Matthew 3:11

3:11 “I baptize you with water, for repentance, but the one coming after me is more powerful than I am – I am not worthy ¹  to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ² 

Matthew 18:8

18:8 If ³  your hand or your foot causes you to sin, ⁴  cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than to have ⁵  two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.

Matthew 19:28

19:28 Jesus ⁶  said to them, “I tell you the truth: ⁷  In the age when all things are renewed, ⁸  when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging ⁹  the twelve tribes of Israel.

Matthew 20:23

20:23 He told them, “You will drink my cup, ¹⁰  but to sit at my right and at my left is not mine to give. Rather, it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”

Matthew 21:21

21:21 Jesus ¹¹  answered them, “I tell you the truth, ¹²  if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.

Matthew 22:16

22:16 They sent to him their disciples along with the Herodians, ¹³  saying, “Teacher, we know that you are truthful, and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. ¹⁴  You do not court anyone’s favor because you show no partiality. ¹⁵ 

¹ tn Grk “of whom I am not worthy.”

² sn With the Holy Spirit and fire. There are differing interpretations for this phrase regarding the number of baptisms and their nature. (1) Some see one baptism here, and this can be divided further into two options. (a) The baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire could refer to the cleansing, purifying work of the Spirit in the individual believer through salvation and sanctification, or (b) it could refer to two different results of Christ’s ministry: Some accept Christ and are baptized with the Holy Spirit, but some reject him and receive judgment. (2) Other interpreters see two baptisms here: The baptism of the Holy Spirit refers to the salvation Jesus brings at his first advent, in which believers receive the Holy Spirit, and the baptism of fire refers to the judgment Jesus will bring upon the world at his second coming. One must take into account both the image of fire and whether individual or corporate baptism is in view. A decision is not easy on either issue. The image of fire is used to refer to both eternal judgment (e.g., Matt 25:41) and the power of the Lord’s presence to purge and cleanse his people (e.g., Isa 4:4-5). The pouring out of the Spirit at Pentecost, a fulfillment of this prophecy no matter which interpretation is taken, had both individual and corporate dimensions. It is possible that since Holy Spirit and fire are governed by a single preposition in Greek, the one-baptism view may be more likely, but this is not certain. Simply put, there is no consensus view in scholarship at this time on the best interpretation of this passage.

³ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

⁴ sn In Greek there is a wordplay that is difficult to reproduce in English here. The verb translated “causes…to sin” (σκανδαλίζω, skandalizw) comes from the same root as the word translated “stumbling blocks” (σκάνδαλον, skandalon) in the previous verse.

⁵ tn Grk “than having.”

⁵ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

⁶ tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

⁷ sn The Greek term translated the age when all things are renewed (παλιγγενεσία, palingenesia) is understood as a reference to the Messianic age, the time when all things are renewed and restored (cf. Rev 21:5).

⁸ sn The statement you…will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel looks at the future authority the Twelve will have when Jesus returns. They will share in Israel’s judgment.

⁷ tc See the tc note on “about to drink” in v. 22.

⁹ tn Grk “And answering, Jesus said.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation.

¹⁰ tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

¹¹ sn The Herodians are mentioned in the NT only once in Matt (22:16 = Mark 12:13) and twice in Mark (3:6; 12:13; some mss also read “Herodians” instead of “Herod” in Mark 8:15). It is generally assumed that as a group the Herodians were Jewish supporters of the Herodian dynasty (or of Herod Antipas in particular). In every instance they are linked with the Pharisees. This probably reflects agreement regarding political objectives (nationalism as opposed to submission to the yoke of Roman oppression) rather than philosophy or religious beliefs.

¹² sn Teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Very few comments are as deceitful as this one; they did not really believe this at all. The question of the Pharisees and Herodians was specifically designed to trap Jesus.

¹³ tn Grk “And it is not a concern to you about anyone because you do not see the face of men.”