Advent 2 (7)

Matthew 3:1–12 (NIV84)

1In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ” 4John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

My history professor, Professor Scharf, would emphasize certain characteristics about famous historical people so that we could distinguish them from other famous historical people. After teaching us about a person, he would ask, “If _____________ came into our classroom, how would you recognize him? Apply this to biblical characters.

Adam — naked hold a piece of fruit.

Noah — holding carpentry tools and plans for a big boat.

Samson — long hair and bulging muscles.

John the Baptist — long hair, camel’s hair goat cinched up with a leather belt, Handful of locusts he was munching on.

But more important than their physical characteristics, was the message they taught by their actions or words. This is certainly true with the one we refer to as John the Baptist.

Matthew starts out with the most important information. The message. “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near.” He notes (as do the other Gospel writers) that this was a fulfillment of OT prophecy. Almost 700 years earlier the prophet Isaiah had predicted that before the kingdom of heaven came, a prophet would prepare the way for the Lord, making straight paths for him.” Matthew then continues wit the physical description of John the Baptist and why he was called “the Baptist”.

What does it mean that the kingdom of heaven (or God) is near?

Immediate fulfillment: The fortunes of Israel would be restored. National

Final fulfillment: The Last Day would come.

Spiritual fulfillment: God would be fulfilling his promises to send the Savior of the World. The beginning of the public ministry of Jesus that would last for three years and be completed with his death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven.

John was the one sent to prepare the way for Jesus.

The Isaiah passage uses imagery to describe this preparation: Matthew 3:3 (NIV84) 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ”

One of the many things that makes the Bible such a great piece of literature is that it is rich in figures of speech, word play, similes, metaphors, and times when one thing is said to mean another.

I am not a big fan. I don’t like poetry all that much. Lyrics to popular songs can confuse me. I would rather have someone speak plainly to me instead of using such flowery speech. Why not just say “It is pouring rain at a rate of two inches an hour” instead of saying “It is raining cats and dogs.”? But that may be just me.

It is the mark of great literature that such devices are used. Maybe that is what makes the book of Revelation so powerful and the parables of Jesus so rich.

Certainly, the book of Isaiah has that quality as well. Isaiah 11:1–11 (NIV84) 1A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord— 3 and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; 4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. 5 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. 6 The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. 7 The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. 8 The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper’s nest. 9They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. 10In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious. 11In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the sea.

Fortunately, for me anyway. This passage quoted by Matthew is explained when he describes the message of John.

Make straight the paths . . . literally prepare the royal highway.

Application: Straighten out the people to be ready to meet Jesus.

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” God is about to fulfill his promises through his Son so get your hearts ready by repenting of your sins.

Why is this necessary . . . to repent?

God’s plan for us is to live our lives according tot he “straight and narrow”. Our study of Proverbs emphasizes this repeatedly.

Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV84)

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)

9 In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.

Proverbs 4:10–19 (NIV84)

10 Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. 11 I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. 12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. 13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. 14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men. 15 Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way. 16 For they cannot sleep till they do evil; they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall. 17 They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. 18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. 19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.

1 Samuel 12:24–25 (NIV)

24 But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. 25 Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will perish.”

It is the classic “If . . . then” statement. If you do what is right, you will be successful. If you do what is wrong, you will not . . . or worse.

Examples: If you smoke three packs of cigarettes a day, you can expect respiratory issues as you age. Not necessarily lung cancer.

If you drive too fast on slippery roads, you can expect an accident.

If you look too long at the sun without eye protection, you will damage your retina.

Those are negative statements. Rewards and benefits are also promised.

Many passages in the Old Testament command and encourage God’s people to do the right thing.

But did they? Numbers 14:20–23 (NIV84)

20 The LORD replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked. 21 Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the LORD fills the whole earth, 22 not one of the men who saw my glory and the miraculous signs I performed in Egypt and in the desert but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times— 23 not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their forefathers. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it.

Hebrews 3:16–19 (NIV84)

16 Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? 17 And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert? 18 And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.

Judges 2:1–3 (NIV84)

1 The angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said, “I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land that I swore to give to your forefathers. I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you, 2 and you shall not make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall break down their altars.’ Yet you have disobeyed me. Why have you done this? 3 Now therefore I tell you that I will not drive them out before you; they will be thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you.”

Ezekiel 33:12 (NIV84)

12 “Therefore, son of man, say to your countrymen, ‘The righteousness of the righteous man will not save him when he disobeys, and the wickedness of the wicked man will not cause him to fall when he turns from it. The righteous man, if he sins, will not be allowed to live because of his former righteousness.’

Hebrews 4:8–13 (NIV84)

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

I want to focus on the statement “Make Straight Paths for Him.” What does this mean?

Life Application Bible Notes Profile: Herod

3:3 John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus by preparing others to welcome him. People who do not know Jesus need to get ready to meet him. We can prepare them by explaining their need for forgiveness, demonstrating Christ’s teachings by our conduct, and telling them how Christ can give their lives meaning. We can “clear the road for him” by correcting misconceptions that might be hindering people from coming to Christ. Someone you know may be open to a relationship with Christ. How are you helping those around you to welcome Jesus?

Application: Are we ready to meet Jesus?

It is a prayer to have God’s word guide us so that we will live godly lives. Reminds me of a common theme in book of Proverbs. Apply our hearts to wisdom so that we can walk the right path.

Ideally, this would be successful. If you follow instructions, you can expect a good result. Even if you have never done something before. But the more you do it, the more successful you will be. In this hymn verse, the prayer is that by keeping God’s word, we will be ready to meet Jesus.

Problem: We aren’t all that good at following God’s Word. See biblical examples. See examples from our own lives. Is this not why God sent John the Baptist and his message before the people of Israel would meet Jesus at the start of his ministry? Is this not why we enter worship often by confessing our sins? The hymn writer understood the damage that sin had done and how it would make it challenging to meet Jesus.

Do NOT depend on our own efforts and works.

Acknowledge our need to confess our sins and trust in forgiveness.

As forgiven children of God, look to the means of grace to keep us in the one true faith.

Live godly lives as sanctified children of God.

O Lord, how shall I meet you, How welcome you aright? Your people long to greet you, My Hope, my heart's Delight. O Jesus, let your word be A lamp to light my way, To show me how to please you, To guide me ev'ry day.

2 Love caused your incarnation; Love brought you down to me. Your thirst for my salvation Procured my liberty. Oh, love beyond all telling That led you to embrace In love, all love excelling, Our lost and fallen race!

3 Rejoice, then, you sad-hearted, Who sit in deepest gloom, Who mourn o'er joys departed And tremble at your doom. Despair not; he is near you, He's standing at the door Who best can help and cheer you And bids you weep no more.

He also offers assurance that those who repent, need not fear Jesus but will help and cheer us.

John the Baptist warns that those who refuse to repent, will be omitted.

Matthew 3:7–12 (NIV84)

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

But promises to those who repent.

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

5 He comes to judge the nations, A terror to his foes, A light of consolations, And blessed hope to those Who love the Lord's appearing. O glorious Sun, now come, Send forth your beams most cheering, And guide us safely home.