Matt 3:1111 “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
To fully understand the context dealing with fire, we need to look at the complete passage:
Matt 3: 7-12 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; 9 and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. 10 The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
In this passage, let's consider John's message.
1. When John (the Baptist) saw the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he is talking to them and verse 10 says "The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." This fire speaks of destruction (judgement).
2. In verse 12, he says, "He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire" This fire also speaks of judgement.
3. If John is referring to destruction (judgement) in version 10 and in verse 12, the logical flow of the use of fire in verse 11 is destruction (judgement). To determine fire in verse 11 is something different is imposed by some outside force.
The only other similar reference of John the Baptist talking to the Pharisees and Sadducees is Luke 3:16, "John responded to them all, saying, “As for me, I baptize you with water; but He is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the straps of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."
Let's consider who wrote the book of Luke. We would most agree that the apostle Luke wrote the book of Luke. Most would agree that Luke also wrote the books of Acts.
In the book of Acts, Luke does not link the baptism of the Holy Spirit with fire. In Acts 1:5, Luke says, "For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Notice there is no mention of "and fire".
Acts 10:47 says "And all who believed were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ." The author Luke, who used the phrase "will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire" does not use the term of fire because of the audience.
Mark 1:8 "I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Notice there is no mention of fire.
In John 1:33, John the Baptist says this about Jesus, "I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’" No mention of fire.
But what about Acts 2:1-4 "When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance."
A few things to point out. The disciples were already filled with the Holy Spirit. In this passage, most will agree they receive a baptism of the Holy Spirit in which they received power to be a witness for Jesus. The mention of fire is a descriptor. They are baptized in fire but rather the fire paints a picture of what the tongues looked like. I propose this fire is not the fire mentioned in Matthew 3:11 or Luke 3:16.
Strongs concordance says regarding fire at the end of Matthew 3:7,
πυρί (pyri)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4442: Fire; the heat of the sun, lightning; fig: strife, trials; the eternal fire. A primary word; 'fire'.
Matthew and Luke are the only 2 that mention baptism of Holy Spirit and fire. The apostle Mark and John only mention baptism of the Holy Spirit. The key with Matthew and Luke is they are directing their conversation at the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Fire in the Old Testament represented the presence of God (burning bush, pillar of fire by night, fire in the tabernacle). It was for cleansing and for judgement (ps 11:6 On the wicked He will rain down fiery coals and sulfur; a scorching wind will be their portion.)
Isaiah talks of devouring fire.
References to fire:
1 peter 1:6-7 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (fire is for "testing")
Isaiah 48:10 “Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. (the heat of a burning (fire) furnace is for "testing")
Prov 17: 3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the Lord tests hearts. (A refiner's fire is for purifying. the Lord uses it for "testing")
The fire we desire as a believer is a refining work of God. It is to either to burn something out of our life to grow us up or burning something out of our life to clean us up. It is for maturity or purity, or both.
It is my opinion that the work fire used in Matthew 3:11 and Luke 3:16 is meant to be for judgement. The warning to the Pharisees and Sadducees was to repent and be baptized. Should they not turn, they will be judged with fire. The religious leaders of the day knew the scriptures and they knew exactly what was being said to them. If they don't turn, they will burn.
We often take what we hear and read as our understanding of truth. When we read a verse like Matthew 3:11, we often impose what we have read and learned upon the scripture instead of allowing the scripture to be imposed upon us. Most of my Christian life, I have misread the Matthew 3 passage of scripture. It was mostly based on what I had heard in the charismatic circles. Closer study and deliberately keeps the entire passage together, I believe I, like others, have misapplied this verse.
So, do I embrace fire? Yes. I embrace the purifying and cleansing fire that comes through trials and testing. I can understand why Bible teaching churches don't wish to be baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire. I opposed this view for a long time and based on their explanation, I still do. However, looking at the context of the scripture, it is fundamentally unsound to take the word fire in verse 11 and say that it is a different type of fire that is mentioned in the verses before it and the verses after it. Held in context, fire is judgement.
There is something interested about the fire of the Holy Spirit. In the fire of the Holy Spirit is everything needed to destroy the works of the devil. The pillar of fire led Israel out of Egyptian bondage. The fire of the burning bush was Moses’ final preparation to stand before Pharaoh and cry, “Let my people go!” Over the years, I have experienced personally as well as witness others (Daniel Adams and others) use words like "fire of the Holy Spirit" when dealing with demons. When I use those words, I am essentially saying, "judgement of God be against you demon!". Using the word "fire" and seeing a demon respond reinforces the idea that it is the fire of the Holy Spirit at work. Is it possible the word "fire" can equally be equated to the power of the Holy Spirit working against the powers of darkness. Fire does bring heat as much as it brings light. Darkness is exposed. It is the "power" of the Holy Spirit that does the work. The book of Acts is full of the work of the Holy Spirit and the work is accomplished through power. The gospels speak of God's love for us. Acts does not, it speaks of His power.
To fully understand the context dealing with fire, we need to look at the complete passage:
Matt 3: 7-12 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; 9 and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. 10 The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
In this passage, let's consider John's message.
1. When John (the Baptist) saw the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he is talking to them and verse 10 says "The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." This fire speaks of destruction (judgement).
2. In verse 12, he says, "He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire" This fire also speaks of judgement.
3. If John is referring to destruction (judgement) in version 10 and in verse 12, the logical flow of the use of fire in verse 11 is destruction (judgement). To determine fire in verse 11 is something different is imposed by some outside force.
The only other similar reference of John the Baptist talking to the Pharisees and Sadducees is Luke 3:16, "John responded to them all, saying, “As for me, I baptize you with water; but He is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the straps of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."
Let's consider who wrote the book of Luke. We would most agree that the apostle Luke wrote the book of Luke. Most would agree that Luke also wrote the books of Acts.
In the book of Acts, Luke does not link the baptism of the Holy Spirit with fire. In Acts 1:5, Luke says, "For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Notice there is no mention of "and fire".
Acts 10:47 says "And all who believed were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ." The author Luke, who used the phrase "will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire" does not use the term of fire because of the audience.
Mark 1:8 "I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Notice there is no mention of fire.
In John 1:33, John the Baptist says this about Jesus, "I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’" No mention of fire.
But what about Acts 2:1-4 "When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance."
A few things to point out. The disciples were already filled with the Holy Spirit. In this passage, most will agree they receive a baptism of the Holy Spirit in which they received power to be a witness for Jesus. The mention of fire is a descriptor. They are baptized in fire but rather the fire paints a picture of what the tongues looked like. I propose this fire is not the fire mentioned in Matthew 3:11 or Luke 3:16.
Strongs concordance says regarding fire at the end of Matthew 3:7,
πυρί (pyri)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4442: Fire; the heat of the sun, lightning; fig: strife, trials; the eternal fire. A primary word; 'fire'.
Matthew and Luke are the only 2 that mention baptism of Holy Spirit and fire. The apostle Mark and John only mention baptism of the Holy Spirit. The key with Matthew and Luke is they are directing their conversation at the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Fire in the Old Testament represented the presence of God (burning bush, pillar of fire by night, fire in the tabernacle). It was for cleansing and for judgement (ps 11:6 On the wicked He will rain down fiery coals and sulfur; a scorching wind will be their portion.)
Isaiah talks of devouring fire.
References to fire:
1 peter 1:6-7 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (fire is for "testing")
Isaiah 48:10 “Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. (the heat of a burning (fire) furnace is for "testing")
Prov 17: 3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the Lord tests hearts. (A refiner's fire is for purifying. the Lord uses it for "testing")
The fire we desire as a believer is a refining work of God. It is to either to burn something out of our life to grow us up or burning something out of our life to clean us up. It is for maturity or purity, or both.
It is my opinion that the work fire used in Matthew 3:11 and Luke 3:16 is meant to be for judgement. The warning to the Pharisees and Sadducees was to repent and be baptized. Should they not turn, they will be judged with fire. The religious leaders of the day knew the scriptures and they knew exactly what was being said to them. If they don't turn, they will burn.
We often take what we hear and read as our understanding of truth. When we read a verse like Matthew 3:11, we often impose what we have read and learned upon the scripture instead of allowing the scripture to be imposed upon us. Most of my Christian life, I have misread the Matthew 3 passage of scripture. It was mostly based on what I had heard in the charismatic circles. Closer study and deliberately keeps the entire passage together, I believe I, like others, have misapplied this verse.
So, do I embrace fire? Yes. I embrace the purifying and cleansing fire that comes through trials and testing. I can understand why Bible teaching churches don't wish to be baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire. I opposed this view for a long time and based on their explanation, I still do. However, looking at the context of the scripture, it is fundamentally unsound to take the word fire in verse 11 and say that it is a different type of fire that is mentioned in the verses before it and the verses after it. Held in context, fire is judgement.
There is something interested about the fire of the Holy Spirit. In the fire of the Holy Spirit is everything needed to destroy the works of the devil. The pillar of fire led Israel out of Egyptian bondage. The fire of the burning bush was Moses’ final preparation to stand before Pharaoh and cry, “Let my people go!” Over the years, I have experienced personally as well as witness others (Daniel Adams and others) use words like "fire of the Holy Spirit" when dealing with demons. When I use those words, I am essentially saying, "judgement of God be against you demon!". Using the word "fire" and seeing a demon respond reinforces the idea that it is the fire of the Holy Spirit at work. Is it possible the word "fire" can equally be equated to the power of the Holy Spirit working against the powers of darkness. Fire does bring heat as much as it brings light. Darkness is exposed. It is the "power" of the Holy Spirit that does the work. The book of Acts is full of the work of the Holy Spirit and the work is accomplished through power. The gospels speak of God's love for us. Acts does not, it speaks of His power.
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