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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 3:1-6

We have here an account of the preaching and baptism of John, which were the dawning of the gospel-day. Observe, I. The time when he appeared. In those days (Matt. 3:1), or, after those days, long after what was recorded in the foregoing chapter, which left the child Jesus in his infancy. In those days, in the time appointed of the Father for the beginning of the gospel, when the fulness of time was come, which was often thus spoken of in the Old Testament, In those days. Now the last of... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 3:1-6

3:1-6 In those days John the Baptizer arrived on the scene, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea. "Repent," he said, "for the Kingdom of the Heavens has come near." It was this man who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet when he said, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Make ready the road by which the Lord is coming, and make straight the paths which he must travel!"' John himself wore a garment made from camel's hair, and he had a leathern belt round his waist; and his food was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 3:4

The same John had his raiment ,.... The Evangelist goes on to describe this excellent person, the forerunner of our Lord, by his raiment; the same John of whom Isaiah prophesied, and who came preaching the doctrine in the place and manner before expressed, had his raiment of camel's hair ; not of camel's hair softened and dressed, which the Talmudists F26 Misn. Negaim. c. 11. sect. 2. & Kilaim, c. 9. sect. 1. Talmud, Bab. Menachot, fol. 39. 2. call צמר גמלים "camel's... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 3:5

Then went out to him Jerusalem ,.... The uncommon appearance of this person, the oddness of his dress, the austerity of his life, together with the awfulness and importance of his doctrine, and the novelty of the ordinance of baptism he administered, and the Jews having had no prophet for some hundreds of years, and imagining he might be the Messiah, quickly drew large numbers of people to him. Some copies read "all Jerusalem": that is, the inhabitants of that city, a very large number of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 3:6

And were baptized of him ,.... The place where they were baptized of him was, "in Jordan"; some copies read, "in the river Jordan", as in Mark 1:5 . As to the name of this river, and the etymology of it, the Jews say F12 T. Bab. Becorot. fol. 55. 1. Kimchi in Josh. xix. 47. it was so called, שיורד מדן "because it descended" from Dan, i.e. Leshem Dan, or Pamias, which they say is a cave at the head of it. It was in John's time and long after a considerable river, a river to swim... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 3:4

His raiment of camel's hair - A sort of coarse or rough covering, which, it appears, was common to the prophets, Zechariah 13:4 . In such a garment we find Elijah clothed, 2 Kings 1:8 . And as John had been designed under the name of this prophet, Malachi 4:5 , whose spirit and qualifications he was to possess, Luke 1:17 , he took the same habit and lived in the same state of self-denial. His meat was locusts - Ακριδες . Ακρις may either signify the insect called the locust,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 3:5

Jordan - Many of the best MSS. and versions, with Mark 1:5 , add ποταμω , the river Jordan; but the definitive article, with which the word is generally accompanied, both in the Hebrew and the Greek, is, sufficient; and our article the, which should ever be used in the translation, expresses the force of the other. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 3:6

Were baptized - In what form baptism was originally administered, has been deemed a subject worthy of serious dispute. Were the people dipped or sprinkled? for it is certain βαπτω and βαπτιζω mean both. They were all dipped, say some. Can any man suppose that it was possible for John to dip all the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judea, and of all the country round about the Jordan? Were both men and women dipped, for certainly both came to his baptism? This could never have comported... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 3:4

Verse 4 Matthew 3:4.And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair The Evangelist does not desire us to reckon it as one of John’s chief excellencies, that he followed a rough and austere way of living, or even that he avoided a moderate and ordinary degree of elegance: but, having already stated that he was an inhabitant of the mountains, he now adds, that his food and clothing were adapted to his residence. And he mentions this, not only to inform us, that John was satisfied with the food... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 3:6

Verse 6 Matthew 3:6; Mark 1:5.And were baptized, confessing their sins This confession was a testimony of repentance: for, as the Lord, in the sacraments, brings himself under obligation to us, as if he had given his own hand-writing, so it is our duty, on the other hand, to reply to him. In Baptism, he declares that our sins are forgiven, and calls us to repentance. That men may come forward, in a right manner, to be baptized, confession of sins is demanded from them: otherwise the whole... read more

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