ONE VERSE
MATTHEW 3:11
“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
This passage is a statement by John the baptizer about Jesus who is to follow him. The main focus of our discussion will be on what John intended with that last expression: “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
Perhaps the first point to be considered is that the word “baptize” is from the Greek word baptizo which simply means to immerse. This future baptism (immersion) of the Holy Spirit surely has reference to what Jesus Himself promised to the apostles (see Jn. 14:26; 16:13; Acts 1:8). This immersion was accomplished in Acts 2:4 as the apostles “were all filled with the Holy Spirit.”
The slightly more difficult part of this passage is what is intended by the “fire” portion of the baptism to come. There are two prevailing thoughts concerning this fire.
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(2) The other thought is that the fire has to do with the wrath of God coming upon the disobedient at the end of time. Fortunately, the context of Matthew 3 helps us come to a solid decision concerning this “baptism of fire.”
Earlier in the chapter John has begun his preparatory ministry. In verse 7 we are introduced to the Pharisees and Sadducees “coming to his baptism.” Quickly we learn that John, no doubt through supernatural knowledge, well understood the insincerity of these religious leaders.
As the text continues in verse 10, John states: “Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” There can be no doubt that this refers to the fire that hell is so frequently characterized by (see Mt. 5:22; 13:40; Mk. 9:48). Verse 12 also has reference to this horrible fate that will be experienced by the disobedient at the end of time, while on the other hand, the wheat is gathered “into the barn.”
It seems more than reasonable that if the fire of verses 10 and 12 clearly refer to the fires of hell, then surely the verse between them does too! While the apostles will receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the unrepentant will receive a horrible fate!
Daren Schroeder
