Matthew 3 - John comes out of the wilderness and steps into the picture.

Mat 3:1
Now in those days John the Baptist came^, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,
Mat 3:2
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
John comes out of the wilderness and steps into the picture. His message is short and very clear. "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." The coming kingdom is the prevailing theme in Matthew. It is mentioned some fifty times in this book. John says to "repent." To "repent" means to turn away from the ways of the world and turn toward the Torah of Elohim (Isaiah 55:7, Ezekiel 18:30-32, 33:11). We are told in Scripture that if we do not repent we will perish Luke 13:3, Jer. 26:3-6).
Mat 3:3
For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet, saying, "THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!'"
Matthew tells us that John is the one spoken of by Isaiah the prophet. This is a quote from Isaiah 40:3. John is the voice in the wilderness preparing the way for Elohim Isa 57:14-15). John, and also Yeshua Messiah, are referred to in other parts of the Tanakh also Mal 3:1).

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