The Joy of Preparing for the King (Matthew 3:1-12)

1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’ ”

4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 “I baptize you with water for 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. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” (Matthew 3:1–12, ESV)

Introduction

• Story: the refreshing nature of being right with God.

What happened?

• Matthew advances us all the way from Jesus' childhood in Nazareth to the stage right before his public ministry.

  • According to Luke, Jesus was "about thirty" years old at this point (Luke 3:23).
  • Matthew has established Jesus' credentials as the promised king, so now he introduces a crucial figure sent to prepare the king’s way.

• John the Baptist enters the scene.

  • His style: Living out in the wilderness of Judea, John wore a camel's hair garment with a leather belt and he ate locusts and wild honey (3:1, 4).
    • Note for later: The gospel writers don't describe people—Jesus and the disciples aren't physically described—unless they have a reason.
  • His message: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (3:2).
    • Like an Old Testament prophet, "the word of God came to John" while out in the wild, and repentance because of the coming kingdom was his message (Luke 3:2).
  • His mission: Prepare the way of the Lord (as king); make his paths straight (3:3).
    • Predicted in Isaiah (Isaiah 40:3).
      • John understood himself this way—I am the voice Isaiah said would come (John 1:23).
  • His ministry: He baptized all Judea and all that region about the Jordan in the river Jordan while they confessed their sins (3:5-6).
  • His attitude: He confronted Pharisees and Sadducees when they came to his baptism (3:7-10).
  • His self-understanding: He knew his ministry was preparatory for another, whose sandals he was not worthy to carry (3:11-12).

Impression

• John feels forceful, strong, and bold.

  • Coffee drinks: John is a strong double-shot espresso.
  • Some Christians: Ew! Repentance? Confession of sins? Baptism of repentance? Wrath to come? An axe to the root of the trees? Unquenchable fire? Get me away from this legalism!

• Because of this, we might tune John out, but the ministry and gospel of Christ is most fully appreciated in the aftermath of John’s work.

  • Not: Law vs. Gospel, Law + Gospel
  • But: Law --> Gospel
    • John brings us into the richness (and joy) of repentance, authenticity, and expiation.

1. The Joy of Repentance (3:1-6)

John's Prophetic Identity

• Let's talk about that physical description.

  • Wilderness: a place known for its prophetic overtones.

    • Moses in the wilderness: The burning bush.
    • Mt. Sinai wilderness: The Law.
    • Elijah in the wilderness: God's low whisper.
    • David in the wilderness: Psalms.

  • Food:

    • Radical servant of God
    • Committed to a prophetic and pietistic life, John's lifestyle would complement his words in challenging the values of his society.
    • He excluded himself from all society valued.

  • Clothing:

    • Elijah the prophet was described in the same way (2 Kings 1:8).

    • The final prophecy of the entire Old Testament:

      • 5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.” (Malachi 4:5–6, ESV)

      • Gabriel:

        • And he (John) will go before him (the Christ) in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” (Luke 1:17, ESV)

      • Jesus:

        • 10 And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 11 He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. 12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist. (Matthew 17:10–13, ESV)

John is the promised last man to come before the Christ. When he arrived, people heard him and his preparatory word.

• He told them to repent (3:2).
• They came to him and were baptized for that repentance (3:6, 11).
• They confessed their sins in conjunction with their baptism (3:6).
• All this was done to prepare people for the kingdom of heaven because it was at hand, ready to be revealed at any moment (3:2, 4).
  • God's (Heaven's) Kingdom is about to arrive! You want to be part of this. You can be part of this. But your sins are in the way. There is One coming who can truly cleanse you, but you must want his cleansing work. Demonstrate this through confession, repentance, and baptism! Prepare for his arrival in your life!

Why do we often resist John's call to repentance?

• Perhaps because we confuse it with legalism.

  • Legalism: My relationship with God is completely based on my good behavior.
    • Generates death and frustration.

• And that leads us to license.

  • License: My relationship with God is not impacted by my bad behavior.
    • Generates apathy and regression.

• We should instead embrace all of God's grace.

  • Grace: My relationship with God is based on his love, goodness, favor, mercy, and forgiveness—and this makes me want to have good behavior!
    • Generates holiness.
    • Thus, repentance is required.
    • Example: resetting a broken bone—pain required for healing.

To talk of repentance and confession is not legalism, but actual and real grace.

• Good guilt and good shame encourage us to turn to God (and others) for forgiveness and freedom. This is freeing and transforming.

  • It hurts to suppress it because to do so means we are trying to live outside reality.

    • Self-forgiveness is a myth that insulates us from productive guilt and healthy shame.

  • “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, ESV)

  • “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” (James 5:16, ESV)

    • Example: Wrong direction? Make a U-turn.

2. The Joy of Authenticity (3:7-10)

Confrontation of the Religious Leaders

• Pharisees
  • The Pharisees were a religious party known for their strict and meticulous observance of both the written Law of Moses and the "Oral Law"—a vast collection of traditions and interpretations passed down by rabbis.
  • Bible-focused, but they thought their interpretations were just as authoritative as Scripture.
    • Connected to the scribes (teachers of the law).
  • Moralistic and conservative, but hypocritical and self-righteous.
  • Popular with the people.
• Sadducees
  • The Sadducees were the aristocratic and priestly class, representing the wealthy elite of Jerusalem.
  • Willing to cooperate with Roman authorities, their power was centered around the Temple and its sacrificial system.
  • Accepted only the Torah, they did not believe in supernatural elements like a final resurrection, final judgment, angels, or spirits.
  • They saw Jesus as a threat to their authority.
• They both came to John's baptism (3:7). Why?
  • Perhaps to "provide oversight."
  • Perhaps for hypocritical baptism as a signal of their supposed readiness for the Messiah.

John invited these religious leaders (and all of us) into an authentic experience of God.

• Accept your need for forgiveness.

  • John said, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" (3:7).
    • Theologically weighty accusation: You all come from the mother snake! Your appearance here is not genuine.

• Long for fruit to come from your life.

  • John said, **"**Bear fruit in keeping with repentance" (3:8).
    • Since repentance involves the biblical concept of a turn (or a returning) to God, John looked for them to demonstrate an authentic transformation of life.

• Abandon false security.

  • John said, "Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham" (3:9).

    • John stripped away their smug self-assurance by declaring that their ethnic identity as descendants of Abraham offered them no protection from God's judgment.

      • Example: the pro-athlete children of pro-athletes—a benefit, but they still must have game.

    • The reality, John said, is that God could make children of Abraham out of stones.

      • A prophetic foreshadowing of how God would take rock hard hearts of the nations and bring them into Abraham's family line.

      • “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:29, NIV)

• Take care of business today.

  • John said, "Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire" (3:10).
    • This is imagery taken from the Old Testament—Israel was God's vineyard, and Jesus' coming meant a time of division was coming.
      • Some did and some didn’t (Acts).

There is something about getting authentic with God that is freeing and rich.

• Phoney or plastic Christianity is a drag.
  • Example: Wax fruit
• Something good happens when we give up pretenses and position to pursue real and abiding fruit.

3. The Joy of Expiation (3:11-12)

John's final speech—he points to another.

• "I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry" (3:11).
  • This mighty and unwavering paragon of prophetic truth and righteousness knew Jesus was more powerful (mightier) than him.
  • He couldn't even see himself worthy of being the lead sandal technician for Jesus.
• "He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire” (3:11-12).
  • The Old Testament prophets had promised the Holy Spirit would come—John thinks Jesus will fulfill those promises!
  • What is the fire Jesus baptizes with?
    • Option 1: Judgment—different from first baptism.
    • Option 2: Purification—unified with first baptism.
      • Spirit and fire, working together to cleanse us for God (expiation).
      • But—clearly—Christ discriminates between the righteous (wheat) and the unrepentant (chaff, 3:12).

Christ’s atoning death involves both propitiation (appeasing God’s righteous wrath toward sin) and expiation (cleansing humanity of sin’s defilement).

• John: He can do this for you and will do this for the world.

  • The Spirit of God and God's fire will have a purifying effect in your life—positionally and experientially!
  • Example: Refining gold.

• Make repentance a regular part of life.

  • It leads to the joy of authenticity and cleansing.
  • Example: Rot in a wall—it cannot be dealt with through cosmetic fixes (paint, wallpaper), but must be dealt with through exposure, removal of damaged material, treatment of the source, and rebuilding with good materials.

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Study Questions

Head (Knowledge & Understanding)

1. Based on Matthew's description and the Old Testament prophecies, who was John the Baptist and what was his specific mission?
2. The sermon defines legalism, license, and grace. In your own words, what is the core difference between these three ways of relating to God?
3. John confronted both the Pharisees and the Sadducees. What were the key beliefs that distinguished these two groups from each other?

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Heart (Feelings & Impressions)

1. John the Baptist is described as a "strong double-shot espresso" whose message can seem harsh. How does his confrontational style personally strike you, and why do you think people (then and now) have such a strong reaction to him?
2. The sermon title is "The Joy of Preparing for the King". In what ways have you personally experienced the "freeing and transforming" joy that comes from genuine repentance and confession?
3. John called out the religious leaders for their lack of authenticity. In what areas of your own life do you feel the tension or "drag" of a "phoney or plastic Christianity", and what does your heart long for instead?

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Hands (Actions & Decisions)

1. John commanded the leaders to "bear fruit in keeping with repentance". What is one specific, practical "fruit" that you can intentionally cultivate this week to show your heart is turned toward God?
2. The Pharisees trusted in their heritage as a source of security. What false securities (e.g., your family background, job, knowledge, or moral efforts) are you tempted to rely on, and what would it look like to actively place your trust in Christ alone?
3. Jesus is the one who separates the "wheat" from the "chaff". How does this reality challenge you to deal with sin in your life and embrace the purifying "fire" of the Holy Spirit?