Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 3:11-12

"I indeed baptize you in water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and [in] fire: whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor; and he will gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire." — Matthew 3:11-12 (ASV)

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

See the humility of the true servant of Christ. He is not willing even to perform the task of a slave, and to carry his Master's shoes, or to untie their straps. And who among us is worthy to occupy even the lowest office for Christ? There is an honour about it that far transcends any worthiness of ours. To serve him at all is honour indeed.

But, brothers and sisters, fix your eyes upon Christ, and remember what a baptism it is into which he baptizes us—not with water, but into the Holy Spirit and into fire. Can we bear it? Can we endure the fire? It will only burn up that which should be burned; and happy is the one to whom God has imparted that eternal life which can never be consumed.