12: The picture here is of one purging the wheat to remove the straw. Though Jesus is able to do this with all of the world, and he will, this is speaking more specifically of the Jewish nation. This is appropriate, since John’s ministry was concerned solely with the Jews. It served as further warning to the unrepentant.

Personal Journal Entry #12114
Prayer Journal Entry #12114
Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 22:1-2 Kings 2:25
Praise Journal Entry #12074: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your mercy. You constantly warn those who are unrepentant. No one will ever stand before You and say that their judgement is unfair. it would be impossible. You give us the chances to repent that we need. You are so just and good! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

11: John baptized as a an outward symbol of a person’s genuine repentance. But, Jesus, the Messiah, brought to us the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is important not to get confused here. There are four different baptisms to get straight. First, there is John’s baptism, which was only to prepare people for Christ. It was temporary and is not in operation today. Second is Spirit baptism. The baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs at the moment of salvation. This seals the child of God. Once he resides in us, we cannot lose this baptism. Third, we have what is normally thought of as baptism, baptism by immersion in water. Jesus commanded that Christians be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. This is a picture of what has happened in the life of the child of God at the moment of salvation. It is not salvation, but it is mandatory. One who claims to be saved, and yet refuses to be baptized, is disobedient, and his faith is suspect. The fourth baptism is that which Jesus will do by fire. This is a reference to the preceding verse. The baptism by fire was John’s way of referring to the impending judgement of the religious leaders (and any else who were non-repentant) by the Messiah.

Personal Journal Entry #12113
Prayer Journal Entry #12113
Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 20:1-21:29
Praise Journal Entry #12073: Heavenly Father, thank You for all that You mean to us. The things that You have provided for us are so wonderful. And, even though sin is in this world, You have made a beautiful plan of salvation to remedy that. Your glory is great. I am overwhelmed when I think of all that You have done just for me, let alone all the world throughout history. You are so kind and loving to us! How can we ever thank You enough? Give me a heart to express Your praises as I should. May our song constantly be Your glory and honor. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

10: This verse, taken in context, is not teaching salvation by works. As John had already said, repentance is the key. However, true repentance will not be forthcoming in the life of one who does not bring forth good works. The works follow the repentance. So, if repentance is not forthcoming, there would be no works to examine. In other words, though good works will be judged to determine rewards, without some good works as a result of true repentance, no works will be considered. The old concept of one’s good works then outweighing one’s bad works is completely false. A change of heart in faith towards the gospel brings salvation and ‘outweighs’ the bad works. Good works after that are simply evidence of the reality of repentance and faith, and will be judged to determine rewards.

Personal Journal Entry #12112
Prayer Journal Entry #12112
Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 18:1-19:21
Praise Journal Entry #12072: Heavenly Father, thank You for not following man’s ideas, but Your ways. Your plans are so much better. If You judged only on the basis of our works, we would be in a sad case indeed. Thank You for salvation! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

8: John asked for a repentance evidenced by works. He knew well that these were expert at a pretended piety. He was warning them not to think that this was yet another feather for their cap. He would not baptize them unless their repentance was genuine. Those whom he baptized could make specific statements concerning the sins they had committed. The Pharisees and Sadducees would never do so.

7: In some cases, shocking statements may be needed to jolt certain religious persons into a realization of their need for repentance.

Personal Journal Entry #12110
Prayer Journal Entry #12110
Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 12:1-14:31
Praise Journal Entry #12070: Heavenly Father, thank You for another day to serve You. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

6: John’s baptism was to show true repentance. He would not administer it to those who would not truly repent of their sins. Those who partook were voluntarily saying that they were unworthy of the coming Messiah. They were confessing their ill-preparedness due to sin in their lives. They were confessing a change of attitude toward their sin, which they would now endeavor to amend to be more worthy of the coming Messiah.

Personal Journal Entry #12109
Prayer Journal Entry #12109
Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 10:1-11:43
Praise Journal Entry #12069: Heavenly Father, thank You for the peace that we can have with You. Thank You for the hope we have in Christ. Thank You for Your love, and You gift of life. Thank You for giving us joy in our lives. Your grace is truly amazing. By faith alone You give us great blessings. Thank You for Your Son, Jesus. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

4: John was clothed very similarly to Elijah. His clothing and living in the wilderness upon the fare of the wild both parallel the ministry of Elijah. It is best to understand locusts as literally being locusts, several types of which might be eaten even by one keeping the law of Moses.
5: John was exactly the kind of prophet that the Jews expected. Many of them were quick to go out and see him.

Personal Journal Entry #12108
Prayer Journal Entry #12108
Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 8:1-9:28
Praise Journal Entry #12068: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your mercy in spite of our failures. Your order for our lives is such a blessing to us, and yet we resist it so often. Father, may we always embrace Your will, walk in Your way, and learn Your plan. You truly know what is best for us. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.

3: John stands at the end of the old testament and the beginning of the new. He shows the reality of the old prophecies, and yet the advent of a new reality. Christ is come, and repentance is commanded. The hope has come to fruition and it is high time to make the most of it. His message could not be safely ignored. It was filled with things that the Jews had wanted to hear for years; but, also, things they had never thought they would hear again.

Personal Journal Entry #12107
Prayer Journal Entry #12107
Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 6:1-7:51
Praise Journal Entry #12067: Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your wonderful kindnesses. You give us life and peace although we often take these for granted. We think it only natural to be at peace and be in health. And yet, these are amazing blessings from Your hand. Help me to be more mindful of Your kindness in allowing me to live, and to have peace in my life. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

2: Repentance is the only proper response to the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom coming refers specifically to the coming of the Messiah. The Jews at that time did not expect to have to repent in order to enter into the Messiah’s kingdom. As Jesus later explained, the kingdom of heaven would grow from a small group to something very large. Those who repent, changing their minds about their sin, are prepared to enter into it.

Personal Journal Entry #120106
Prayer Journal Entry #12106
Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 3:1-5:18
Praise Journal Entry #12066: Heavenly Father, thank You for being changeless. So much in this world changes and is uncertain. But You are always the same. What a comfort that is! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

1: John the baptizer is the great forerunner of Christ. He lived his entire life for the purpose of preparing men for the Lord. Much can be learned from his example.

Personal Journal Entry #12105
Prayer Journal Entry #12105
Daily Bible Reading: 1 Kings 1:1-2:46
Praise Journal Entry #12065: Heavenly Father, may we be busied with the gospel at all times. You are glorified by the gospel being spread to the ends of the earth. Help us to make it the ever-important goal of our lives. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.