Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 3

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

His was a preparatory ministry; his work was to prepare people's minds for Christ; and never is the human heart so ready to receive Christ as when it is in a state of repentance. When it is weary of sin, it is then that Christ comes in, and is welcomed by the soul conscious of its guilt, tired of it, and longing to be rid of it.

For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his path straight. And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

Everything about him was impressive, and everything was suitable for the message he had to deliver. He was so dressed as to be noticed at once as a man of ascetic habit. He was not the chaplain of a prince—else he would have been clothed in soft clothing. Nor was he one who had a gentle message to deliver—else he would not have gone into the wilderness and summoned the people to leave their occupations to listen to him.

He was the rough pioneer to prepare the way for the King.

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

There is no entering the kingdom of heaven without leaving the kingdom of darkness. We must repent of sin, or we cannot receive the blessings of salvation. Repentance is required of every person, whoever they may be, whether outwardly moral or openly wicked.

It is the door of hope; there is no other way into the kingdom: Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

Everything connected with John the Baptist was in harmony with his message. He was the preacher of repentance, so the place where he preached was most suitable; it was in the wilderness, where there was nothing to distract his hearers' attention, as there would have been in crowded cities. His dress was striking, and everything about him, even down to the food that he ate, went to show that he was the rough pioneer preacher preparing the way for his master. John did not teach the fullness of joy and peace; that was left for our Lord Jesus to proclaim; but John came to prepare the way of the Lord by preaching repentance.

While Jesus still remained at Nazareth, His relative, the Baptist, made his appearance. The morning star is seen before the sun. John did not come to the court, but to lone wildernesses, places left to sheep and a handful of rural folk.

The mission of Christ Jesus is to the moral wastes and to the desolate places of the earth. To them the Lord's forerunner makes his way, and there he fittingly preaches the command, "Repent ye." Give up your thorns and briars, O you wildernesses, for your Lord is coming to you!

See how John announces the coming kingdom, how he instructs men to prepare for it, and how he urges them to be prompt in their preparation, "For the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Let me be ready for my Lord's coming and put away all that would grieve His Holy Spirit!