Matthew 3_1-12 - John the Baptist
Notes
Transcript
1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’ ”
4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him,
6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.
10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 “I baptize you with water for 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.
12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
Series Intro - Matthew: Following Jesus
We are called to repentance and belief in Jesus for the restoration of relationship with our Father in Heaven.
We are created to worship the Lord, equip the church and seek the lost in every season.
Podcasts on Revival from Carey Nieuwhof...Asbury, Saddleback, NYC
Throughline for all of them: Repentance
(Shapes material from Mike Breen)
We never grow past the need for repentance and belief.
This doesn’t mean we’re getting saved over and over, but it does mean the process of our sanctification is just a continuation of the Gospel being applied to our hearts.
Repentance AND Belief
Repentance is where we find ourselves this morning...
John the Baptist (1-4)
John the Baptist (1-4)
JtB Preaching (1-2)
1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
In those days John the Baptist came preaching
in the wilderness of Judea
“Repent
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
JtB Fulfillment (3-4)
3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’ ”
For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,
The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight
Isaiah 40 begins a focus of the prophet Isaiah on the restoration of Israel, including
The Spirit empowered Messiah
the Suffering Servant
and the vision of a new heavens and new earth
4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist,
and his food was locusts and wild honey.
The importance of John’s clothing and food is just to emphasize that his focus was not on impressing anyone or indulging.
He had separated himself to complete focus on his calling to proclaim repentance among Israel
JtB Baptism (5-6)
5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him,
6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him,
and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan
confessing their sins.
JtB was a rock star.
Thousands were coming out to the Jordan river to be participate in the baptism.
More about baptism NEXT week...
Pharisees / Sadducees (7-10)
Pharisees / Sadducees (7-10)
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them,
Pharisees - Word is used 30 times in Matthew. Adherence to the Law (which was defined by the Old Testament and oral traditions). Some examples of the oral tradition they follow would be: how to observe the Sabbath and ritual washing procedures.
Sadducees - Word is used 7 times in Matthew. Denied the resurrection. Considered more pro-Roman. Did not value the oral traditions of the Pharisees.
You brood of vipers!
Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.
And do not presume to say to yourselves,
We have Abraham as our father
for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.
10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees.
Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit
is cut down and thrown into the fire.
The Pharisees and Sadducees were well established in their religious influence
However, John calls them out for not bearing the fruit of repentance
The fruit of repentance is...
Belief in God as our only hope for Salvation
Not trusting in heritage
Not trusting in ritual purity according to strict interpretation of OT
for leaders in faith...
is to Shepherd with the heart of God
Not forsaking His Holiness
But also not withholding His compassion
When John was born, Luke records the prophecy his father spoke over him...this is just a portion of what Zechariah said in Luke 1:76ff
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
As John calls out the Pharisees/Sadducees, he is fulfilling this calling.
He is giving knowledge of salvation to the people
He is showing the tender mercy of our God
He who is coming after me (11-12)
He who is coming after me (11-12)
11 “I baptize you with water for 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.
I baptize you with water for 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.
From the outset John tells his followers that the baptism he is administering is different than the one that Jesus will administer
John is preparing the way of Jesus with a baptism of repentance
Jesus will bring and establish a baptism WITH the Holy Spirit.
12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
His winnowing fork is in his hand,
and he will clear his threshing floor
and gather his wheat into the barn
but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.
GO WITH THIS...
John’s word to the Pharisees/Sadducees
Don’t wanna be a Pharisee...cuz they’re not fair you see!
Don’t wanna be a Sadducee...cuz they’re so sad you see!
Citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven is not inherited through blood lines
Citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven is not based on ritual purity
Citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven requires bearing the fruit of repentance
Repentance prepares the way of the Lord
John prepared hearts for Jesus with a call to repentance
Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
