Matthew 3:11-12 11“Whereas I baptize you with water for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is greater than I, and I am not worthy to remove his sandals. He himself will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear out his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.”
Matthew moves on to recount the other significant part of John’s message. John’s ministry was limited in time and scope, but someone greater was soon to come. First, John notes his position relative to the one who is coming. The most common foot wear of the time was simple sandals with straps to keep them on. As open footwear, the sandals would allow feet to get dirty. Those in high positions might have servants to untie and wash their feet. John was not even worthy to get down in the dirt and take off the sandals of the Messiah.
Second, John tells of the different type of baptism of the coming one. John baptized with water for repentance. Repentance is the initial step of salvation that brings forgiveness of past sins. The Messiah would come baptize with the Holy Spirit. This baptism would be a deeper cleansing of the heart and the removal of the problem of sin itself. Fire represents purity, power, and cleansing in the Bible. In Acts 1:8, Jesus promised his disciples that he would send the Holy Spirit to them. When the Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost, tongues like fire appeared on the heads of the gathered disciples, representing the fulfillment of what John prophesied here.
Third, the coming one will be the one to execute judgment. John gives a vivid image of the process of the heads of wheat into grain. The typical way this was done at that time was to use a shovel type tool to thresh the wheat, separating the grain from the chaff. The wheat would be gathered for food and the chaff would be burned. The image of unquenchable fire brings a sense of dread and fear. Verse 12 is a veiled warning to heed the words of the coming Messiah and put one’s trust in him. He brings both salvation and judgment.
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