Matthew 3 | Daily Bible Reading & Reflection

Matthew 3 Devotional: Join John the Baptist in the wilderness as he prepares the way for the Messiah. Experience the baptism of Jesus and the divine revelation of the Trinity as the Father declares His love for the Son.

Dear brothers and sisters, peace in Christ. Welcome to Matthew Chapter 3. Today, the scene shifts from the quiet home in Nazareth to the rugged banks of the Jordan River. We hear the thunderous voice of John the Baptist calling for repentance, and we witness the humble arrival of the Savior. Let us prepare our hearts to "prepare the way for the Lord" in our own lives today.

Matthew Chapter 3 Introduction:

The Voice in the Wilderness and the Divine Approval

Matthew 3 introduces us to John the Baptist, the last of the great prophets, who lived a life of radical devotion to point others to Christ. His message was simple but piercing: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." When Jesus arrives to be baptized, John is hesitant, knowing he is unworthy, but Jesus insists on "fulfilling all righteousness." As He emerges from the water, the heavens are torn open in a spectacular display of God’s nature.

What can we learn from this today? In this chapter, we see the Trinity in perfect unity. As your Statement of Faith affirms, we believe in one true God who eternally exists in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Here, the Father speaks, the Son is baptized, and the Spirit descends. This moment confirms that Jesus is the Son of God, fully God and fully man, beginning His public ministry with the Father's blessing. It reminds us that our faith is not built on a philosophy, but on a Person who was affirmed by God Himself. Like the crowds at the Jordan, we are called to a baptism of repentance—turning away from our sins and turning toward the grace and salvation found in Christ alone.

Bible Verse

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

3 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”

4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

7 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? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 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.

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

The Baptism of Jesus

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Prayer

The Father’s voice declared, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." As we enter into prayer, let us rest in the fact that through faith in Jesus, we too are adopted as beloved children of God.

Prayer Theme: "The Star of Our Salvation"

Dear Heavenly Father, We praise You today for the clarity of Your Word and the revelation of Your Triune nature. We believe in You—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—coequal in power and glory. Thank You for the ministry of John the Baptist and for the perfect obedience of Jesus, who went into the waters of baptism to fulfill all righteousness on our behalf.

Lord, I ask that You would search my heart today. Help me to live a life of true repentance, bearing fruit that is consistent with my faith in You. Soften the "hard ground" of my heart so that Your Word can take deep root. I thank You for the Holy Spirit, who convicts us of sin and empowers us for godly living and service. May I live today in the joy of Your approval, not because of my own works, but because I am covered by the righteousness of Your Son.

We pray for our community, that many would hear the call to repent and find the forgiveness of sins that only You can provide. We lift up those who are preparing for baptism or taking their first steps in faith; may they feel the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. We pray for the universal Church, that we would be a voice in the wilderness of this world, faithfully proclaiming that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand and pointing everyone to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Amen.

Daily Application Question

John the Baptist called people to "produce fruit in keeping with repentance." Is there a specific habit, attitude, or "net" in your life that the Holy Spirit is asking you to turn away from today to better follow Jesus?

Frequently Asked Questions about Matthew 3

Why did Jesus need to be baptized if He was sinless? Jesus did not be baptized for the forgiveness of sins, but to "fulfill all righteousness." This means He was identifying with sinful humanity and officially beginning His public ministry as the Messiah.
What was the meaning of John the Baptist’s clothing and diet? His clothing of camel’s hair and his diet of locusts and honey identified him with the prophet Elijah, fulfilling the prophecy that a "messenger" would come before the Lord.
How does this chapter show the Trinity? This is one of the clearest moments in Scripture where all three persons of the Godhead are present: God the Son is in the water, God the Holy Spirit descends like a dove, and God the Father speaks from heaven.

Thank you for joining us for Matthew 3. May the love of the Father and the power of the Spirit be with you as you follow the Son today. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow for the testing in the wilderness in Matthew Chapter 4.

Navigate the Journey

Previous: ← Matthew Chapter 2 | Next: Matthew Chapter 4 →

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