24-01

wild honey

This honey was the natural product of bees in the wilderness; it was not cultivated by people.

locusts

These were large, hopping insects with wings, like very large grasshoppers. Some people who live in the desert eat them.

clothes made from camel hair

The hair of a camel is very coarse and strong. Clothes made of camel hair would not quickly wear out in the wilderness as other clothes would.

24-02

Repent

To repent means to begin to think and act differently about something.In this case, it means to decide to change your behavior because it was wrong to sin.

the kingdom of God is near

That means the kingdom of God is ready to appear.

24-03

did not repent

That is, they did not turn away from their sins.

confess their sins

To confess is to acknowledge that something is true. These leaders did not want to acknowledge that they had sinned.

24-04

You poisonous snakes

John was calling the religious leaders poisonous snakes because they were dangerous and deceptive.

every tree that does not bear good fruit

John is not really talking about trees. This is an expression that compares good fruit to good actions and attitudes that come from God.

God will cut down every tree that does not bear good fruit, and he will throw them into the fire

These phrases mean God will judge them and punish them.

See

This word means that what follows is very important, and the one who hears should pay close attention to it.

ahead of you

In this phrase, the word you refers to the Messiah.

prepare your way

The prophets said that God’s messenger will prepare the people to listen to the Messiah.

24-05

not even worthy to untie his sandals

John meant that, compared to the Messiah, John was not important enough to do even the most menial task for him. Untying sandals was a very low job, something a slave would do.

24-06

the Lamb of God

Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for sin that God promised to provide. He fulfilled the image that was presented by the sacrifice of lambs in the Old Testament.

will take away

The sacrifice of Jesus causes God to look at our sin as if it never existed.

24-08

This is my Son

God the Father called Jesus my Son.

24-09

God had told John

God had told John this before Jesus came to be baptized.