Matthew 3; Mark 1; Luke 3

John the Baptist’s preaching and baptizing fulfilled prophecy. When Jesus was baptized, the Holy Ghost came down and rested on Him. The Father proclaimed Jesus to be His Beloved Son. Jesus called Simon (Peter), Andrew, James, and John to follow Him. He began to teach and to work miracles by divine power and authority.

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Background and Context

Matthew 3:2

What is “the kingdom of heaven”?

The Savior’s Church is sometimes referred to as the kingdom of heaven. To say “the kingdom of heaven is at hand” means that it will be here soon. When Jesus Christ called His Twelve Apostles, He gave them “the keys of the kingdom of heaven” so they could lead His Church on the earth. In Matthew 13 we find additional truths the Savior taught about the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 3:7

What is the meaning of a “generation of vipers”?

(Compare to Luke 3:7.)

The Palestinian viper is the most common poisonous snake in Israel. Vipers are active at night. They typically hunt by hiding and then sneaking up on their prey. When they feel threatened, vipers will coil their bodies, hiss, and strike at their opponents. The Greek phrase translated as “generation of vipers” can also be translated as “brood of vipers” (or the group of eggs birthed by a mother viper) and indicates the hypocrisy and wickedness of the Sadducees and Pharisees.

Matthew 3:12

What is the meaning of the phrase “[His] fan is in his hand”?

The “fan” was a winnowing fork that was used to toss wheat into the air. This allowed the wheat to be separated from the undesirable seed coverings. This unwanted material is also known as chaff. Wheat kernels would fall back to the ground while the wind blew the lighter chaff away. The wheat was then gathered into a garner, or storehouse. Any remaining chaff was burned with fire. John the Baptist taught that the Savior, who would come after him, would separate believers from nonbelievers in the same way that wheat was separated from chaff.

Matthew 3:16

Was the Holy Ghost transformed into a dove?

(Compare to Luke 3:22.)

The Prophet Joseph Smith explained that the Holy Ghost did not appear as a dove after the baptism of Jesus Christ. Rather, the descending dove was a sign that the Holy Ghost was present at that time: “The sign of the dove was instituted before the creation of the world, a witness for the Holy Ghost, and the devil cannot come in the sign of a dove. The Holy Ghost is a personage, and … cannot be transformed into a dove; but the sign of a dove was given to John to signify the truth of the deed, as the dove is an emblem or token of truth and innocence.”

Mark 1:21–22

How were Jesus’s teachings different from the scribes’ teachings?

Scribes were considered experts in the legal aspects of the law of Moses. When preaching and interpreting the law, they typically added greater weight and authority to their teaching by referencing or quoting former authorities and experts. In contrast, Jesus spoke with the authority of the Lawgiver, for He was the giver of the law of Moses.

Mark 1:23–27, 34

What did it mean to have an “unclean spirit”?

The Greek term translated as “unclean spirit” can also be translated as “evil spirit.” The evil spirits that seek to possess physical bodies are Lucifer’s followers. They dwelt in the presence of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ before being cast out of heaven for rebellion. We know from scriptural accounts that evil spirits can temporarily inhabit the bodies of men and women. However, the Prophet Joseph Smith taught that we have power to resist the devil and the spirits that follow him.

Mark 1:40–45

What was leprosy?

In the Bible, leprosy refers to a variety of skin conditions. In our day, leprosy is often called Hansen’s disease. Leprosy can damage the skin, nerves, eyes, nose, throat, and bones. Left untreated, it slowly leads to a painful death.

Lepers in biblical times were separated from society. They were commanded to call out “Unclean!” to warn anyone approaching them. It was believed that their uncleanness would spread to anyone who had contact with them. Because the victims of leprosy were left isolated and alone, the Jews considered it a living death.

By healing the man with leprosy, the Savior not only healed his physical body but also restored him to society. After the Savior healed the man, He instructed the man to obey the Mosaic commandment for healed lepers. The leper was to present himself to a priest, offer sacrifice, and go through a purification ritual.

Luke 3:2

Why did the word of God come to John the Baptist and not to the high priest?

Under the law of Moses, the high priest was the presiding officer in the Aaronic Priesthood. He presided over all other priests. Although Annas and Caiaphas were high priests during the ministry of John the Baptist, the word of God did not come to them. Rather, it came to John. This indicates that Israel’s leaders at the time were unworthy.

The office of high priest had become corrupted. For years, Herod and other Roman officials had appointed high priests based on political convenience or bribery. The Jews lacked a divinely authorized priesthood leader and were in need of spiritual rebirth.

John the Baptist had been chosen by God and properly ordained to be God’s representative. He was to preach repentance and perform the ordinance of baptism.

The Prophet Joseph Smith explained: “John, at that time, was the only legal administrator in the affairs of the kingdom there was then on the earth, and holding the keys of power. The Jews had to obey his instructions or be damned, by their own law. … The son of Zacharias wrested the keys, the kingdom, the power, the glory from the Jews, by the holy anointing and decree of heaven.”

Luke 3:23–38