2. And saying, Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3. 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. 4. 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. 5. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan, 6. And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
We have here an account of the preaching and baptism of John, which were the dawning of the gospel-day. Observe,
I. The time when he appeared. In those days, (v. 1. ) or, after those days, long after what was recorded in the foregoing chapter, which left the Child Jesus in his infancy. In those days, in the time appointed of the Father for the beginning of the gospel, when the fulness of time was come, which was often thus spoken of in the Old Testament, in those days. Now the last of Daniel's weeks began, or rather, the latter half of the last week, when the Messiah was to confirm the covenant with many, Dan. 9. 27. Christ's appearances are all in their season. Glorious things were spoken both of John and Jesus, at and before their births, which would have given occasion to expect some extraordinary appearances of a divine presence and power with them when they were very young ; but it is quite otherwise. Except Christ's disputing with the doctors at twelve years old, nothing appears remarkable concerning either of them, till they were about thirty years old. Nothing is recorded in their childhood and youth, but the greatest part of their life is tempus ἄδηλον—wrapt up in darkness and obscurity: these children differ little in outward appearance from other children, as the heir, while he is under age, differs nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all. And this was to shew, 1. That even then when God is acting as the God of Israel, the Saviour, verily he is a God that hideth himself, (Isa. 45. 15.) The Lord is in this place, and I know it not, Gen. 28. 16. Our beloved stands behind the wall long, before he looks forth at the windows, Cant. 2. 9. 2. That our faith must principally have an eye to Christ in his office and undertaking, for there is the display of his power; but in his person is the hiding of his power. All this while, Christ was God-man; yet we are not told what he said or did, till he appeared as a Prophet; and then, Hear ye him. 3. That young men, though well qualified, should not be forward to put forth themselves in public service, but be humble, and modest, and self- diffident, swift to hear, and slow to speak.
Matthew says nothing of the conception and birth of John the Baptist, which is largely related by St. Luke, but finds him at full age, as if dropt from the clouds to preach in the wilderness. For above three hundred years the church had been without prophets ; those lights had been long put out, that he might be the more desired, who was to be the great Prophet. After Malachi there was no prophet, nor any pretender to prophecy, till John the Baptist, to whom therefore the prophet Malachi points more directly, than any of the Old-Testament prophets had done; (Mai. 3. 1.) I send my messenger.
II. The place where he appeared first. In the wilderness of Judea. It was not an uninhabited desert, but a part of the country not so thickly peopled, nor so much inclosed into fields and vineyards, as other parts were; it was such a wilderness as had six cities and their villages in it, which are named, Josh. 15. 61, 62. In these cities and villages John preached, for thereabouts he had hitherto lived, being born hard by, in Hebron; the scenes of his action began there, where he had long spent his time in contemplation; and even when he shewed himself to Israel, he shewed how well he loved retirement, as far as would consist with his business. The word of the Lord found John here in a wilderness. Note, No place is so remote as to shut us out from the visits of divine grace; nay, commonly the sweetest intercourse the saints have with Heaven, is when they are withdrawn furthest from the noise of this world. It was in this wilderness of Judea that David penned the 63d Psalm, which speaks so much of the sweet communion he then had with God, Hos. 2. 14. In a wilderness the law was given; and as the Old Testament, so the New Testament, Israel was first found in a desert land, and there God led him about and instructed him, Deut 32. 10. John Baptist was a priest of the order of Aaron, yet we find him preaching in a wilderness, and never officiating in the temple; but Christ, who was not a Son of Aaron, is yet often found in the temple, and sitting there as one having authority; so it was foretold, Mal. 3. 1. The Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his temple; not the messenger that was to prepare his way. This intimated that the priesthood of Christ was to thrust out that of Aaron, and drive it into a wilderness.
The beginning of the gospel in a wilderness, speaks comfort to the deserts Of the Gentile world. Now must the prophecies be fulfilled, I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, Isa. 41. 18, 19. The wilderness shall be a fruitful field, Isa. 32. 15. And the desert shall rejoice, Isa. 35. 1, 2. The Septuagint reads, the desert of Jordan, the very wilderness in which John preached. In the Romish church there are those who call themselves hermits, and pretend to follow John; but when they say of Christ, Behold, he is in the desert, go not forth, ch. 24. 26. There was a seducer that led his followers into the wilderness, Acts 21. 38.
III. His preaching. This he made his business. He came, not fighting, nor disputing, but preaching; (v. 1.) for by the foolishness of preaching Christ's kingdom must be set up.
1. The doctrine he preached was that of repentance; (v. 2.) Repent ye. He preached this in Judea, among those that were called Jews, and made a profession of religion; for even they need repentance. He preached it, not in Jerusalem, but in the wilderness of Judea, among the plain country people; for even those who think themselves most out of the way of temptation, and furthest from the vanities and vices of the town, cannot wash their hands in innocency, but must do it in repentance. John Baptist's business was to call men to repent of their sins; Μετανοεῖτε—Bethink yourselves; "Admit a second thought, to correct the errors of the first—an after-thought, Consider your ways, change your minds; you have thought amiss; think again, and think aright." Note, True penitents have other thoughts of God and Christ, and sin and holiness, and this world and the other, than they have had, and stand otherwise affected toward them. The change of the mind produces a change of the way. Those who are truly sorry for what they have done amiss, will be careful to do so no more. This repentance is a necessary duty, in obedience to the command of God; (Acts 17. 30.) and a necessary preparative and qualification for the comforts of the gospel of Christ. If the heart of man had continued upright and unstained, divine consolations might have been received without this painful operation preceding; but, being sinful, it must be first pained
