Matthew 3:3

Berean Standard Bible

This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’”

King James Bible

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 3:3 serves as both an explanation and a theological grounding for the appearance and message of John the Baptist: “For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’” With this verse, the Gospel writer draws a direct line between John and the long-anticipated prophetic tradition of Israel, anchoring John's identity not in his own self-conception or public charisma, but in divine prophecy, particularly Isaiah 40:3. This is not a mere historical footnote—it is a powerful assertion that God’s plan, spoken centuries earlier, is now being fulfilled before the eyes of the people. It also introduces a pattern that runs throughout Matthew’s Gospel: the continual demonstration that Jesus’ story, and the story of those connected to Him, is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets.

The verse begins with the phrase, “For this is he who was spoken of,” which sets the tone for how the Gospel wants us to interpret John. He is not simply a wild prophet in the wilderness nor a spiritual zealot disconnected from the religious life of Israel. He is the embodiment of a prophetic word that has echoed for centuries. By introducing John in this way, Matthew confirms that the story of Jesus does not erupt from nowhere; it is deeply rooted in the history and hope of God’s covenant people. The coming of John is not incidental—it is orchestrated. His voice is not novel—it is necessary. He has been foretold, and now he stands on the stage of redemptive history, ushering in the Messiah.

The heart of the verse is the citation from Isaiah: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.” This quotation is more than poetic embellishment; it is a theological statement loaded with significance. Isaiah 40, from which this line is drawn, is a chapter that marks a shift in tone within the book of Isaiah—from judgment to comfort, from exile to restoration. The voice crying in the wilderness announces a turning point for the people of God. The exile is ending, and God is coming to His people with salvation. In its original context, the voice speaks of a herald who prepares the path for God’s triumphant return to Zion. Now, in Matthew’s Gospel, that ancient herald finds a historical counterpart in John the Baptist.

The identification of John as “the voice” is important. He is not the Word, but the voice that carries it. He does not seek to draw attention to himself, but to clear the way for Another. His message is not centered on his own insights or authority, but on the preparation of the people for the One who is greater. The voice, in this sense, is transient yet essential—it exists to awaken, to alert, to draw attention to the One who follows. In calling John “the voice,” Matthew also elevates the concept of preaching as a divine instrument. The word proclaimed has power, and John’s proclamation is not idle—it is the tool by which hearts are made ready, and paths are made straight.

The phrase “crying in the wilderness” holds both geographical and symbolic significance. John’s physical presence in the wilderness of Judea was no accident. The wilderness in Scripture is a place of testing, purification, and divine encounter. Israel wandered in the wilderness for forty years before entering the Promised Land. The prophets often spoke from the wilderness, and the Messiah Himself would be tempted there. It is in the wilderness that God strips away the pretense and clutter of society and religion, creating a space where His voice can be heard clearly. John’s presence there is symbolic of a break from religious formalism and a return to the raw, untamed space where God initiates new beginnings.

But the wilderness is not just a backdrop—it is the stage upon which the call to “prepare the way of the Lord” is issued. In the ancient world, when a king was to visit a distant province, roads would be cleared and paths straightened in preparation for his arrival. The metaphor used by Isaiah, and now by Matthew, is clear: the King is coming, and the people must be prepared. The preparation, however, is not merely logistical or ceremonial; it is moral and spiritual. It is a call to repentance, to remove the obstacles of sin, pride, and unbelief, and to make room in the heart for the reign of God.

To “make his paths straight” is to align one’s life with the will of the Lord. It is a metaphor that speaks to righteousness, to uprightness, and to obedience. Where the way has been crooked—through deceit, injustice, or rebellion—it must be made straight. This preparation is both personal and communal. Each individual must repent, but so must the community of faith, Israel as a nation, and ultimately, the world. John’s message, therefore, is a deeply prophetic and disruptive one. It calls not only for individual renewal but also for a reordering of the world in light of the coming kingdom.

Moreover, in declaring that John is preparing the way of the Lord, Matthew makes a striking theological claim. In Isaiah, the “Lord” referred to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. By applying this passage to Jesus, Matthew subtly but unmistakably identifies Jesus with the divine identity of the Lord. The one for whom John prepares the way is not merely a prophet or teacher but God Himself coming to His people in the flesh. This heightens the urgency of John’s message and the gravity of the response required. If the Lord Himself is coming, nothing can remain the same.

Thus, Matthew 3:3 is not merely a verse of introduction; it is a key to understanding the entire trajectory of John’s ministry and, by extension, the mission of Jesus. It situates the Gospel narrative within the great sweep of redemptive history. It reveals the continuity between the prophets and the Christ, between promise and fulfillment. It shows us that preparation is part of God’s pattern—that before He acts in a new and mighty way, He raises a voice to call the people to readiness.

This verse also challenges every generation of believers to examine whether the way of the Lord is prepared in their hearts and communities. Is there a voice crying out in the wilderness of our age? Are we listening? Have we made straight the paths for the King to enter? Or have we allowed the way to be overgrown with distractions, compromises, and idols? The voice may have cried out long ago, but its echo remains, calling us still to repent, to prepare, and to receive the Lord who comes—both in grace now and in glory soon.

------------------------------------

To the beloved of God, the faithful in Christ Jesus, scattered throughout the nations yet gathered in one Spirit, grace and peace be multiplied to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ,

I write to you with deep affection and solemn joy, stirred by the Word that has been entrusted to us and compelled by the Spirit who testifies to the truth in every generation. My heart is moved to exhort you by the mercies of God to consider again the ancient voice which still speaks—a voice once heard crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.” For this was said of John the Baptist, that he was the one foretold by the prophet Isaiah, the voice sent ahead to make ready the coming of the King.

Beloved, let us not pass over this word as though it belonged only to ages past. The Gospel of Matthew tells us that John was that voice—the one who emerged from the wilderness not with refined speech or priestly robes, but with fire in his bones and heaven’s message on his tongue. He came not to impress, but to awaken; not to entertain, but to prepare; not to build a name for himself, but to make ready the way for Another, even the Lord Himself.

The Spirit bears witness that such a voice is needed in every generation. We live in a time of clamor and confusion, of noise without meaning, and words without truth. Yet the Word of the Lord endures, and the path of the Lord must yet be prepared. Do not suppose that John’s message has grown stale or that the days of preparation have passed. For though the King has come once in humility, He shall come again in glory. And before Him, every valley must be lifted, every mountain brought low, every crooked path made straight. Therefore, the voice still cries, and the people must still prepare.

You, beloved, are called not merely to hear the voice but to become a voice. You are not merely to walk the straight path, but to help clear it for others. This is the call of every disciple, every servant of the kingdom: to make room for Christ in the world, in your home, in your heart. Preparation is not passive; it is active, urgent, and ongoing. The way of the Lord is not paved with intentions but with obedience. It is not built through talk but through transformed living.

To prepare the way of the Lord is to repent of all that hinders His reign in us—of pride that refuses correction, of bitterness that hardens the heart, of secret sins that cloud the conscience. It is to lay down every weight and cast off every entangling sin. It is to forgive as we have been forgiven, to pursue righteousness, and to hunger for holiness. To prepare the way of the Lord is to examine not only our behaviors but our affections, to ask honestly: Do I long for His presence, or merely for His blessings? Do I make room for Him daily, or only occasionally? Am I truly waiting for His return, or have I settled into a comfortable exile?

And yet, this preparation is not burdensome. It is not the work of legalism, but of love. It is not the striving of slaves, but the readiness of a bride. The voice does not cry to condemn, but to awaken. The Lord who comes is not a tyrant to be feared, but the Bridegroom to be embraced. He comes not to crush but to restore, not to enslave but to reign in mercy and truth. Therefore, the straight paths are not merely moral or ethical—they are the surrendered places of our lives where the King may walk freely, unhindered by resistance or rebellion.

Consider also, dear brothers and sisters, that the wilderness was not only the place of John’s message but the symbol of its power. For the wilderness is where all false securities are stripped away. It is where idols are exposed, comforts are removed, and souls are made tender. Do not despise your wilderness seasons. They are not wasted. They are sacred ground where the Lord prepares both the messenger and the message. It was in the wilderness that Israel first encountered God, and it is in the wilderness that the voice still speaks most clearly.

Do not seek to avoid the wilderness. Do not flee from the solitude where God refines. Instead, embrace the stripping away, for it prepares you to carry the message of the kingdom. Let your own heart be made straight before you seek to guide another. Let your own life be marked by repentance before you call others to change. For how shall we make straight the paths of the Lord in the world if the highways of our own souls remain crooked?

Let us also remember that John’s voice did not elevate himself—it pointed beyond. He was not the Christ, and he did not pretend to be. He was content to be a voice. Let this humility be in us as well. We are not saviors, but servants. We do not call others to ourselves, but to the Lamb of God. Our task is not to build our own name, but to magnify His. As John said, so may we also say and live: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” The true voice of preparation is marked by clarity, conviction, and cruciform humility.

Therefore, I urge you, dearly loved, to take this charge to heart. Do not let the fire of the message fade in the embers of distraction. Set your face like flint toward the way of the Lord. Let every word, every action, every ambition be shaped by the cry of the wilderness prophet. The King is near. His kingdom is at hand. Make His paths straight.

May the God of all grace strengthen your hearts, renew your minds, and establish you in every good work. May your lives be a testimony that the path has been prepared and the Lord is welcome in your midst. And may you become, in voice and deed, a herald of His coming.

-----------------------------

O Lord our God, eternal and almighty, the One who speaks and brings all things into being, who declares the end from the beginning and whose Word never fails—today we come before You with reverence and trembling joy. You are the God who prepares before You act, who sends a voice before You send the Word, who sends a messenger before You send the King. We bless You, Lord, for the voice You raised in the wilderness, the voice You foretold through Your prophet Isaiah—the voice of one crying out to prepare the way of the Lord and to make His paths straight. You fulfilled that word in John, Your servant, who came not with earthly power or the dress of royalty, but with heaven’s fire and a message of repentance. He came not to draw crowds to himself, but to make ready a people for their God.

Lord, we thank You that this voice still echoes across the ages. Though John stood in the wilderness of Judea long ago, Your Spirit still cries out in our own time, calling us to prepare the way. We confess that our ears are often dulled by the noise of this world. We are so easily distracted, so easily content with surface religion and passing comforts. But You, Lord, have not changed. You are still calling Your people to readiness, still shaping roads in the wilderness of our hearts, still asking for lives made straight before the presence of the King.

Teach us, O Lord, not to despise the wilderness, for it is in the wilderness that You do Your most holy work. Strip away from us all false security and shallow self-reliance. In the silence and stillness, refine us. Shape us to be a people of depth and conviction. Prepare us to be voices, not echoes. We would rather be a single cry in a barren land that points to You, than a chorus of compromise in a crowded square.

Make us ready, O God. Prepare our hearts that we might prepare the way. Let our lives be a highway for the coming of the Lord Jesus. Where we have grown crooked through pride or fear or sin, straighten us. Where we are uneven—wavering between two opinions, loving the world while claiming to love You—level us. Where there are obstacles in our souls, remove them. Tear down every idol. Uproot every false affection. Let nothing stand in the way of Your reign in us.

Forgive us, merciful Father, for how quickly we become builders of our own kingdoms. We often seek our own name rather than exalting Yours. We have measured success by applause, holiness by convenience, and faithfulness by results. But You, Lord, are not impressed by appearances. You see the heart. So search us. Purify us. Prepare us. Not just for a passing move of Your Spirit, but for the coming of the King.

We pray also for those whom You are calling even now to be voices in this generation. Strengthen them in hidden places. Guard them from discouragement and pride. Clothe them with truth and humility. May their voices ring clear—not with the polished tone of popularity, but with the resonance of heaven. Let them speak not to be heard, but to prepare.

And let us, Your Church, not merely listen but respond. Let us be not only hearers, but doers. Let us be a people who live prepared, who carry the urgency of the kingdom in our hearts. Let repentance be our joy, not our shame. Let obedience be our offering, not our burden. Let holiness be our pursuit, not our performance. May we live in such a way that others see a straight path to Jesus when they look at us.

Come, Lord Jesus. Come into hearts made ready. Come into lives shaped by repentance. Come into churches that hunger for more than comfort. Come into cities where the voice still cries. Make the wilderness a sanctuary again. Let every place of dryness become a pathway for Your glory. Let the voice of preparation rise across the earth until every valley is lifted, every mountain made low, every crooked place straight, and the glory of the Lord is revealed for all flesh to see.

To You, O Father, through Jesus Christ Your Son, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, be all honor, glory, dominion, and praise, now and forever. Amen.