19 Now this is the
testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask
him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am
not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to
him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you
say about yourself?” 23 He said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord,” ’ as the
prophet Isaiah said.” 24 Now those who were
sent were from the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize
if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered
them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do
not know. 27 It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me,
whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.” 28 These things were
done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Commentary
Vs. 19-20 19 Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”
Thus, begins the testimony of John the Baptist (the forerunner of Jesus Christ, raised up and sent by God, see Luke 1:5-80). For to John is was ordained and given by God to prepare the Way for the coming of the Lord. Now when John did so (according to the Word of the Lord) it created quite a stir amongst the Jews, as to what this all meant. Therefore, they sent to him priests and Levites (their religious authorities) from Jerusalem asking him if he himself was the Christ, that is the Promised Messiah, who was to save the nation, and not just that nation, but every individual and nation who believes in Him. Now when they asked John if he was the Christ, he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” For John was sent by God to prepare people for Christ’s Manifestation too and through the nation of Israel. Therefore, he did not deny that he was not the Christ. For many have come and will come claiming to be Christ, but His true messengers never have and never will!
Vs. 21-23 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord,” ’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
Having confessed that he is not the Christ, they now ask John if is he Elijah; for the Scripture tells that Elijah will come before the Christ (Malachi 4:5-6). Now though John was not Elijah, he was fulfilling that prophecy about Elijah, for God sent him in the spirit and power of Elijah, so that he might fulfill not only that prophecy (see Matt. 11:7-15), but also the Scripture in Isaiah which foretold of Christ’s forerunner, and so John says of himself, “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord,” as the prophet Isaiah said.” Thus, Johns’ message to the Pharisees and all the religious leaders in Israel was to make straight the way of the Lord, thus don’t make it crooked or hard to know and follow by your useless doctrines and commandments of men! Now as to their inquiry of John as to whether he was the Prophet, harkens back to the days of Moses when God pronounced that He would raise up a Prophet like him, who would again teach and lead His people, this Prophet though would be unique (from Moses and all others) in that not only would He teach the Words of God, but He would have the Authority of God (see Deut. 18:15-22). Therefore, John did not say that he was the Prophet, for only One has the Authority of God as the Prophet, and that is the Son of God Himself! Who will teach, lead, and rule Israel as it’s Prophet, Priest, and King. Therefore, take heed every one of you who teaches and leads through the Word of God, and “Make straight the way of the Lord,”’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
Vs. 24-28 24 Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. 27 It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.” 28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Now it was the Pharisees who were so firmly questioning John about himself (vs. 24). And when John confessed to them that he was not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet, they asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” vs. 25 Johns answer then to them was not to explain that he was baptizing people in preparation for the Coming of the Lord, but rather to warn them that he only baptizes people with water (as a symbolic gesture of their repentance and thus their been washed of their sins). For as John says there is One now among them whom they do not know; which is a clear indictment against them; who is coming after him, who is preferred to him, whose sandal strap he himself isn’t even worthy to loose, who as we read in the synoptic Gospels (that is the other three Gospels) will baptize all people with either the Holy Spirit or with fire! (see Luke 3:15-18) Now these things were said and done by John in Bethabara beyond the Jordan where John was baptizing.
Scripture Quotations
Commentary
Vs. 19-20 19 Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”
Thus, begins the testimony of John the Baptist (the forerunner of Jesus Christ, raised up and sent by God, see Luke 1:5-80). For to John is was ordained and given by God to prepare the Way for the coming of the Lord. Now when John did so (according to the Word of the Lord) it created quite a stir amongst the Jews, as to what this all meant. Therefore, they sent to him priests and Levites (their religious authorities) from Jerusalem asking him if he himself was the Christ, that is the Promised Messiah, who was to save the nation, and not just that nation, but every individual and nation who believes in Him. Now when they asked John if he was the Christ, he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” For John was sent by God to prepare people for Christ’s Manifestation too and through the nation of Israel. Therefore, he did not deny that he was not the Christ. For many have come and will come claiming to be Christ, but His true messengers never have and never will!
Vs. 21-23 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said: “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord,” ’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
Having confessed that he is not the Christ, they now ask John if is he Elijah; for the Scripture tells that Elijah will come before the Christ (Malachi 4:5-6). Now though John was not Elijah, he was fulfilling that prophecy about Elijah, for God sent him in the spirit and power of Elijah, so that he might fulfill not only that prophecy (see Matt. 11:7-15), but also the Scripture in Isaiah which foretold of Christ’s forerunner, and so John says of himself, “I am ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord,” as the prophet Isaiah said.” Thus, Johns’ message to the Pharisees and all the religious leaders in Israel was to make straight the way of the Lord, thus don’t make it crooked or hard to know and follow by your useless doctrines and commandments of men! Now as to their inquiry of John as to whether he was the Prophet, harkens back to the days of Moses when God pronounced that He would raise up a Prophet like him, who would again teach and lead His people, this Prophet though would be unique (from Moses and all others) in that not only would He teach the Words of God, but He would have the Authority of God (see Deut. 18:15-22). Therefore, John did not say that he was the Prophet, for only One has the Authority of God as the Prophet, and that is the Son of God Himself! Who will teach, lead, and rule Israel as it’s Prophet, Priest, and King. Therefore, take heed every one of you who teaches and leads through the Word of God, and “Make straight the way of the Lord,”’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
Vs. 24-28 24 Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. 27 It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.” 28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Now it was the Pharisees who were so firmly questioning John about himself (vs. 24). And when John confessed to them that he was not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet, they asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” vs. 25 Johns answer then to them was not to explain that he was baptizing people in preparation for the Coming of the Lord, but rather to warn them that he only baptizes people with water (as a symbolic gesture of their repentance and thus their been washed of their sins). For as John says there is One now among them whom they do not know; which is a clear indictment against them; who is coming after him, who is preferred to him, whose sandal strap he himself isn’t even worthy to loose, who as we read in the synoptic Gospels (that is the other three Gospels) will baptize all people with either the Holy Spirit or with fire! (see Luke 3:15-18) Now these things were said and done by John in Bethabara beyond the Jordan where John was baptizing.
Scripture Quotations
New King James Version (1982): Thomas Nelson.
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