A. The preaching of John the Baptist. Matthew 3:1-12
1. In the wilderness of Judea. Matthew 3:1
2. “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3:2
B. John the Baptist as “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the
Lord, make his paths straight.” Isaiah 40:3
C. John the Baptist clothing and diet. Matthew 3:4
D. The fame of John the Baptist. Matthew 3:5-6
E. John the Baptist’s sermon to the Pharisees and Sadducees. Matthew 3:7-12
1. Identified them as vipers. Matthew 3:7
a. Snakes symbolic of sin.
2. Why are you here? Matthew 3:7
3. A call to repentance by works. Matthew 3:8
a. Being a Jew carries few privileges. Matthew 3:9-10
b. The Messiah is coming and you will not escape his judgment. Matthew 3:11-12
F. How John the Baptist baptized. Matthew 3:11
1. With a water baptism (immersion) of repentance. Acts 19:4
2. Jesus will baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire, not with water. Matthew 3:11
II. The baptism of Jesus. Matthew 3:13-17
A. Jesus asks John the Baptist to baptize him. Matthew 3:13
1. John realized that he needed to be baptized by Jesus. Matthew 3:14
B. The reason for Jesus to be baptized. Matthew 3:15
1. That they (Jesus and John) would fulfill all righteousness by being obedient to God.
2. That John the Baptist might know who Jesus really is. John 1: 29-34
3. That Jesus might illustrate his mission to die, be buried and raised the third day.
C. The revelation of the Holy Trinity. Matthew 3: 16-17
1. God, the Father, God, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit all present in three different locations
at the same time.
a. In the water, God, the Son.
b. In the air, God, the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus.
c. In Heaven, God, the Father saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
John The Baptist Video
