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title: "Bullinger"
description: "In = And in. Greek.  en de. See App-104 .  In those days. Hebrew idiom for an indefinite time (Exodus 2:11 , Exodus 2:23 .Isaiah 38:1 , &c): while th"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/bullingers-companion-bible-notes/matthew/3"
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**In** = And in. Greek. *en de.* See App-104 .
**In those days.** Hebrew idiom for an indefinite time ([Exodus 2:11](../../../kjv/exodus/2/11) , [Exodus 2:23](../../../kjv/exodus/2/23) .[Isaiah 38:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/38/1) , &c): while the Lord, being grown up, was still dwelling in Nazareth. App-169 . Compare [Matthew 2:23](../../../kjv/matthew/2/23) .
**came.** Greek comes: i.e. presenteth himself.
**came John, &c.** Because "the word of God" had come to him ([Luke 3:2](../../../kjv/luke/3/2) ).
**John the Baptist** = John the baptizer.
**preaching** = proclaiming as a herald. App-121 .
**in.** Greek. *en.* App-104 .
**wilderness** = country parts, which were not without towns or villages. David passed much of his time there. So John, probably in some occupation also; John now thirty years old. He was the last and greatest of the prophets, and would have been reckoned as Elijah himself, or as an Elijah ([Matthew 11:14](../../../kjv/matthew/11/14) . Compare [Malachi 3:1](../../../kjv/malachi/3/1) ; [Malachi 4:5](../../../kjv/malachi/4/5) ) had the nation obeyed his proclamation.

**Repent.** Greek. *metanoeo.* See App-111 .
**the kingdom of heaven.** See App-114 .
**of.** Genitive of origin = from. App-17 .
**heaven** = the heavens (plural) See note on [Matthew 6:9](../../../kjv/matthew/6/9) , [Matthew 6:10](../../../kjv/matthew/6/10) .
**is at hand** = had drawn nigh. What draws nigh may withdraw. See [Matthew 21:43](../../../kjv/matthew/21/43) .[Acts 1:6](../../../kjv/acts/1/6) ; [Acts 3:20](../../../kjv/acts/3/20) .

**spoken.** As well as written.
**by.** Greek. *hupo.* App-104 ., but all the Greek texts read " *dia* ".
**Esaias** = Isaiah. The first of twenty-one occurrences of the name in N.T. See App-79 .
**The voice, &c.** Quoted from [Isaiah 40:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/40/3) . See note there. App-107 .
**the LORD** = Jehovah in [Isaiah 40:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/40/3) . See App-98 .

**had his raiment, &c.** Compare [2 Kings 1:8](../../../kjv/2-kings/1/8) .
**leathern girdle.** Worn to-day by peasants in Palestine.
**meat** = food.
**locusts.** Locusts form the food of the people today; and, being provided for in the Law, are

**to** = unto. Greek. *pros.* App-104 .
**Jerusalem . . . Judeea.** Put by Figure of speech *Metonymy* (of Subject), App-6 , for their inhabitants.
**all.** Put by Figure of speech *Synecdoche* (of Genus), for the greater part.
**all the region.** Put by Figure of speech *Synecdoche* (of the Whole), for the greater part of the country.

**were baptized** = were being baptized.
**baptized of.** See App-115 .
**of** = by. Greek. *hupo.* App-104 .

**Pharisees and Sadducees.** See App-120 .
**saw.** App-133 .
**come** = coming.
**baptism.** See App-115 .
**generation** = brood or offspring.
**vipers** = serpents. Not ordinary snakes, but venomous vipers.
**who . . . ?** Figure of speech *Erotesis* ( App-6 ), for emphasis.
**warned, &c.** = forewarned; or who hath suggested or given you the hint?
**from** = away from. Greek. *apo.* App-104 .
**the Wrath to come** . The reference is to Ma [Matthew 1:4](../../../kjv/matthew/1/4) , [Matthew 1:1](../../../kjv/matthew/1/1) . The coming of Messiah was always connected with judgment; which would have come to pass had the nation repented at the preaching of "them that heard Him" ([Hebrews 2:3](../../../kjv/hebrews/2/3) . Compare [Matthew 22:4](../../../kjv/matthew/22/4) ). The "times of refreshing", and "the restoration of all things" of [Acts 3:19-26](../../../kjv/acts/3/19-26) , would have followed. Hence 1Th 1:10 ; [1 Thessalonians 2:16](../../../kjv/1-thessalonians/2/16) ; [1 Thessalonians 5:9](../../../kjv/1-thessalonians/5/9) . See notes there; and compare [Matthew 10:23](../../../kjv/matthew/10/23) ; [Matthew 16:28](../../../kjv/matthew/16/28) ; [Matthew 24:34](../../../kjv/matthew/24/34) .[Luke 21:22](../../../kjv/luke/21/22) , [Luke 21:23](../../../kjv/luke/21/23) .[Acts 28:25](../../../kjv/acts/28/25) , [Acts 28:28](../../../kjv/acts/28/28) .
**to come** = about to come.

**meet for** = worthy of.

**think** = think not for a moment (Aorist). This is an idiom to be frequently met with in the Jerusalem Talmud = be not of that opinion.
**not.** Greek. *me* . App-105 .
**within** = among. Greek. *en* . App-104 .
**We have, &c.** Compare [John 8:39](../../../kjv/john/8/39) . [Romans 4:1-6](../../../kjv/romans/4/1-6) ; [Romans 9:7](../../../kjv/romans/9/7) . [Galatians 1:3](../../../kjv/galatians/1/3) , [Galatians 1:9](../../../kjv/galatians/1/9) .
**God.** App-98 .
**of** = out of. Greek. *ek.* App-104 .
**children.** Greek plural of *teknon.* App-108 .

**now** = already.
**also.** Omitted by all the texts ( App-94 .)
**is laid** = is lying at. The Jerusalem Talmud ( *Beracoth,* fo [Matthew 1:5](../../../kjv/matthew/1/5) , [Matthew 1:1](../../../kjv/matthew/1/1) ) refers [Isaiah 10:33](../../../kjv/isaiah/10/33) , [Isaiah 10:34](../../../kjv/isaiah/10/34) to the destruction of Jerusalem; and argues from [Isaiah 11:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/11/1) that Messiah would be born shortly before it
**unto** = at. Greek. *pros.* App-104 .
**is hewn down** = getteth hewn down.

**with.** Greek. *en.* The literal rendering of the Hebrew ( *Beth =* B). [Matthew 7:6](../../../kjv/matthew/7/6) ; [Matthew 9:34](../../../kjv/matthew/9/34) . Rom 15:6 . [1 Corinthians 4:21](../../../kjv/1-corinthians/4/21) , &c.
**shoes** = sandals.
**worthy** = fit or equal. Not the same word as "meet for" in [Matthew 3:8](../../../kjv/matthew/3/8) .
**bear** = bring or fetch. Mark: "stoop down and unloose". Luke: "unloose". Probably repeated often in different forms.
**He shall baptize.** "He" is emph. = He Himself will, and no other. See App-115 . See [Acts 1:4](../../../kjv/acts/1/4) , [Acts 1:5](../../../kjv/acts/1/5) ; [Acts 2:3](../../../kjv/acts/2/3) ; [Acts 11:15](../../../kjv/acts/11/15) .[Isaiah 44:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/44/3) . Compare [Ezekiel 36:26](../../../kjv/ezekiel/36/26) , [Ezekiel 36:27](../../../kjv/ezekiel/36/27) . [Joel 2:28](../../../kjv/joel/2/28) .
**baptize . . . with.** See App-115 .
**the Holy Ghost** *= pneuma hagion,* holy spirit, or "power from on high". No Articles. See App-101 .
**fire.** See [Acts 2:3](../../../kjv/acts/2/3) . Note the Figure of speech *Hendiadys* ( App-6 ) = with *pneuma hagion = yea,* with a burning (or purifying) spirit too, separating the chaff from the wheat ([Matthew 3:12](../../../kjv/matthew/3/12) ), not mingling them together in water. "Fire" in [Matthew 3:11](../../../kjv/matthew/3/11) . Mat 3:35 symbolic (see [Isaiah 4:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/4/3) . Ma [Matthew 1:3](../../../kjv/matthew/1/3) , [Matthew 1:1-4](../../../kjv/matthew/1/1-4) ; [Matthew 4:1](../../../kjv/matthew/4/1) . Compare [Psalms 1:4](../../../kjv/psalms/1/4) ; [Psalms 35:5](../../../kjv/psalms/35/5) .[Isaiah 17:13](../../../kjv/isaiah/17/13) ; [Isaiah 30:24](../../../kjv/isaiah/30/24) ; [Isaiah 41:16](../../../kjv/isaiah/41/16) . [Jeremiah 51:2](../../../kjv/jeremiah/51/2) .[Hosea 13:3](../../../kjv/hosea/13/3); [Hosea 13:3](../../../kjv/hosea/13/3) ). In [Matthew 3:12](../../../kjv/matthew/3/12) , the "fire" is literal; for destroying, not for purging. Note the seven emblems of the Spirit (or of *pneuma hagion)* in Scripture. "FIRE" ([Matthew 3:11](../../../kjv/matthew/3/11) .[Acts 2:3](../../../kjv/acts/2/3); [Acts 2:3](../../../kjv/acts/2/3) ); "WATER" ([Ezekiel 36:25](../../../kjv/ezekiel/36/25) .[John 3:5](../../../kjv/john/3/5) ; [John 7:38](../../../kjv/john/7/38) , [John 7:39](../../../kjv/john/7/39) ); "WIND" ([Ezekiel 37:1-10](../../../kjv/ezekiel/37/1-10) ); "OIL" ([Isaiah 61:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/61/1) .[Hebrews 1:9](../../../kjv/hebrews/1/9); [Hebrews 1:9](../../../kjv/hebrews/1/9) ); a "SEAL" ([Ephesians 1:13](../../../kjv/ephesians/1/13) ; [Ephesians 4:30](../../../kjv/ephesians/4/30) ); an "EARNEST" ([Ephesians 1:14](../../../kjv/ephesians/1/14) ); a "DOVE" ([Matthew 3:16](../../../kjv/matthew/3/16) ).

**fan** = winnowing shovel. God *fans* to get rid of the chaff; Satan *sifts* to get rid of the wheat ([Luke 22:31](../../../kjv/luke/22/31) ).
**thoroughly** = thoroughly.
**floor** = threshing-floor.
**gather** = gather together.
**burn up.** Greek. *katakaio* = burn down, or quite up.

**Jesus.** See App-98 .
**from** = away from. Greek. *apo.*
**Jordan** = the Jordan.

**forbad** = was hindering. Greek. *diakoluo.* Occurs only here.

**it to be so:** or, supply the Ellipsis by "[Me]". The Lord was now, and here, recognized by John ([John 1:31-34](../../../kjv/john/1/31-34) ).
**thus.** In fulfilling this duty.
**it becometh us.** This duty was incumbent on John as the minister of that Dispensation; likewise on the Lord: hence the word "thus". The reason is given in [John 1:31](../../../kjv/john/1/31) .
**all righteousness:** or every claim of righteous duty. This was the anointing of Messiah (see note on [Matthew 3:17](../../../kjv/matthew/3/17) ), and anointing was accompanied by washing or immersion ([Exodus 29:4-7](../../../kjv/exodus/29/4-7) ; [Exodus 40:12](../../../kjv/exodus/40/12) .[Leviticus 8:6](../../../kjv/leviticus/8/6); [Leviticus 8:6](../../../kjv/leviticus/8/6) ).

**out of** = away from. Greek. *apo.* App-104 .
**from.** Greek. *apo.*
**lo.** Figure of speech *Asterismos* ( App-6 ), for emphasis.
**He saw:** i.e. the Lord saw.
**the Spirit of God.** Note the Articles, and see App-101 .
**God.** See App-98 .
**like** = as if. Greek. *hosei = sis* it were (not *homoios =* resembling in form or appearance): referring to the descent, not to bodily form as in [Mark 1:10](../../../kjv/mark/1/10) . In [Luke 3:22](../../../kjv/luke/3/22) *hosei* may still be connected with the manner of descent, the bodily form referring to the Spirit.
**dove.** See note on "fire", [Matthew 3:11](../../../kjv/matthew/3/11) .
**lighting** = coming.
**upon.** Greek. *epi.* App-104 .

**a voice.** There were two voices: the first "Thou art", &c. ([Mark 1:11](../../../kjv/mark/1/11) .[Luke 3:22](../../../kjv/luke/3/22); [Luke 3:22](../../../kjv/luke/3/22) ), while the Spirit in bodily form was descending; the second (introduced by the word "lo"), "this is", &c, after it remained ("abode", [John 1:32](../../../kjv/john/1/32) ). This latter speaking is mentioned by John for the same reason as that given in [John 12:30](../../../kjv/john/12/30) . Only one voice at the Transfiguration.
**from** = out of. Greek. *ek.* App-104 .
**My beloved Son.** Not Joseph's or Mary's son = My Son, the beloved [Son]. See App-99 .
**in.** See note on "with", [Matthew 3:11](../../../kjv/matthew/3/11) .
**I am, well pleased** = I have found delight. Hebrew idiom, as in [2 Samuel 22:20](../../../kjv/2-samuel/22/20) . [Psalms 51:16](../../../kjv/psalms/51/16) . Compare [Isaiah 42:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/42/1) . Isa 12:18 . "This is My beloved Son" was the Divine formula of anointing Messiah for the office of Prophet ([Matthew 3:17](../../../kjv/matthew/3/17) ); also for that of Priest ([Matthew 17:5](../../../kjv/matthew/17/5) . See App-149 ); and "Thou art My Son" for that of King ([Psalms 2:7](../../../kjv/psalms/2/7) . [Acts 13:33](../../../kjv/acts/13/33) .[Hebrews 1:5](../../../kjv/hebrews/1/5) ; [Hebrews 5:5](../../../kjv/hebrews/5/5) ).

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