John the Baptist Prepares the Way
Matthew 3:1-12
Matt.3.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Εν: PREP
- δε: CONJ
- ταις: ART,dat,pl,f
- ημεραις: NOUN,dat,pl,f
- εκειναις: DEM,dat,pl,f
- παραγινεται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
- Ιωαννης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- βαπτιστης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- κηρυσσων: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- ερημω: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- Ιουδαιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- Mark 1:4 (verbal): Mark presents John the Baptist appearing in the wilderness and preaching baptism — a close verbal and situational parallel to Matthew’s opening of John’s ministry.
- Luke 3:2-6 (verbal): Luke likewise locates John’s ministry in the wilderness and expands the theme of preparing the way, echoing Matthew’s setting and purpose for John’s proclamation.
- John 1:23 (quotation): John the Baptist identifies himself as “the voice crying in the wilderness,” directly quoting Isaiah and linking his role to the Matthean portrayal of a wilderness preacher.
- Isaiah 40:3 (quotation): Isaiah’s prophetic line about a voice crying in the wilderness is the primary prophetic source Matthew invokes to interpret John’s appearance and mission.
- Malachi 3:1 (allusion): The prophecy about a messenger sent to prepare the way provides the prophetic background for John’s role as the forerunner to the Lord, a theme Matthew associates with John’s wilderness ministry.
Alternative generated candidates
- In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
- In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea.
Matt.3.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- λεγων·Μετανοειτε: PTCP,pres,act,nom,sg,m + VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- ηγγικεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
- γαρ: PART
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- βασιλεια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- των: ART,gen,pl,f
- ουρανων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Matt.4.17 (verbal): Jesus proclaims the same formula ('Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near/has come'), an almost identical wording to Matt. 3:2.
- Mark 1:15 (verbal): Mark records Jesus saying 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the gospel,' closely paralleling the call to repentance and the nearness of God's kingdom in Matt. 3:2 (with 'kingdom of God' vs Matthean 'kingdom of heaven').
- Luke 3:3 (thematic): Luke describes John's ministry as preaching 'a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,' corresponding to the emphasis on repentance found in Matt. 3:2, though Luke stresses baptism and forgiveness.
- Acts 3:19 (thematic): Peter's exhortation 'Repent therefore, and turn again...' echoes the imperative to repent and connects repentance to restoration/coming salvation, reflecting the same theological thrust as Matt. 3:2.
Alternative generated candidates
- and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
- He said, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.'
Matt.3.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ουτος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- γαρ: PART
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- ρηθεις: PART,aor,pass,nom,sg,m
- δια: PREP
- Ησαιου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,m
- προφητου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- λεγοντος·Φωνη: PART,pres,act,gen,sg,m
- βοωντος: PART,pres,act,gen,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- ερημω·Ετοιμασατε: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- οδον: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ευθειας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ποιειτε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- τριβους: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Isaiah 40:3 (quotation): The original prophetic source Matthew cites — 'A voice cries: In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord...' Matthew directly quotes Isaiah 40:3 to identify John the Baptist as fulfillment.
- Mark 1:2-3 (quotation): Mark introduces John the Baptist with the same Isaiah wording (and a citation of Malachi) — the verbal parallel links John to the prophetic 'voice in the wilderness' motif.
- Luke 3:4-6 (quotation): Luke quotes Isaiah 40:3–5 in full and applies it to John, expanding the prophetic context (valleys/exaltations) while making the same fulfillment claim as Matthew.
- John 1:23 (quotation): John the Baptist himself cites Isaiah 40:3 ('I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness...'), a direct self-identification that echoes Matthew's application.
- Malachi 3:1 (allusion): Although Matthew names Isaiah, the Synoptics (esp. Mark) pair Isaiah with Malachi's 'messenger' theme — the idea of a forerunner preparing the Lord's way echoes Malachi 3:1.
Alternative generated candidates
- For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’"
- For this is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke, saying, 'The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.'
Matt.3.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αυτος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιωαννης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ειχεν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- ενδυμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- απο: PREP
- τριχων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
- καμηλου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ζωνην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- δερματινην: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- περι: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- οσφυν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- δε: CONJ
- τροφη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ακριδες: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- και: CONJ
- μελι: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- αγριον: ADJ,nom,sg,n
Parallels
- Mark 1:6 (verbal): Direct Gospel parallel: Mark also describes John wearing camel's hair, a leather belt, and eating locusts and wild honey (same wording and details).
- 2 Kings 1:8 (allusion): OT prototype: Elijah is described as a 'hairy' man girded with a leather belt, an image that John's camel-hair garment and leather belt intentionally echo (linking John to Elijah).
- Luke 7:24-28 (thematic): Jesus' commentary on John contrasts ascetic prophetic appearance with popular expectations and affirms John's prophetic role and comparison to Elijah, reflecting the same association behind John's clothing and diet.
- Malachi 4:5 (allusion): Prophetic background: Malachi's promise that Elijah will return before the 'great and dreadful day' provides the eschatological frame for reading John's Elijah-like appearance and role as forerunner.
- Matthew 11:7-15 (thematic): Jesus' reflection on what people came out to see includes contrast with 'a man clothed in soft garments' and affirms John's prophetic/Elijah identity, underscoring the significance of his austere dress and lifestyle.
Alternative generated candidates
- Now John wore clothing of camel's hair and a leather belt about his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
- Now John wore a garment of camel's hair with a leather belt about his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
Matt.3.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τοτε: ADV
- εξεπορευετο: VERB,impf,mid,ind,3,sg
- προς: PREP
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- Ιεροσολυμα: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- πασα: ADJ,nom,sg,f
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- Ιουδαια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- πασα: ADJ,nom,sg,f
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- περιχωρος: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,m
- Ιορδανου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Mark 1:5 (verbal): Mark records essentially the same report: people from Jerusalem, all Judea and the region about the Jordan went out to John and were baptized—close verbal and narrative parallel.
- Luke 3:3 (verbal): Luke similarly situates John’s ministry 'in all the region about the Jordan,' highlighting the geographic scope of his preaching and baptism.
- John 1:28 (structural): John locates John’s activity 'in Bethany beyond the Jordan,' corroborating the Gospel tradition that John ministered in the Jordan region.
- Acts 13:24 (thematic): Acts summarizes John’s ministry as preaching 'to all the people of Israel,' thematically echoing Matthew’s emphasis on people from Jerusalem and all Judea responding to John.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then people went out to him from Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan.
- Then Jerusalem and all Judea, and all the region about the Jordan, went out to him.
Matt.3.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- εβαπτιζοντο: VERB,impf,mid/pass,ind,3,pl
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- Ιορδανη: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- ποταμω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- υπ᾽αυτου: PREP+PRON,gen,sg,m,3
- εξομολογουμενοι: PART,pres,act,nom,pl,m
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- αμαρτιας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,c
Parallels
- Mark 1:5 (verbal): Closely parallels Matthew’s wording: people were baptized by John in the Jordan while confessing their sins (same scene and action).
- Luke 3:3 (thematic): Describes John’s preaching of a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins and his baptizing at the Jordan—same theme of repentance and baptism as Matthew 3:6.
- John 1:28 (structural): Locates John’s baptizing beyond the Jordan (Bethany/Bethabara), providing the same geographical/contextual setting for the baptisms mentioned in Matthew 3:6.
- Acts 19:4 (quotation): Paul cites John’s baptism as a baptism of repentance, summarizing the purpose behind the confessions and baptisms described in Matthew 3:6.
Alternative generated candidates
- And they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
- And they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
Matt.3.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ιδων: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- πολλους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,f
- Φαρισαιων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- Σαδδουκαιων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- ερχομενους: VERB,pres,mid,part,acc,pl,m
- επι: PREP
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- βαπτισμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτοις·Γεννηματα: PRON,dat,pl,3
- εχιδνων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,3
- υπεδειξεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- φυγειν: VERB,aor,act,inf
- απο: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- μελλουσης: VERB,pres,act,part,gen,sg,f
- οργης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- Luke 3:7 (quotation): Near-verbatim parallel in Luke's Gospel: John the Baptist addresses the crowds as a "brood of vipers" and asks who warned them to flee the coming wrath, same context and wording.
- Matt.12:34 (verbal): Jesus calls the Pharisees a "brood of vipers" when condemning their evil speech and character; uses the same hostile serpent imagery applied to religious leaders.
- Matt.23:33 (verbal): Jesus again uses the phrase "serpents, brood of vipers" in his denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees, echoing John's rebuke and linking hypocrisy with imminent judgment.
- Rom.2:5 (thematic): Paul speaks of human sinfulness and God "storing up wrath" for the day of wrath—theologically parallels John's warning about fleeing the coming wrath and divine judgment.
Alternative generated candidates
- 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?
- But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, 'You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?'
Matt.3.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ποιησατε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,pl
- ουν: PART
- καρπον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αξιον: ADJ,acc,sg,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- μετανοιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- Luke 3:8 (verbal): John's exhortation in Luke uses nearly identical wording—'Produce fruit worthy of repentance'—showing the same call to tangible evidence of repentance.
- Acts 26:20 (verbal): Paul summarizes his ministry as calling people to 'repentance and to do works fitting for repentance' (or 'works meet for repentance'), echoing the expectation that repentance results in changed behavior.
- Matthew 7:16-20 (thematic): Jesus teaches that trees are known by their fruit and that true character is shown by observable results, paralleling the demand that repentance bear fruit.
- James 2:17 (thematic): James argues that faith without works is dead—similarly, genuine repentance must produce corresponding deeds; inner change is evidenced outwardly.
- Isaiah 1:16-17 (allusion): The prophet calls Israel to wash, make themselves clean, and 'learn to do good; seek justice'—linking repentance with ethical reform and concrete acts of righteousness.
Alternative generated candidates
- Bear fruit worthy of repentance.
- Produce therefore fruit worthy of repentance; and do not begin to say among yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father.'
Matt.3.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- μη: PART
- δοξητε: VERB,pres,mid,imp,2,pl
- λεγειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- εν: PREP
- εαυτοις·Πατερα: PRON,dat,pl,ref
- εχομεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- Αβρααμ: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- λεγω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- γαρ: PART
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- οτι: CONJ
- δυναται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εκ: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,f
- λιθων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- τουτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- εγειραι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- τεκνα: NOUN,acc,pl,neut
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- Αβρααμ: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Luke 3:8-9 (verbal): Direct Synoptic parallel: John the Baptist issues the same warning and uses the same imagery (do not rely on Abraham; God can raise children from stones).
- Matthew 3:7 (structural): Immediate context: John addresses Pharisees and Sadducees as unworthy ('brood of vipers'), preparing the contrast with those who merely claim Abrahamic descent in 3:9.
- John 8:33-39 (thematic): Jesus’ debate with Jewish opponents over being 'Abraham’s children'—true sonship is defined by doing the works of Abraham/God, not merely physical descent.
- Galatians 3:7-9 (thematic): Paul argues that true children of Abraham are those of faith (the 'seed'), echoing New Testament redefinition of Abrahamic descent as spiritual rather than merely ethnic.
Alternative generated candidates
- And do not suppose you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.
- For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
Matt.3.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ηδη: ADV
- δε: CONJ
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- αξινη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- προς: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- ριζαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- των: ART,gen,pl,f
- δενδρων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- κειται·παν: VERB,pres,mid/pass,ind,3,sg+ADJ,nom,sg,n
- ουν: PART
- δενδρον: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- μη: PART
- ποιουν: VERB,pres,act,ptcp,nom,sg,m
- καρπον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- καλον: ADJ,acc,sg,m
- εκκοπτεται: VERB,pres,mid/pass,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- εις: PREP
- πυρ: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- βαλλεται: VERB,pres,mid/pass,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Luke 3:9 (verbal): Near-identical wording in the Lukan account of John the Baptist: 'the axe is laid to the root of the trees… every tree that does not bear fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire' — a direct synoptic parallel.
- Matt.7:19 (verbal): Jesus uses the same wording in the Sermon on the Mount: 'Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire,' echoing the judgmental tree/fruit motif.
- John 15:6 (thematic): Uses the vine/branch metaphor to declare that unfruitful branches are gathered and thrown into the fire — same concern with fruitlessness and punitive removal by fire.
- Luke 3:17 (thematic): John's parallel warning of judgment: the winnowing fork, threshing floor imagery, and burning of chaff depict imminent eschatological judgment by fire, closely related thematically to Matt 3:10.
- Isaiah 10:33–34 (allusion): Prophetic imagery of an axe striking the forest and Lebanon falling provides an Old Testament backdrop for the 'axe at the root' motif and divine judgment on trees/kingdoms.
Alternative generated candidates
- Now the axe lies at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
- Already the axe lies at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Matt.3.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Εγω: PRON,nom,sg,1
- μεν: PART
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- βαπτιζω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- εν: PREP
- υδατι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- εις: PREP
- μετανοιαν·ο: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- δε: CONJ
- οπισω: ADV
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- ερχομενος: VERB,pres,mid,part,nom,sg,m
- ισχυροτερος: ADJ,nom,sg,m,comp
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ου: PART,neg
- ουκ: PART,neg
- ειμι: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- ικανος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- τα: ART,acc,pl,neut
- υποδηματα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- βαστασαι·αυτος: VERB,aor,act,inf
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- βαπτισει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- πνευματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- αγιω: ADJ,dat,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- πυρι·: NOUN,dat,sg,n
Parallels
- Luke 3:16 (verbal): Luke preserves nearly identical wording of John’s claim: he baptizes with water, but the one coming will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.
- Mark 1:7-8 (verbal): Mark gives a compact parallel: John contrasts his water baptism with the coming one who is mightier and will baptize with the Holy Spirit.
- John 1:33 (quotation): John records the Baptist’s testimony that the one who sends him told him the Messiah would be identified by the Spirit’s descent — linking Jesus to baptizing with the Spirit.
- Acts 1:5 (thematic): Peter’s summary ties John’s water baptism to the promised baptism with the Holy Spirit that the disciples would soon receive (anticipating fulfillment).
- Acts 2:3-4 (thematic): Pentecost describes ‘tongues of fire’ and being filled with the Holy Spirit, commonly read as the fulfillment of John’s promise to baptize with Spirit and fire.
Alternative generated candidates
- I baptize you with water for repentance; but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I—I am not worthy even to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
- I baptize you with water for repentance; but the one who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Matt.3.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ου: PART,neg
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- πτυον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- χειρι: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- διακαθαριει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- αλωνα: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- συναξει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- σιτον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- αποθηκην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- δε: CONJ
- αχυρον: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- κατακαυσει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- πυρι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- ασβεστω: ADJ,dat,sg,n
Parallels
- Luke 3:17 (verbal): Direct synoptic parallel: imagery of the fan/winnowing in his hand, gathering the wheat into the barn and burning the chaff with unquenchable fire—very close verbal correspondence to Matthew 3:12.
- Matthew 13:30 (verbal): Parable of the weeds: the reapers are told to gather the wheat first and then burn the weeds—same harvest/separation and burning imagery and wording (gather… burn).
- Matthew 13:40-42 (thematic): Explanation of the weeds parable: the Son of Man will send angels to gather evildoers and throw them into the furnace of fire—echoes the eschatological separation and judgment by fire found in Matt 3:12.
- Malachi 4:1 (allusion): OT prophetic background: the coming day described as burning like an oven that will leave the arrogant as stubble—provides Israelite imagery of a fiery day of judgment underlying Matt 3:12's fire-judgment motif.
- Revelation 20:14-15 (thematic): Eschatological consummation where death and Hades are thrown into the lake of fire and those not found in the book of life are cast into the lake—parallels the final, unquenchable fiery judgment and sorting implied in Matt 3:12.
Alternative generated candidates
- His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor; he will gather his wheat into the barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
- His winnowing fork is in his hand; he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.
In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea. And he said, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has drawn near."
For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah: 'A voice cries out in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.' Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
Then people went out to him from Jerusalem, from all Judea, and from the whole region along the Jordan. And they were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. 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 coming wrath?"
Therefore bear fruit worthy of repentance. 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.
Even now the axe lies at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
I baptize you with water for repentance, but the one who comes after me is mightier than I—whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.