Matthew 3:1-3 - Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near

3:1,2

All the gospels begin their accounts of the ministry of Jesus with the ministry of John the Baptist. John was in some ways an odd fellow, living out in the wilderness. This was at least partly because he was a fulfillment of prophecy. His message was “Repent for the kingdom of heaven has come near”. Throughout the Bible the gateway to new life, to salvation, has always been repentance. This was true in the Old Testament, and it is equally true in the New Testament. Sadly, repentance is often a matter that is neglected by the church. We are very foolish when we do this, for repentance is good news! If someone is heading down a road that leads to destruction (which is what the human race is doing), then for that person to change direction and head towards God, a road that leads to life, is the best possible thing they could do.

3:3

Matthew then quotes from Isaiah 40:3. John was calling in the wilderness in various ways. He was physically in the wilderness. His voice went against the grain of society. The nation was a spiritual desert. These latter two features very much apply to us today. We need to recognise that the word of God goes against the grain of society, for mankind is in rebellion against God. When the church thinks it needs to go with the grain of society it is acting in a very foolish way, and in a way that is in rebellion against God.