Section 3
ravine shall be filled up, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked places shall become straight, and the rough places smooth roads; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God." In 3:4 to prepare the way of the Lord and to make His paths straight means to change peo ple's minds, turning their minds toward the Man- Savior. It also means to make their hearts right, to straighten every part of their hearts through repentance, so that the Man-Savior may enter into them to be their life and take possession of them.
In 3:5 ravine, mountain, crooked places, and rough places are figures of speech describing the condition of men's hearts toward God and toward each other and the relationships among men (Luke 1:16-17). Both the condition of men's hearts and their relationships need to be dealt with for the way to be prepared for the Savior's coming.
Verse 6 says that all flesh will see the salva tion of God. Here "flesh" refers to fallen men, and "salvation" denotes the Savior as the salvation of God.
JOHN'S WORD TO THE CROWDS
In 3:7-9 John said to the crowds who came to be baptized by him, "Brood of vipers! Who