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Verse Takeaways
1
The Great Separation
John uses the image of a farmer separating valuable wheat from worthless chaff to describe the Messiah's work. Commentators explain that the "threshing floor" represents the visible community of God's people (first Israel, now the Church). Christ, through His teaching and ultimate judgment, will perfectly separate true believers from hypocrites and the unrepentant. This is a powerful warning against nominal faith.
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Book Overview
Matthew
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Commentaries
10
Albert Barnes
On Matthew 3:12
18th Century
Theologian
His fan. It seems probable that this was some portable instrument, made light, so that it might be easily carried about. The fan is a well…
AT Robertson
On Matthew 3:12
Will burn up with unquenchable fire (κατακαυσε πυρ ασβεστω). Note perfective use of κατα. The threshing floor, the fan, the wheat,…
Charles Spurgeon
On Matthew 3:11–12
19th Century
Preacher
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 …
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Expositor's Bible Commentary
On Matthew 3:12
Messiah’s coming will separate grain from chaff. A winnowing fork tossed both into the air. The wind blew the chaff away; the heavier grain fell, t…
John Calvin
On Matthew 3:12
16th Century
Theologian
Whose winnowing-fan is in his hand. In the former verse, John preached concerning the grace of Christ, so that the Jews might yield themse…
John Gill
On Matthew 3:12
17th Century
Pastor
Whose fan is in his hand
The Jews had their hand fans, and which were like a man's hand; their names were (
Matthew Henry
On Matthew 3:7–12
17th Century
Minister
Applying the message to the souls of the hearers is the life of preaching; and so it was with John's preaching. The Pharisees placed their main emp…
Thomas Aquinas
On Matthew 3:1–12
13th Century
Philosopher
The Evangelist wrote about Christ’s entrance into the world; now, however, he writes about the course of His life, which is, in fact, considered ac…