PART V THE BEGINNING OF THE BAPTIST'S MINISTRY
Reading edition
Probably six months and in A.D. 25. In the Wilderness of Judea and beside the Jordan, §§ 20-23
§ 20. THE TIME OF THE BEGINNING
Mark 1:1 Luke 3:1-2
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, 1the Son God. 1 Now in the fifteenth ayear of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituræa and Trachonitis, and Lysaniasb tetrarch of Abilene, 2 in the highpriesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
1 Some ancient authorities omit the son of God.
a See note 6 at end of Harmony.
b See note 6. Luke follows the custom of ancient historians in dating events by the names of the rulers. As the son of a priest John was probably thirty years old when he came forth.
§ 21. THE MESSAGE AND THE MESSENGER
Mark 1:2-6 Matt. 3:1-6 Luke 3:3-6
2 Even as it is written 1in Isaiah the prophet, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face [see Mal. 3:1], Who shall prepare thy way; 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness [see Isa. 40:3], Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight; 4 John came, who baptized in the wilderness and preached the baptism of repentance unto remission of sins. 5 And there went out unto him all the country of Judea, and all they of Jerusalem; and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 And John was clothed with camel's hair, and had a leathern girdle about his loins, and did eat locusts and wild honey. 1 And in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,a 2 Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3 For this is he that was spoken of 2by Isaiah the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight. 4 Now John himself had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then went out unto him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan; 6 and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 3 And he came into all the region round about Jordan, preach- ing the baptism of repentance unto re- mission of sins; 4 as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, And every moun- tain and hill shall be brought low; And the crooked shall become straight, And the rough ways smooth; 6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God [see Isa. 40:4-5].
1 Some ancient authorities read in the prophets.
2 Or, through.
a See Mark 1:15 (= Matt. 4:17); Matt. 10:7; Acts 2:38.
§ 22. A SPECIMENa OF JOHN'S PREACHING
Matt. 3:7-10 Luke 3:7-14
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said unto them, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of 1repentance: 9 and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 10 And even now is the axe laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 7 He said therefore to the multitudes that went out to be baptized of him, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of 1repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 9 And even now is the axe also laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 10 And the multitudes asked him, saying, What then must we do? 11 And he answered and said unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath food, let him do likewise. 12 And there came also 2publicans to be baptized, and they said unto him, 3Master, what must we do? 13 And he said unto them, Extort no more than that which is appointed you. 14 And 4soldiers also asked him, saying, And we, what must we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither 5exact anything wrongfully; and be content with your wages.
1 Or, your repentance.
2 That is, collectors or renters of Roman taxes.
3 Or, Teacher.
4 Gr. soldiers on service.
5 Or, accuse any one.
a Here we see Matthew and Luke preserving a non-Markan section, as so frequently hereafter, an example of the so-called Logia (Discourses).
§ 23. THE FORERUNNER'S PICTURE OF THE MESSIAH BEFORE SEEING HIM
Mark 1:7-8 Matt. 3:11-12 Luke 3:15-18
7 And he preached, saying, There cometh after me he that is mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not 2worthy to stoop down and unloose. 8 I baptized you 1with water; but he shall baptize you 1with the 3Holy Ghost. 11 I indeed baptize you 1with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not 2worthy to bear: he shall baptize you 1with the 3Holy Ghost and with fire: 12 whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly cleanse his threshing- floor; and he will gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire. 15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether haply he were the Christ; 16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but there cometh he that is mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not 2worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you 1with the 3Holy Ghost and with fire: 17 whose fan is in his hand, throughly to cleanse his threshing-floor, and to gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire. 18 With many other exhortations therefore preached he 4good tidings unto the people.a
1 Or, in.
2 Gr. sufficient.
3 Or, Holy Spirit.
4 Or, the gospel.
a One can easily put together all that we are told of John the Baptist in John 1:6-15 and in Sections 4, 6, 8, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 33, 34, 49, 57, 71, 86, 132. See also Acts 1:5, 22; 10:37; 13:24; 18:25; 19:1-7. For a full discussion of the Baptist see my John the Loyal. These months of John's ministry prepared the way for the Messiah.