John the Baptist

Gary Cragun

Matthew • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

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John the Baptist

As we continue in our study of the Gospel according to Matthew the ex-tax collector we come to our focus today on the greatest Old Testament prophet, John the Baptist. You might say hold on this is in the New Testament, true but he came in the pattern of the Old Testament prophet Elijah. (ESV)”Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. From that message for 400 years God had been silent. There was not word from Him. Then came John dressed and with the message of an Old Testament prophets. (ESV) Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

I. The Ministry of John the Baptist. Vs.1-3 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.’ ” Jesus said in (ESV) For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until (and including)John, We see the prophecy of John’s coming in .

3 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;

A. The wilderness. Vs.1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, You noticed that John came with his prophetic message in the desert wilderness not in Jerusalem the center of religion. Not in the Temple the place where with God. Just as God met with the Jews when He called them out of Egypt’s slavery to make them a nation. This is not the place you would expect to call people to do business with God. It would be at the Temple. (ESV) For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

make his paths straight.’ ” Jesus said in (ESV) For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until (and including)John, We see the prophecy of John’s coming in

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

B. Repent. (ESV) “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Some view this as being sorry for what he or she did or didn’t do. But this misses what the Bible means by repentance. Often I have seen this as being sorry for being caught and facing the consequence for the wrong. I saw that in the Arkansas Depart- ment of Correction when I was there as a chaplain. It was very difficult to know whether there true repentance with an inmate when they were in the unite. (ESV) The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? The best way was when they got out of the joint. The biblical understanding of repentance means change, not just of mind as some have said, but change of every aspect ones life. It is acknowledging that one has sinned against God and that person the sin was commited against then a life change. It is the putting off the sinful behavior and putting on the behavior that God requires. This Paul describes in . The “put off and the put on.”

neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

(ESV) A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Matthew quotes this passage. (ESV) “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”

9 The heart is deceitful above all things,

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

C. The closeness of the kingdom of heaven. Vs. 2for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. All the Old Testament prophets said that the kingdom of heaven was coming some day, but John said it was very near. It is right your hand. Matthew is the only gospel writer who uses this term. He uses it 32 times. The other writers use the term the kingdom of God. There is basically no difference in the terms. The kingdom of God emphasizes God’s sovereign rule while the kingdom of heaven emphasizes kingdom itself. While this phrase is not found exactly it is an Old Testament concept. (ESV) Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. [The Lord is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.] (ESV) The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever. (ESV) King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! 2 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me. 3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation.

and desperately sick;

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

[The Lord is faithful in all his words

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

3 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and kind in all his works.] (ESV)

4 King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! 2 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.

10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;

3 How great are his signs,

how mighty his wonders!

the Lord sits enthroned as king forever. (ESV) King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! 2 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me. 3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation.

His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

and his dominion endures from generation to generation.

II. The Mission of John the Baptist. (ESV) 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 clearly describes His mission. It was heart focus. The covenant people were not ready to receive Him and they needed to do some preparation. There were obstacles in their heart that needed to be removed. There is an urgency here for the people to receive their King. (ESV) Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together,for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” I think there is a parallel here with the shape of the modern American church. There are some obstacles in the way of spiritual revival. We have become too much like the world.

who can understand it? The biblical understanding of repentance means change, not just of mind as some have said, but change of every aspect ones life. It is acknowledging that one has sinned against God and that person the sin was commited against then a life change. It is the putting off the sinful behavior and putting on the behavior that God requires. This Paul describes in .

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,

3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

and every mountain and hill be made low;

the uneven ground shall become level,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,

and the rough places a plain.

III. The man. Vs. 4-6 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. In (ESV) “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.” The Lord taught the crowd about John in (ESV). As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is he of whom it is written, “ ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ 11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear. Jesus said John the Baptist is the fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy in 4:5-6. In (ESV) And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” So what is the answer, Jesus said he is Elijah and John said he wasn’t. The answer is found in (ESV) for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” He is not the resurrected Elijah, but he came in the spirit and power of Elijah.

A Vision of a Golden Lampstand

7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is he of whom it is written,

19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” (ESV)

4 And the angel who talked with me came again and woke me, like a man who is awakened out of his sleep. 2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it, and seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. 3 And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” 4 And I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. 7 Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’ ”

“ ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,

15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

The greatest prophet. (ESV)

who will prepare your way before you.’

8 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. 10 For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.

21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”

19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”

11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

“These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth.” 11 Then I said to him, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?” 12 And a second time I answered and said to him, “What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the golden oil is poured out?” 13 He said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 14 Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”

IV. The message of John the Baptist. Vs. 7-12 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.

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.

‘Prepare the way of the Lord;

5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,

7But 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.

That certainly wasn’t a seeker friendly message. It is not a message to keeping people coming back and building the membership of the church. He went on even further. In verse 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.” This is not as the prophets of old spoke of God pruning the tree so it would bear more fruit, this is chopping it down and throwing into the fire. The Jewish religious system had become fruitless and lifeless. It was being cut down. Just as the Kingdom was imminent, so was judgement coming.

and all flesh shall see it together,

make his paths straight.’ ”

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.”

for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

He came preaching the message, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (ESV)

3 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, You notice that came with his prophetic message in the desert wilderness not in Jerusalem the center of religion. Not in the Temple the place where with God. Just as God met with the Jews when He called them out of Egypt’s slavery to make them a nation. Matthew quotes this passage. (ESV) “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”

He came preaching the message, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (ESV)

Only two of the Gospels mention the birth of Jesus but all of them mention John the Baptist. You can see how important his role is as he herald of the Messiah’s coming.

In order to be in the covenant a Jewish man had to make a profession of faith and submit to circumcision. On the other hand if a Gentile wanted to be a part of the covenant he would have make a profession of faith summit to circumcision, and take a bath by baptism because he was unclean. So you can see how offensive John’s message was to these Jewish leaders. The Jewish people gladly received John’s message and submitted to baptism, but the religious leaders had a spirit of pride.

(ESV) He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin 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.

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