[Propertalk] Sermon points - Matthew 3:1-12 - Part 3

[Joe Parrish]

In Jesus' parable, the rich man is tormented in Hades (Luke 16:19-31). Likewise in his warnings to the unrepentant cities, Hades is not a place for all of the dead, but only for those who do evil (Luke 10:13-15; Matthew 11:20-24).

http://www.baylor.edu/christianethics/HeavenHellstudyguide4.pdf

Robert B. Kruschwitz, 2002
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A further theme in this passage is the presentation of John's humility, knowing there would be the One who comes after him whom he knows he is not even worthy of being the household servant of (the task of unlacing the sandals was left to the household slave). Notice, as well, the contrast between John's baptism and that of Jesus' in verse 11. So far as we know, Jesus never baptized anyone (see the clarification in John 4:1-2), though even his earliest disciples, perhaps especially those who had previously followed John, did. Jesus, according to John, would baptize people with the far more potent and life changing Holy Spirit. 

http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?lect_date=12/5/2010

Ben Witherington
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Let's all just admit it: nobody likes prophets. We pastors try to be reasonable about this by explaining that it's hard when someone shoves our bad choices in our faces - even though it's probably good for us. Sometimes, this is true. But let's be honest. We don't like prophets because they are jerks. They are horribly pessimistic. They have the remarkable ability to be simultaneously pompous and whiny, which is an ungodly level of annoying. And they are almost always RUDE. 

http://thehardestquestion.org/yeara/advent2gospel/

Danielle Shroyer, 2010
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How does John know what they're thinking? "Do not presume to say to yourselves . . ." He has an insight into their hearts and the fact that they are complying outwardly but inwardly their hearts are not repentant. He believes that their sense of entitlement has soured the core of their religion. He contrasts what they do (flee from the wrath to come, 3:7) with what they should do (bear fruit that befits repentance, 3:8). They are motivated by a fear of punishment rather than by a desire to turn toward God and love their neighbor. 

http://www.patheos.com/Resources/Additional-Resources/Fear-of-Punishment.html

Alyce McKenzie
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A winnowing fork is used to separate the wheat from the chaff. A winnowing shovel is what you use on wheat and chaff that have already been separated to clear the threshing floor, putting the wheat into the granary to be stored and the chaff into the fire to be destroyed. John says that the one coming after him will come with a shovel  to clear the threshing floor. That brings a different dimension to John's saying that the coming one will baptize with "the Holy Spirit and with fire": those who receive John's baptism get to be wheat, and will receive the Holy Spirit, while those who don't receive John's baptism, regardless of who their parents or children are, are chaff, and will be destroyed in fire. And the agent of this terrible judgment, John teaches in the gospels, is Jesus.

http://www.sarahlaughed.net/lectionary/2004/11/second_sunday_o.html

Sarah Dylan Breuer
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The rituals and rites of baptism must have their origins "somewhere," and "the somewhere" seems to be the Dead Scroll community of Qumran. >From this community, we have recovered the Dead Sea Scroll manuscripts and the stories about the Teacher of Light and other ancient Jewish manuscripts.  From the community, we also received the idea and practice of baptism. 
For the Qumran community and for John the Baptist, baptism was being washed and purified in water. In Qumran, the community practiced daily baptismal or washing rituals as symbolic of internal cleaning. 

http://www.sermonsfromseattle.com/series_b_john_the_baptistGA.htm

Edward F. Markquart
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With verse 7, Matthew switches from Mark to Q as his primary source.  Luke is word-for-word the same, except that, in Luke, John addresses "the multitudes," while in Matthew, John addresses the "Pharisees and Sadducees."  In Luke, John's "shape up" message is for everybody.  In Matthew, it's focused on the religious leadership.  

http://www.progressiveinvolvement.com/progressive_involvement/2010/11/lectionary-blogging-matthew-3-1-12.html

John Petty
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