Matthew 3

I) “Here Comes the King”

A) File: matthew 3.doc

B) Audio:

C) Series: Matthew

D) Preached: October 14, 2007

II) Introduction: Matthew: (Levi) Matthew 9:9

A) Jesus (Joshua) – Yahweh is Salvation

B) Christ – Anointed One

C) Son of David

D) Son of Abraham

E) Problem, parallels, presentation, prophecies, purpose of the virgin birth.

F) Magi – We see Jesus as King – Matthew’s strongest emphasis.

I) Man

A) Johanan – Yahweh is gracious, named by God (Luke 1:13)

B) Baptizer – central part of ministry

C) Background

1) Parents – Righteous and blameless: (Luke 1:6)

2) Birth – miraculous, born to barren Elizabeth in their old age. (Luke 1:7)

D) Best opinion – Jesus

1) Matt 11:11 “among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than JTB.”

2) “He was the Elijah that was to come.” Matt. 17:10-13; Mal. 4:5; Mark 9:11-13; Luke 1:17; [John 1:21]

3) Mal. 3:1, 4:5-6; Isa. 40:3;

E) What Jesus’ opinion was probably based on:

1) John’s willingness to please only God – not men.

(a) Shown here

(b) Shown in his death

F) not ‘worldly image’ of a king’s representative

1) God’s standards different – Jesus says ‘no greater’ than JTB

2) Luke 1:15 – “he will be great in the sight of the Lord.”

(a) filled with the Holy Spirit

(b) Turn back many of the sons of Israel

(c) spirit and power of Elijah

3) Set apart from birth by God for God

II) Mission

A) “Came” v1 – often used of an official visit (like Magi – 2:1)

1) Come to meet with a purpose – usually used in the context of having a reason to come.

B) “preaching” v1 – from kerusso ‘to herald’

1) also used of Jesus and apostles

2) “always with the suggestion of formality, gravity and an authority which must be listened to and obeyed.”

3) “to publish, proclaim openly: something which has been done.” (Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon)

C) Best described as “Herald”

1) Ancient times: herald sent out before king:

2) Not a lowly servant – a representative of the King with a crew of servants to make repairs and preparations.

3) Received as the king

(a) He would announce arrival

(b) He would be welcomed by loyal subjects who wanted favor with the king

4) Duty – to make the road as smooth as possible

(a) to prepare accommodations – fit for a king.

(i) To insure safety

(b) to proclaim the coming visit to others that they may prepare for his arrival and found faithful and in order.

(c) Image reinforced by Isaiah 40:3 Quote.

(d) Why wilderness? Desert.

(i) Best place to baptize? – Not at temple since Jesus rejected much of the current Judaism.

(ii) To keep it a secret? Many are coming.

(iii) Probably – entering into uncivilized territory.

· Recovering land in rebellion.

D) Why was a forerunner necessary?

1) God wanted endorsement for Jesus: A righteous, true, preacher.

2) Jesus appeals to this endorsement in John 5:33, 35.

3) His endorsement was fruitful, John 10:40 “40 He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained. 41 And many came to him. And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” 42 And many believed in him there.”

E) His Mission was to prepare the people for Jesus – but how did he accomplish this? His message:

III) Message “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”

A) JTB announces conditions for which the King comes: Repent!

B) Kingdom of Heaven –

1) That realm that the king rules over – His subjects.

2) How it is entered into – a change of allegiance.

(a) Repent – turning from this residency to His

(b) Once in – we become his royal subjects. loyal to Him. rights and privileges of citizenship. Literally, a new home address.

(c) Even better – we are adopted into the royal family itself! We become co-heirs with Christ.

3) Beatitudes – the characteristics of a royal subject

4) Sermon on the mount – entering into the kingdom of heaven.

C) Judgment

1) flee from wrath

2) The King is coming to reclaim territory

3) a rebellion has occurred, he has sent his messengers in to convince the rebels to repent and return their loyalty to the King

4)

IV) Model

A) He never concerned himself with the opinions of man

B) He was content with his role

1) He must increase, I must decrease

V) Conclusion:

A) A man – endorsed by the king, saying, “none greater”

B) A mission to proclaim as a herald and to make straight the path

C) A Message – to repent. A command given only by those who represent the King of Kings – God Himself!

VI) Invitation

A) Accept his message

B) Adopt his model

C) He never claimed anything for himself – never waivered from his mission, denied being Christ, Elijah, prophet. Simply appealed to Isaiah. “he must increase, I must decrease”

VII) Language to incorporate

A) ‘all authority’

B) he who receives Me

VIII) Quotes / stories

A) “If we put off repentance another day, we have a day more to repent of, and a day less to repent in.” —Mason

B)

IX) Message

October 14, 2007,

“Here comes the King!”

Matthew 3:1-12:

1) The ________________ (Matthew 3:1-12, 11:7-19; Isa. 40:3; Mal. 3:1, 4:5-6; Luke 1:5-25, 41, 57-80, 3:1-22; John 5:33, 35, 10:40-42;)

2) His _________________

3) His _________________

a) _________________! For the _________________ of __________________ is at hand.[1]

b) _______________________

4) Our Response:

a) _____________________ his message.

b) _____________________ his model.

Notes: ___________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

October 14, 2007,

Matthew 3:1-12 Word Find

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ABLE	BROOD	FORK
ABRAHAM	BURN	FRUIT
AROUND	CARRY	HONEY
BAPTISM	CHAFF	JOHN
BAPTIST	CLEAR	JORDAN
BAPTIZE	CONFESSING	JUDEA
BARN	CRYING	LEATHER
BEAR	FIRE	REPENTANCE
BELT	FLOOR	WILDERNESS

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[1] 1) man; 2) mission; 3) message; 3a) Repent…Kingdom…Heaven; 3b) Judgment; 4a) Accept; 4b) Adopt