3
1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar [Ruler], Pontius Pilate [Armed with javelin] being governor of Judea [Praise], and Herod [Heroic] being tetrarch (one of four co-emperors) of Galilee [District, Circuit], and his brother Philip [Loves horses] tetrarch (one of four co-emperors) of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch (one of four co-emperors) of Abilene, 2 in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas [Rock that hollows itself out], ha D'var Elohim ·the Word of God· came to John [Yah is gracious], the son of Zacharias [Remembered by Yah], in the wilderness. 3 He came into all the region around the Jordan [Descender], preaching the mikvah ·ritual washing baptism· of teshuvah ·complete repentance· for remission of abstract sins ·miss the marks·. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah [Salvation of Yah] the prophet,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
‘Make ready the way of MarYah [Master Yahweh].
Make his paths straight.
5 Every valley will be filled.
Every mountain and hill will be brought low.
The crooked will become straight,
and the rough ways smooth.
6 Then all humanity will see God’s * method of deliverance.’ ”
7 He said therefore to the multitudes who went out to be immersed by him, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore produce fruits worthy of teshuvah ·complete repentance·, and don’t begin to say among yourselves, ‘We have Abraham [Father of a multitude] Avinu ·our Father·;’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham [Father of a multitude] from these stones! 9 Even now the ax also lies at the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not produce good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire.”
10 The multitudes asked him, “What then must we do?”
11 He answered them, “He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none. He who has food, let him do likewise.”
12 Tax collectors also came to be immersed, and they said to him, “Rabbi ·Teacher·, what must we do?”
13 He said to them, “Collect no more than that which is appointed to you.”
14 Soldiers also asked him, saying, “What about us? What must we do?”
He said to them, “Extort from no one by violence, neither accuse anyone wrongfully. Be content with your wages.”
15 As the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John [Yah is gracious], whether perhaps he was the Messiah [Anointed one], 16 †John [Yah is gracious] answered them all, “I indeed mikvah ·baptise· you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will mikvah ·baptise· you in Ruach haKodesh [Spirit, Breath of the Holiness] and fire, 17 whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor, and will gather the wheat into his barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
18 Then with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people, 19 but Herod [Heroic] the tetrarch (one of four co-emperors), being reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things which Herod [Heroic] had done, 20 added this also to them all, that he shut up John [Yah is gracious] in prison. 21 Now when all the people were immersed, Yeshua [Salvation] also had been immersed, and was praying. The sky was opened, 22 and Ruach haKodesh [Spirit, Breath of the Holiness] descended in a bodily form like a dove on him; and a voice came out of the sky, saying “You are my agapetos ·beloved, esteemed· Son. In you I am well pleased.”
23 Yeshua [Salvation] himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years old, ‡being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph [May he add], the son of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi [United with], the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph [May he add], 25 the son of Mattathias [Gift of Yah], the son of Amos [Burden bearor], the son of Nahum [Comforter], the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias [Gift of Yah], the son of Semein, the son of Joseph [May he add], the son of Judah [Praised], 27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, §the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, 28 the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmodam, the son of Er, 29 the son of Jose, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi [United with], 30 the son of Simeon [Hearing], the son of Judah [Praised], the son of Joseph [May he add], the son of Jonan, the son of Eliakim, 31 the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, *the son of David [Beloved], 32 †the son of Jesse [My husband], the son of Obed, the son of Boaz [In majesty, in strength], the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, 33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Aram [Elevated], the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, ‡the son of Judah [Praised], 34 the son of Jacob [Supplanter], the son of Isaac [Laughter], §the son of Abraham [Father of a multitude], the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem [Name], the son of Noah [Rest], the son of Lamech, 37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, 38 the son of Enos, the son of Seth [Appointed], the son of Adam [Human, Red earth], the son of God.
* 3:6 . (4-6) Quoted from Is 40:3-5 † 3:16 . MPr: “The rod of Thy strength” has an interesting mystic interpretation linking histories. The pledges which Tamar took from Judah (Gen 38:18) was a leading from the Holy Spirit. Judah’s seal is interpreted as signifying the Kingdom of God, the bracelet as the Sanhedrin (the Jewish Court of Law), and the staff representing the King Messiah. (Ps 110:2 and Is 11 in Midrash Genesis 85). (Ps 110:2) ‡ 3:23 (23b-27b) MP: Messiah is a descendant of Zerubbabel. The signet ring signifies authority. In this context, the ring represents royal lineage and legal authority (forefather of Messiah like unto David and Judah). (Hag 2:23) § 3:27 b MP: Messiah is a descendant of Zerubbabel. (See also Hag 2:23). (Zech 3:8) * 3:31 . MP: Messiah is descendant of David without a curse – Matthew is Joseph’s Genealogy and Luke is Mary’s genealogy. The significance is in Joseph’s lineage, a man named Jeconiah (Matt 1:12). God cursed Jeconiah (Jer 22:24) who is also called Coniah (1 Chr 3:16-17). The curse states that no descendant of his will ever sit on the throne of David, “For no man of his descendants will prosper sitting on the throne of David or ruling again in Judah (Jer 22:30; 1 Chr 17:11-14)”. Messiah is of the “seed of woman” (Gen 3:15) and therefore not under the curse found in Joseph’s line, though Joseph is an upright man who was redeemed in likeness of the tribe of Levi being redeemed from the “curse” on their tribe’s origin (Gen 49:5-7; Deut 33:8-11). (2 Sam 7:12-13) † 3:32 . MP: Messiah is a descendant of Jesse. (This is one specific family within the entire tribe of Judah). (See also Is 11:10a). (Is 11:1) ‡ 3:33 . MP: King Messiah is a descendant of Judah. (Gen 49:10a; 1 Chr 5:2) § 3:34 . MP: The promised “seed” in which all nations will be blessed comes through Abraham. (Gen 22:18)