Matthew 3
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John’s Message
John’s Message
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’ ”
Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him
and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,
and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand
and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
Johns message was about the Kingdom of Heaven.
The Kingdom of Heaven means the way things are done in heaven will be brought down to earth!
The doorway to live in the kingdom of heaven on earth is to Repent
There is a way happening a Kingdom war. even inside us! Who is going to get his way?
Repentance means turn back, or turn it around.
That is very difficult for us because it really means turn around from our ways… and turn to Gods’ ways.
For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’ ”
John the one sharing the message was not living life the normal way.
Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
John was a rough character who wasn’t accustomed to fine clothing or dinning
God uses things that we don’t normally expect to see God use.
Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him
All the peoples around came out to hear and see John preach.
John had influence in the region. Many come to hear him speak.
and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
The baptism was the transference from one kingdom into the other kingdom.
Baptism is a choice we make to completely break from the past way of doing things.
This process begins with confession.
To confess is to admit the truth about our life and behaviors.
The elements of John’s Preaching were:
Repentance: Turn from our old ways
The Kingdom of Heaven, the Messiah was here
Confession of Sins, Speak the truth about your situation
Baptism in Waters for the forgiveness of sins, Commit your life to wholly and totally to God
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
John rebuked the Pharisees and the Sadducees!
Called them vipers! Vipers are very venomous and can kill with their bites
He called them to repent, and bear fruits worthy of repentance!
Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,
Now John is claiming the Kingdom of Heaven In contrast the Pharisees and the sadducees had their own kingdoms
The Pharisees where a Party that held power and influence among the romans and the Jews. They loved their position, they were politically motivated and very much about the Jewish traditions.they were strongly devoted to teaching the law of moses but also the oral law.
They considered themselves holly and better than most people because they claimed to follow the law.
Sadducees where also a party, Highly influential and wealthy. They held high positions in politics and loved their power and influence and money. They were probably to ones benefitting from the money exchanges happening at the entrance of the temple.
They differed from the Pharisees because they didn’t hold to the oral law only the law of moses. They also didn’t believe in the after life or spirit.
They favored the Greek traditions and culture
John warns them that the ax is laid to the root of the trees.
And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Johns warning to the Pharisees and Sadducees:
Take this message seriously
Repent not just in words but in action
Your past or family line won’t save you
That tree is about to come down
Jesus is coming and will baptize in the Holy Spirit and fire
He is coming with a winnowing fan in His hand to separate the shaft from the grain.
Jesus is going to set His house in order by separating the chaff from the wheat!
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
