2 During the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. 5 Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth.6 And all people will see God’s salvation.’” 7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” 10 “What should we do then?” the crowd asked. 11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” 12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” 13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. 14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.” (Luke 3:2-14)
Here we see that God’s word came to John the Baptist in the wilderness. He went to the area around the Jordan River and preached the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. That is, if people repent and are baptized, their sins will be forgiven by God.
The voice of one crying out, “In the wilderness prepare the way for God! Make straight in the desert a highway for our God!” (Isaiah 40:3)
This is a prophecy about John the Baptist in the book of Isaiah of the Old Testament. He would prepare the way for God in the wilderness and make straight in the desert a highway for God. He was the forerunner of the Lord Jesus, preparing the way for His coming.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?(Matthew 3:7)
This parallel passage in Matthew, John the Baptist addressed with harsh words to many Pharisees and Sadducees. Later in the Bible, we knew that these people fiercely opposed the Lord Jesus, even sought to kill Him and ultimately crucified Him.
John also told them to bear fruit consistent with repentance. Repentance in the original Greek means a change of mind, a fundamental change of mind, a fundamental change of mind that leads to a change of behavior. John told them to bear fruit consistent with repentance. When the crowd asked him what they should do, John told them what they should do to repent.
I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 1:8)
John the Baptist baptized people with water, but the Lord Jesus baptized them with the Holy Spirit. This means that they receive the Holy Spirit at baptism, and after baptism, the Holy Spirit come to dwell in them. May God bless you and your family!
