Scholars continue to debate the exact location along the Jordan River where Yochanan baptised Y‘shua.
The traditional site has come to be known as Bethabara, which means ―house of the ford‖. It is just north of
the Dead Sea. Some scholars feel the real Bethabara was further up the Jordan River near Galilee.
Regardless of the exact location, what is more interesting is the Aramaic verb ―abar‖ found in Bethabara.
Abar (eber in Hebrew) indicates a movement, ―the thought that one person CAUSES or MOTIVATES
another to move‖.
Gilbert Sindon, in his article ―John the Baptist, Jesus and the Jordan‖, explains the concept of abar this way:
―In concrete terms, John was challenging his fellow Jews to go across to the east bank of the Jordan, out of
the land. This was an act of confession, admitting in this dramatic fashion that they had forfeited their right,
not so much to live in the land, but to be God‘s people. John then literally ―turned them around, (shav in
Hebrew, which is the root of the Hebrew word for repentance). John then led the people back through the
river into the land. This is a dramatic example of God‘s sure promise of restoration of our relationship with
Him‖.
3:2 Repent
―And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand‖.
―Repent‖ is "T‘shuvah‖, (teh-SHOO-vah) and it means turning from sin and returning to YHWH. YHWH
"grants repentance", but it still requires "action" on our part (see Lam 5:21). Biblical repentance and turning
from sin involves turning toward YHWH. As we are all easily deceived, how do we know we are in fact turned
"toward YHWH?" What revelation has He given us as a guideline? He has given His Torah for this purpose
(see 3:6 below).
The Kingdom of Heaven
Matthew uses the term ―Kingdom of Heaven‖ in place of ―God‖ in 32 of 36 places. It refers not to a time or
place, but a condition in which YHWH‘s promises of a restored universe are fulfilled. In Hebrew, it is Tikun
Olam. For followers of Messiah, the Kingdom is both present and to come. This is similar to our salvation.
We may be "saved" now, but our full salvation is yet to come.
Notice that this verse here uses the term ―Kingdom of Heaven‖. This same phrase is used all through
Matthew‘s Gospel. Yet, Mark and Luke use the phrase ―Kingdom of God‖. Why? Are there two different
―kingdoms‖ being talked about in the Gospels? We must remember that Matthew was writing to the Jews.
The Jews will not pronounce the name of YHWH, so they use the term ―Kingdom of Heaven‖. The Greek
word used here is ―Theos‖, which in itself is not a proper name. But, if you look further into your
concordance, you will see that the Hebrew word most often translated by ―Theos‖ is ―Elohim‖, or ―El‖ which is
a shortened version of Elohim. Mark and Luke, being non-Jews (as some claim), had no such compunction
for using YHWH‘s name in their writings. It is the very same Kingdom that all three Gospels are talking about.
Is near or is at hand
When you read Matt 3:2, ―And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand‖, you sense that the
Kingdom of heaven was getting pretty close. The Hebrew word used here actually means that it is actually
here and you have a part in it.
A more appropriate translation would be, "the Kingdom of Heaven is offered to come‖. The Kingdom of
heaven was actually being "offered" by YHWH at this time, similar to how it was offered at Mount Sinai. At
that time, the sin of the golden calf caused the offer to be "withdrawn" by YHWH; and the opportunity to
usher in the Messianic era was bumped into the future—at a time predicted by the prophet Daniel. The next
opportunity arrived some ±1,500 years later, when Yochanan the Immerser announced the arrival of the
Messiah Himself. Although a large minority of the Jews at that time accepted Yochanan‘s message about
Y‘shua, the greater majority did not; and again, the offer of the Kingdom was withdrawn.
3:3 Spoken of by the Prophet
―For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the
wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight‖.
Matthew, Mark and Luke quotes Isaiah 40:3 ―The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the
way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God‖ and Mark quotes Mal 3:1: ―Behold, I will
send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly