MATTHEW CHAPTER THREE
INTRODUCTION TO THIS STUDY

The purpose of this study work is to give you the original Greek language words and definitions for all the key words in this selected Bible text. This work does not make any effort to interpret the text in question, though some interpretation may occur naturally as a result of the study. The English translation used is the King James (Authorized) Version, not because it is the best translation available, but because I just plain prefer it for study!

All Scripture text will be presented in normal cased lettering, and all notes within the text will be in TRUE TYPE FONT, as shown. This (I hope) will allow you to avoid confusion between God's Word and my notes. As I update this website, I will continue to embellish the text so that anyone using NETSCAPE or MSIE 3.0 or higher will be able to read the document easier. Greek tenses are abbreviated as follows:

• GREEK TENSES:
• PR= Present Tense: Shows action in present time. When used with Active Voice, and Indicative Mood, often shows linear or continuing action.
• AO= Aorist Tense : Simple, undefined action. The time of the action is undefined, except in the indicative mood.
• FUT= Future Tense : Shows action of the verb as defined in the future.
• PER= Perfect Tense: The action was completed in the past, but has lasting and continuing results into the future.
• IMP= Imperfect Tense: Used only in the indicative mood, and refers to continuous or linear action in past time. As in "I was having".
• PLPF= Pluperfect Tense: The action was completed in the past, with continuing results in the past.
• GREEK CASES:
• GEN= Genitive Case: Usually indicates possession, though it can denote source of the action.
• INST = Instrumental Case: Usually denotes action on the object of the verb.
• DAT= Dative Case
• NOM= Nominative Case
• ACC= Accusative
• PL= Plural
• SG= Singular
• GREEK VOICES:
• AC= Active Voice: Action was completed by the subject of the verb.
• PAS= Passive Voice: The subject receives the action of the verb.
• MID= Middle Voice: The subject acts in some way upon itself or to itself.
• GREEK MOODS:
• IND= Indicative Mood : Makes an assertion of fact, and is used with all Greek tenses. Example: they will go, she saw.
• OPT= Optative Mood: Rarely used, it usually expresses a wish or desire.
• IMP= Imperative Mood: A command to do something.
• SUBJ= Subjective Mood: Makes an assertion about which there is some doubt, uncertainty, or indefiniteness.
• OTHER ABBREVIATIONS:
• PART= Participle : A verbal adjective, such as "having gone, receiving the gift".
• ABL= Ablative of source: When something is out of something. Example, The Spirit out of God.
• INF= Infinitive: A verbal noun, examples = to see, to go, to throw.

Matthew 3:1

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching (KERUSSO, Pres Act Part = kept on preaching. John preached Christ as related to the Levitical offerings {Jo 1.29}, His personality as related to Christ's {Jo 3.30}, about repentance {Mat 3.2}, and that salvation was by believing in Christ {Ac 19.4})

in the wilderness (EREEMOS = desert. The desert of Judea was harsh and rugged, but people followed John because of his Godly message. Preachers who preach Biblical truth attract believers)

of Judaea,
 

Translator's Notes: John The Baptist John was descended from Aaron, the original High Priest, so he was a true Priest of God. His father was a Priest from the line of Abijah (1 Chronicles 24.10; Luke 1.5). John was also a Nazarite, a religious order that sacrificed all things for God. They forsake women, rich food, and alcohol, and abstained from shaving or cutting their hair. Samson was also a Nazarite. (Numbers 6; Judges 13.5)

Matthew 3:2

And saying, (LEGO, Pr Ac Part = kept on saying)

Repent (There are two Greek works usually translated "Repent": METANOEO, meaning "a change of mind", and METAMELOMAI, meaning "to feel sorry for something you did". John used METANOEO here. This word is also used in the Septuagint, the Greek Translation of the Old Testament, in Gen 6.6; Exo 32.14; Judg 2.18; 1 Sam 15.35; Jer 15.6; Amos 7.3, 6; Heb 7.21; and in the New Testament at Lu 13.3-5; 15.7-10; 16.30-31; Ac 17.30-31; 20.21; Ro 2.4; 2 Pe 3.9. John uses the word in the Present Active Imperative, meaning "Change your mind once and for all")

ye: for the kingdom of heaven (Used 32 times in Matthew)

is at hand.

Matthew 3:3

For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying (BOAD = proclaiming dogmatically)

in the wilderness, Prepare (HETOIMAZO, Ao Ac Imper = make ready once and for all)

ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. (UTHUS, Pr Ac Imper = make upright or correct)Isaiah 40.3

Matthew 3:4

And the same John had (EICHEN, Imper Ac Imper = kept on having)

his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

Matthew 3:5

Then went out (EKPORUOMAI, Imper = kept on going out {to John})

to him (PROS + Accus = face to face with him)

Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

Matthew 3:6

And were baptized of (HUPO = by, under the authority of)

him in Jordan, confessing (EXOMOLOGEOMAI, Pres Mid Part = continually confessing)

their sins.

Matthew 3:7

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Saducees (Pharisees expounded traditional religion, Saducees were religious rationalists. They are comparable with conservatives and liberals in our age)

come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (ERKOMAI, Pres Act Part = keeps on coming)

Matthew 3:8

Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

Matthew 3:9

And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones (See Translator's Notes, following) to raise up children unto Abraham.
 

Translator's Notes: The Stones Joshua 4: 5-9 "And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel: That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever. And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the LORD spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there. And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day." Joshua used stones to teach Israel at Gilgal. Israel took one set of stones and set them on dry land, symbolic of Christ's resurrection and our union with Him. They took twelve stones and set them in water, symbolizing our death on the Cross with Christ. Altogether these stones symbolized the graveyard of God. When John pointed to these same stones he reminded the religious hypocrites that they needed to be born again.

Matthew 3:10

And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: (refers to the religious crowd in Jerusalem)

therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Matthew 3:11

I indeed baptize (BAPTIZO, Pres Ac Ind = have been immersing you)

you with water unto (EIS, causual use = because of. Also found in Acts 2.38)

repentance: but he that cometh after me is (EIMI, Pres Linear = keeps on being)

mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, (PNEUMA, Instrumental = by means of the Spirit)

and (KAI, ascensive use = even)

with fire:

Matthew 3:12

Whose fan (PTUON = a grain shovel used to toss wheat into the air. Tares or chaff is lighter, so it blows away, while the wheat drops to the floor)

is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, (HALONA = threshing floor. Refers to the earth, which Jesus will purify during His Millennial reign)

and gather his wheat into the garner; (APOTHEKEN = barn, a storehouse for wheat. Believers will be kept on the earth during the Millennium)

but he will burn up (KATAKAIO = controlled burning)

the chaff with unquenchable (ASBESTOS = never stopping to burn, unstoppable, exhaustive, unquenchable)

fire.

Matthew 3:13

Then cometh (PARAGINOMAI, dramatic pres = comes!)

Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

Matthew 3:14

But John forbad (DIAKULUO, Imper Ac Ind = kept on repeatedly refusing)

him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

Matthew 3:15

And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: (APHIEEMI, Aor Ac Imper = permit it now!)

for thus it becometh (PREPI = it is proper)

us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

Matthew 3:16

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway (ANEBE = to rise straight up from)

out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, (The Holy Spirit, like a dove, will only land on something clean. Christ was clean of all sin)

and lighting upon him:

Matthew 3:17

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is (EIMI, Pres Linear = keeps on being)

my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

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