What is the meaning of Matthew 3:6? Confessing their sins When the crowds came to John, the first thing they did was admit their guilt before God. This was more than a casual acknowledgment; it was an open, personal owning of wrongdoing. Psalm 32:5 models the heart behind it: “Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity.” Confession showed true repentance, echoing 1 John 1:9, where God promises, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Their words matched an inner turning, preparing them to receive the coming Messiah (Isaiah 40:3). they were baptized John’s baptism was an outward sign of that inward repentance. It symbolized cleansing and a decisive break with the old life, similar to how Israel once crossed the Red Sea, leaving Egypt behind (1 Corinthians 10:1-2). Acts 2:38 shows the same pattern—repentance paired with baptism—carrying forward into the church age. Baptism doesn’t save by itself (Ephesians 2:8-9), but it openly identifies the repentant with God’s redemptive work. by him John was the God-appointed forerunner (Malachi 3:1), commissioned to “prepare the way for the Lord” (Matthew 3:3). Being baptized “by him” meant submitting to the message God had entrusted to John. Obedience to God-sent messengers often precedes deeper revelation; compare Cornelius listening to Peter in Acts 10. Accepting John’s ministry positioned the people to recognize and receive Jesus when He appeared (John 1:29-31). in the Jordan River The Jordan held rich covenant history: it was where Israel entered the Promised Land (Joshua 3-4) and where Elijah and Elisha crossed before Elijah’s ascent (2 Kings 2:8-14). By returning to this river, God called His people to re-enter covenant faithfulness. The setting underscored a fresh start, anticipating Jesus’ own baptism there (Matthew 3:13-17), where the Father publicly affirmed His Son. summary Matthew 3:6 shows repentance in action: honest confession, public baptism, submission to God’s messenger, and a setting that evokes covenant renewal. Together these elements call every generation to turn from sin and embrace the Savior who fulfills all righteousness. |
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