“The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand”

Chapter 3 ofMatthew’s Gospel begins with John the Baptist. “In those days, John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,” saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew explains that John is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke (Matthew 3:3); he is the one who would prepare the way of the Lord’s coming. That is, John is sent out ahead of the Lord Jesus Christ to call people to repentance and to look to Christ for salvation.

This is John’s purpose. As a proph...