Advent 2 – Mt 3:1-12- Key Questions

v11 What is meant by "He will baptize...and WITH FIRE"?

There does not seem to be another verse (apart from the parallel passage in Luke) which connects the idea of baptism with fire. Neither is there an apparent connection between the Holy Spirit and fire, elsewhere. What is meant by this statement by John? Scan through the verses in which the greek word fire appears, and one quickly finds that fire is connected many times with the idea of eternal damnation, and a burning up of something bad. Does that connection appear in this context? Yes, if we look at this passage, we fing John addressing the Pharisees and Sadducees with the words, "You brood of vipers. Who warned you of the coming wrath?" Wrath is connected with judgement - Rom 1:18, 13:4 as well as others. In this passage then, John is warning the Pharisees and Sadducees that fire and wrath are coming to destroy.

Introduction

1. Structural Diagram

2. Surrounding Context

3. Key Cross References

4. Key Questions

5. Thoughts and Meditation

the king of the hill