentance, must show it by reformation, according to their places and
conditions. The gospel requires mercy, not sacrifice; and its design is, to
engage us to do all the good we can, and to be just to all men. And the same
principle which leads men to forego unjust gain, leads to restore that which is
gained by wrong. John tells the soldiers their duty. Men should be cautioned
against the temptations of their employments. These answers declared the present
duty of the inquirers, and at once formed a test of their sincerity. As none can
or will accept Christ’s salvation without true repentance, so the evidence and
effects of this repentance are here marked out.
VERSES 15-20
John the Baptist disowned being himself the Christ, but confirmed the people in
their expectations of the long-promised Messiah. He could only exhort them to
repent, and assure them of forgiveness upon repentance; but he could not work
repentance in them, nor confer remission on them. Thus highly does it become us
to speak of Christ, and thus humbly of ourselves. John can do no more than
baptize with water, in token that they ought to purify and cleanse themselves;
but Christ can, and will baptize with the Holy Ghost; he can give the Spirit, to
cleanse and purify the heart, not only as water washes off the dirt on the
outside, but as fire clears out the dross that is within, and melts down the
metal, that it may be cast into a new mould. John was an affectionate preacher;
he was beseeching; he pressed things home upon his hearers. He was a practical
preacher; quickening them to their duty, and directing them in it. He was a
popular preacher; he addressed the people, according to their capacity. He was
an evangelical preacher. In all his exhortations, he directed people to Christ.
When we press duty upon people, we must direct them to Christ, both for
righteousness and strength. He was a copious preacher; he shunned not to declare
the whole counsel of God. But a full stop was put to John’s preaching when he
was in the midst of his usefulness. Herod being reproved by him for many evils,
shut up John in prison. Those who injure the faithful servants of God, add still
greater guilt to their other sins.