Matthew writes about John the Baptist as the forerunner for Jesus ministry. John lived a life removed from worldly distractions and devoted himself to a life of prayer and meditation. By living in the wilderness kept him apart from the distractions and temptations of others. And when it was time to deliver his message, it had a profound effect on the listeners.
Matthew also records how both Jesus and John the Baptist displayed divine wisdom. Although they had different ministries, they were significantly necessary for salvation. John preached repentance and prepared the people for Christ coming to save the world from their sins.
Church, let us work on minimizing our distractions so we can maximize our efforts to share the good news about Christ. Then we will become like John the Baptist, focusing our attention on our mission, to announce the coming of the Messiah. Salvation comes only through Jesus Christ.