Statistics Of The Book Of Matthew:
1. 28 chapters; 1,071 verses; 23,684 words; 96,630 letters.
Return to Matthew 1:1
2.
Introduction To The Gospel According to St. Matthew
of the link to the 1911
Scoffield Bible. I am a user of the Scoffield Bible ever since I have
known what a Bible is. My mother presented me with a beautiful
leather covered one when I graduated from SEBTS. I have used it
ever since. I have been snickered at, and secretly scorned by my
piers. Yet, I have never felt more comfortable with any version
other than the King James Bible [KJB] and the commentary of the Scoffield References.
In my mind it has stood the test of time. SeeOther Translations
I make no claim that it is the ONLY version or work of reference
and welcome input from those with other ideas. Yet, the anchor to
me is this Bible.
B. Why does Matthew Begin With A Genealogy?
Return to Matthew Chapter One
1. A genealogy is necessary to establish the King's right to the
throne of David.
2. It gives proof of the Virgin Birth of Christ.
3. It establishes the royal right and the legal right to the throne
going back to Solomon and Nathan to King David.
Return to Matthew Chapter One
C. The Genealogy In Matthew 1:1-16:
1. Matthew gives Joseph's genealogy whereby the King can claim
the royal right to the throne of David through Solomon. Luke gives
the genealogy of Mary (Luke 3:23-38) whereby the King can claim
the legal right to the throne going back to Nathan, the son of David.
2. Matthew gives us the fact of a breach in the royal line that puts a
curse on the descendants of Solomon. Notice the name of Jeconias
in verse 11. God cursed this man because of his attempt to destroy
the word of God. (Read Jeremiah 36). (Also see Jeremiah
22:24-30).
3. The King receives the legal right to the throne of Mary going
back to Solomon through his son, Nathan.
4. When Joseph and Mary were married, the son of Mary, the Lord
Jesus Christ became the sole heir to the throne of David.
5. This leads us to the necessity of the Virgin Birth of Christ.
Return to Matthew SRB Chapter One
D. The Virgin Birth Of Christ:
1. Because of the sin of Josiah (Jechonias), the line of Joseph is cursed. God had to find a way to remove that curse on the royal
line so His Son, Jesus could claim the royal right to the throne.
2. There is only one way this can be done. Joseph cannot be the
human father of the body of Jesus. The curse is passed along
through the seed of the man.
The Holy Spirit made it possible for Mary to conceive and prepare
the body of Jesus without the seed of man.
Return to Matthew SRB Chapter One
3. Read Luke 1:30-38.
4. After the body of Jesus is born, Joseph and Mary were married.
Through Mary, Jesus received the legal right to the throne of
David. Through marriage, Joseph gave Jesus the royal right to the
throne of David. Through the Virgin Birth, the curse is removed
from Joseph's line for he was not the natural father of Jesus.
5. Since the Lord Jesus Christ had no natural heirs, He claims the
sole right to rule the world as the Son of King David with no
person able to dispute that claim.
6. Satan will try to rule the world, but he is an imposter. He can
claim no kingly rights. He will be a usurper of a throne that is not
his.
F. More On The Virgin Birth: [
See more on Mary
Six Marys in the New Testament
]
1. Notice a very interesting fact in Matthew 1:1 - 16.
2. 39 times the word “begat” is used in the passage. Abraham begat
Issac; Isaac begat Jacob, etc.
3. When you come to verse 16, notice how the wording changes;
Jacob begat Joseph. You would expect it to read, “and Joseph
begat Jesus. “
4. This is not the case, however. The verse reads, “And Jacob
begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who
is called Christ.” (Matthew 1:16 KJB).
Return to Matthew SRB Chapter One
5. We are assured that Jesus was born of Mary, but not of Joseph.
6. We will look at more of this in the next verse.
7. The truth of the Virgin Birth is foundational to the whole Gospel
story.
F. The Conception And Birth Of Jesus:
1. “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his
mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together,
she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.” (Matthew 1:18 KJB).
2. Words could not be plainer. Although Mary and Joseph were
engaged, they did not have sexual intercourse until after the body
of Jesus was born. Then they bore children the normal way.
Therefore, Mary could not from that time forward be called “the
Virgin Mary,” for she was not. (See Mark 6:3; Matthew
13:55;Galatians 1:19).
3. Mary was pregnant, but not by Joseph.
4. Mary was pregnant through the Divine Miracle of the Holy
Ghost.
5. If the body of Jesus were not divinely conceived, then Jesus was
a sinner in need of a Savior like the rest of us.
6. The body of Jesus did not partake of the nature of His mother.
She gave Him the body that God had prepared. He partook only of
the nature of the Holy Ghost.
7. The Lord Jesus Christ did not have a sin nature. He never
sinned. He was God the Son and the Son of God.
8. “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold a
virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name
Immanuel. “ (Isaiah 7:14 KJB).
Return to Matthew SRB Jesus Birth
G. The Character Of Joseph: v. 19
1. “Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to
make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily”
(Matthew 1:19 KJB).
2. Joseph was a just man. This means he obeyed God and kept
God's laws.
3. God's law stated that adultery was punishable by death. See the
Old Testament penalty in Deut. 22:20-30.
4. Since Joseph was a just man, even though he loved Mary, he
must put her privily. His love for her prompted him to have her
punished secretly rather than openly.
Note: the word “Privily” is the correct word. It always is used in
the Bible to speak of something done slyly, secretly or under cover.
“Privately” in the new bibles is the wrong word.
Return to Matthew SRB 1:19
H. Rescued By The Angel Of The Lord: v. 20
1. The angel of the Lord appears to Joseph.
2. He refers to Joseph as the “son” of David. (He was in the
genealogy of David as we saw previously).
3. The angel of the Lord tells Joseph to continue with their
marriage plans.
Note: engagement in Jewish practice was as legally binding as a
marriage ceremony. Joseph would have had to divorce Mary if she
had committed adultery even though they were merely engaged.
4. Joseph was told to proceed with their marriage plans since Mary
had not committed adultery.
5. Joseph was told that Mary was pregnant of the Holy Ghost, not
of man. Therefore, she would be the mother of the Messiah as
prophesied in the Old Testament. See Isaiah 7:14.
6. What a relief! Not only was Mary not guilty of adultery, but she
had been chosen of God to be the mother of the body of the
Messiah. Joseph's joy must have been beyond containment.
Return to SRB Matt. 1:20
I. The Baby Boy Is Named Before Birth: Verse 21
1. He was to be called “Jesus.”
2. Jesus means: Savior. It is the same name as the Old Testament
name, Joshua.
3. He was to be called, “Jesus” because He would save His people
from their sins.
Note: He could only do this if He were sinless Himself with no old
nature from Adam.
4. Note: The Name “Jesus” has five letters. Five is the number of
death in the Bible. Jesus will have to die for sinners if they are to
be saved from the penalty of sin.
Note also: “Satan” or “Devil” have five letters. He is the one who
wants us to die in Hell with him.
5. “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God
was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels,
preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up
into glory.” (1 Timothy 3:16).
6. Remember, the Angel of the Lord has previously visited Mary
and told her the great truth of her being the one chosen by God to
prepare the body of the Messiah, the Christ, the Savior, Jesus. See
again Luke 1:26-38.
Return to SRB Matt. 1:21
J. Another Name For The Savior: Verses 21-22.
1. The Angel of the Lord reminds Joseph of the promised Virgin
Birth as recorded in Isaiah 7:14.
2. The Divine Child is to be called, “Emmanuel” which means:
“God with us.”
3. Note the many references to the Virgin Birth in this section of
Scripture.
4. Note in Luke 1:46-47, “And Mary said, My soul doth magnify
the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.”
5. See Isaiah 9:6 for additional Names for our Savior: “For unto us
a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be
upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful,
Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of
Peace.”
6. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.” (John 1:1 KJB). “And the Word was
made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the
glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
(John 1:14 KJB).
Return to SRB Matt. 1:23
K. Proof From The Prophets:
1 .The Old Testament prophets were men who were called of God
to give truths of history before the events happened.
2. The truth of the Virgin Birth of Christ was given 700 years
before it happened. (Isaiah 7:14). No one but God could forecast
such an event. The accuracy of the Bible is astounding.
3. The prophet Mic ah foretold where the Messiah would be born,
“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the
thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that
is to be ruler in Israel; whose going forth have been from of old,
from everlasting. “ (Micah 5:2 KJB).
4. Micah gives us the city, the county and the state where the
Messiah will be born. He gives this information over 700 years
before the fact. Only God could have revealed this.
5. There are over 48 prophecies given for our Lord in the Old
Testament which all came to pass exactly. We are given His place
of birth (Micah 5:2); His time of birth (Daniel 9:25-26); His
manner of birth (Isaiah 7:14) for examples.
6. The odds of 48 prophecies coming to pass in the future are about
1 to 10 raised to the 157th power. That is 10 with 157 zeros after it.
7. Take time to praise the Lord for Jesus, Emmanuel, Who is God
with us and our Savior.
Return to SRB Matt. 1:22
L. The Obedience Of Joseph: v. 24.
1. Joseph obeyed the Lord Who gave Joseph this marvelous, but
mind boggling set of truths.
2. Now Joseph publicly marries Mary, who is pregnant by the Holy
Ghost, even though they both will suffer scorn, laughter and abuse
from their friends and loved ones who will not believe the story.
3. We too, must be obedient to our Lord no matter what friends,
loved ones or anyone else says or thinks.
M. The Glorious Event: v. 25
1. “And knew her not till she had brought forth her Firstborn son:
and he called his name JESUS. “ (Matthew 1:25).
2. Although married, Joseph and Mary did not have sexual
intercourse until after Jesus was born. They refrained from this
natural God given relationship to be postponed so that the
marvelous truth of the Divine Conception and Virgin Birth could
remain in tact.
3. After Jesus was born, Joseph and Mary then had the proper
marital relations which resulted in many other children being born
to them naturally. (See again Mark 6:3).
4. They also obediently named the Christ Child, JESUS, as they
were told by the Angel of the Lord.
Return to SRB Matt. 1:24
N. An Illustration:
“During the Revolutionary War there was living in Pennsylvania a faithful
preacher of the Gospel named Peter Miller. Near him lived a man who was
violently opposed to Miller, and openly abused both him and his followers.
The man was found guilty of treason, and sentenced to death.
No sooner was the sentence pronounced than Miller set out on foot to
General Washington to intercede for the man' s life. He was told that his
prayer for his friend could not be granted. 'My friend! He is not my friend,'
answered Peter Miller. 'I have not a worse enemy living than that man. '
'What,' said Washington, 'you walked sixty miles to save the life of your
enemy? That, in my judgment, puts the matter in a different light. I will grant
the pardon. ' The pardon was made out, and Miller at once proceeded on foot
to the place, fifteen miles distant, where the execution was to take place. He
arrived just as the man was being taken to the scaffold. The traitor, on seeing
Miller in the crowd, exclaimed, 'Why, there is old Peter Miller! He has come
all the way from Ephrata to have his revenge gratified today by seeing me
hanged. ' These words were scarcely spoken before Miller stepped forward,
produced the pardon and the life of his worst enemy was spared. 'When we
were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son' (Romans
5:10. 'Christ died for the ungodly. '”
MATTHEW CHAPTER TWO
The King Is Born: Matt. 2:1-23
*
A. Time & Place Of His Birth: verse 1
1. Place: Bethlehem of Judaea.
2. Note: there were two cities called Bethlehem
3. One was in Zebulun (See Joshua 19:15). Bethlehem
[BETH-luh-hem; “house of bread”] A town of Zebulun, identified
with modern Beit Lahm, 7 miles (11km) NW of Nazareth.
4. Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea. Bethlehem (Judah)
[BETH-luh-hem; “house of bread”] A Judean town about 6 miles
(9km) SW of Jerusalem, notable as the birth place of Jesus.
In patriarchal times, it was known as Eplirath, and later became known as Bethlehem in Judah or Bethlehem Ephrathah to
distinguish it from the Zebulunite city of the same name. The
Amarna Letters refer to it as Bit-Lahmi, in a report of the city's
capture by the Habiru in the 14th century.
David was born and raised in Bethlehem, and it was here that
Samuel anointed him the successor of King Saul. In accordance
with Micah's prophecy, the Messiah, a descendent of David, was
also born in Bethlehem. A tradition going back to the 2 century AD
identifies the site of his birth with a cave that once served as the
stable of an inn near Bethlehem. The Church of the Nativity now
marks the ancient site, believed by many to be the authentic
birthplace of the Savior. Gen 35:19; Ruth 1:1-2; 1 Sam 16:13-15; 2
Sam 23:14-16; Mic 5:2; Matt. 2.
5. Note: Jesus was born when Herod of Rome was king.
6.
Herod the Great, The Idumean king of Judea, 37-4 BC, who
beautified the Jerusalem Temple, and ordered boy children in the
Bethlehem area killed in an effort to destroy Jesus.
7. BACKGROUND:
Herod became governor of Galilee in 47 BC, at the age of 25. By
ingratiating himself with a series of Roman rulers, through a series
of bloody civil wars, and by murdering rivals, Herod achieved
kingship in 37 BC. The First dozen years of Herod's rule were
dedicated to consolidating his power. These years too were marked
by bloodshed, including the execution of his favorite wife,
Mariamne I, and all her male relatives. At the end of this period, no
rivals of this cruel, paranoid ruler remained. The years 25-14 BC
saw unmatched prosperity in Judea. Herod undertook great
building projects. He constructed Caesarea Maritima, a retreat at
Masada, and most importantly, began his project to enlarge and
beautify the Jerusalem Temple. Family troubles dominated the
years 14-4 BC Rumors of plots by his various wives and their
children led Herod to execute many of his sons, including his two
favorites born to Mariamne I. Hostile, impulsive, dominated by
morbid fears, the evil Herod lived out his last years hated by family
and people alike. While dying from his last illness, Herod ordered
the execution of boy children in the vicinity of Bethlehem in a
futile effort to destroy one he was told had been born King of the
Jews. However, Joseph, warned in a dream, had taken Mary and
the young Jesus to Egypt. Just five days before Herod died, he
executed another son, Antipater, whom he earlier had designated
as his heir. As the end drew near, Herod ordered prominent Jews
from every part of the nation to appear in Jerusalem.
When they arrived, he had them imprisoned, and left orders that
they be killed the moment he died. Herod knew that only in this
way could he ensure national mourning rather than joy Matthew 2;
Cf: Luke 1:5.
Return to SRB Matt. 1:24
Return to Matthew 2:7, SRB Study
B. The Wise Men From The East: Verses 1 & 2: Cf: (
v. 2, Note:
King)
1 .Tradition calls them “kings” but the Bible does not. We will
believe that God's designation is correct. They were men who were
wise.
Note: They came to worship the King.
2. Notice: They were looking for the King of the Jews. We believe
they were men who had heard about the Messiah from Daniel the
prophet who was a captive in Babylon.
3. These men knew that the birth of the King was to be marked by
a star. They were looking for that star. When it appeared, they
followed it to Jerusalem where the King of the Jews would be born.
4. “I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh:
there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of
Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the
children of Sheth.” (Numbers 24:17 KJB).
5. We need to identify this Star. It was not an ordinary star you see
twinkling in the night. Neither was it a combination of planets.
This is all nonsense. The Bible fact. Angels are identified as
“stars.”
6. For example: “And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall
from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the
bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a
smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun
and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.”
(Revelation 9:1-2 KJB).
7. The Star of Matthew 2:2 was an angel of God sent to guide these
men who were wise enough to be looking for the King of the Jews
to be born.
8. When these men saw the “star” they left the orient and started on
their long journey that would take them 18 to 20 months to arrive
in Jerusalem.
9. By the time they arrived, Joseph, Mary and the King were at
Joseph's home in Nazareth.
Return to SRB Matt. 2:1
C. Herod’s Inquiry: v. 3-7
1. Herod was troubled when he heard that a King was born: v. 3
2. He summoned the chief priests and scribes to learn when the
Christ (Messiah) was to be born: v. 4
3. Since the priests and scribes (scribes were those in charge of
copying the Sacred Scriptures) knew Micah 5:2, and Daniel
9:25-27, they were able to inform Herod: vs. 5-6.
4. Herod's next move was to summons the wise men once more to
inquire when the star First appeared to them: verse 7.
5. Obviously, they would have given them the time of between 18
months and 22 months previously. This would involve the time it
took them to get ready for the journey and then travel all of that
distance after they First saw the star.
6. This means that the Baby would have been 18 to 22 months
before the appearance of the wise men in Jerusalem.
D. Herod's Treachery: verse 8
1. Under the pretense of wanting to worship the new born King, he
ordered the wise men to go to Bethlehem to find the King.
2. Note again: Joseph, Mary and the Baby were no longer in
Bethlehem, but back home in Nazareth.
E. God's Divine Intervention: verses 9-10
1. After the wise men left Herod's palace, the Angel (Star)
reappeared and led them, not to Bethlehem, but to Nazareth where
Joseph, Mary and the Baby were now located.
2. Apparently, the wise men were suspicious of Herod. When they
saw the Star, they were happy to follow it to their destination.
Return to SRB Matt. 2:1f
F. A Word Of Explanation.
1. Turn to Luke 2:21-24.
2. Notice that male babies were to be circumcised on the 8th day.
Circumcision was a sign God gave to the Jews back in the days of
Abraham (See Genesis 17:9-14). This identified the Hebrew male
as being in a covenant relationship with God.
3. Joseph and Mary would have taken baby Jesus to Jerusalem on
the 8th day after birth to be circumcised by the Hebrew priest.
4. In Luke 2:22, we are told that Mary observed the days of her
purification according to the law of Moses. Next turn to the
passage in Leviticus 12:1-8.
5. Note we are given the truth of circumcision on the 8th day. Then
the mother must wait for an additional 33 days before bring an
offering to Jerusalem.
6. This makes a total of 41 days from the date of birth. Next turn to
Luke 2:39. After the completion of the 41 days, Joseph, Mary and
the baby Jesus left for Nazareth. It takes about 5 days to travel
from Jerusalem to Nazareth.
7. This means that Jesus would have been 46 days old when they
returned home. The wise men did not arrive until Jesus was from
18 to 22 months of age. This is why Herod had all the boy babies
killed from 24 months and under. When he determined when the
Child was born, he calculated that if he killed all babies 24 months
and under he would be sure the Christ Child would be killed. This
clarifies why the wise men did not go to Bethlehem, but to
Nazareth where the Child was.
Return to SRB Matt. 2:1
G. The Wise Men Arrive In Nazareth: vs. 11-12:
1. Notice, they did not find a baby, but a young child. They come
to a home not a manger.
2. Notice also, they did not worship Mary, but the Christ Child.
3. The wise men worship Him and give him gifts.
4. In passing note, this would have enabled Joseph and Mary to
have the funds to travel to Egypt and live there until after Herod
would die.
5. Note: How wonderful the Lord provides for us when we are
doing His will.
6. Note also in verse 12, we are told that the wise men returned
home another way This means they did not go back to Jerusalem,
but went to Syria, north to Haran and then down the fertile crescent
to their home in the East.
7. How different, when we follow the Bible rather than tradition.
Return to SRB Matt. 2:12
H. Joseph, Mary and Jesus Travel To Egypt:
Verses 13-15
1. Note once again the angel of the Lord gives instructions to travel
to Egypt to protect the Christ Child: verse 13.
2. Note: there was a second reason. God was going to see that
prophecy was fulfilled.
3. In Hosea 11:1, God had promised He would call His Son out of
Egypt. This was in fulfillment of that prophecy God's Word always
comes to pass as God has promised: Verse 15.; See SRB
, Note 3.
Return to SRB Matt. 2:13-15
I. Herod's Treachery: verses 16-18
1. He has all the male babies 24 months and under killed.
2. Notice again this was the fulfillment of prophecy.
3. See Jeremiah 31:15.
Return to SRB Matt. 2:13-15
J. The Family Returns
Home To Nazareth:
Verses 19-23.
1. Note again it is under the direction of the Lord, not their own
idea: verses 19-22
2. Notice also that all of this was in fulfillment of the Lord's Word
given in the Old Testament.
3. See Jeremiah 23:5-6; Zechariah 6:12; Isaiah 11:1
4. The Word, BRANCH, is also the Hebrew word for Nazareth.
Return to SRB Matt. 2:19-23
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Matthew Chapter Three
John The Baptist Announces The King
Matthew 3:1-17
See note
&
See Note
A. The Background Of John: v. 1
1. His parents: See Luke 1:5-25.
2. His birth: (Note: his conception and birth were supernatural as
was Isaac's - Genesis 21:1-8 compared with Romans 4:16-21).
3. His surroundings: the wilderness.
4. His position: a prophet.
a. John is the first prophet in 400 years to appear in Israel
since Malachi prophesied as the last Old Testament
prophet.(400 years between O. T. & N. T.)
b. Malachi foretold that Elijah would be the would be the one
to announce the coming of the King: See Malachi 4:5.
c. Because Israel would reject their King, John the Baptist
was chosen by God to play the role of Elijah. In this way the
offer of the Kingdom of Heaven to Israel would be a real
offer.
d. The next offer of the Kingdom of Heaven to Israel will be
given by Elijah himself: See Rev. 11:3-12. Elijah and Moses
are the two witnesses.
Return to Matthew SRB Chapter 3:1
e. See Matthew 11:7-13
f. John would have been 30 ½ years old when he began
preaching. He was 6 months older than his Cousin, the Lord
Jesus who began His ministry at 30 years of age (See Luke
3:23).
B. The Two Kingdoms: verse 2
1. The Kingdom of Heaven:
a. This is a physical kingdom of real people reigned over by a
real King with a literal location.
b. The Kingdom of Heaven is a literal kingdom reigned over
by King Jesus.
c. The Kingdom of Heaven is a kingdom pertaining to the
nation of Israel. It is a Jewish kingdom.
d. It is important not to confuse the Kingdom of Heaven with
the Church Age or with Gentiles.
e. Matthew deals largely with the Jews, their King, their King
rejected, the constitution of the Jewish Kingdom, etc.
2. The Kingdom of God:
a. This is the spiritual kingdom headed by the King, the Lord
Jesus Christ.
b. This kingdom is invisible. It is the kingdom into which we
are born again as a Jew or a Gentile.
c. See John 3:5.
d. “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my
kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight,
that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my
kingdom not from hence. “Pilate there fore said unto him, Art
thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a
king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came into the
world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one
that is of the truth heareth my voice.” (John 18:36-37 KJB)
e. He is referring to the Kingdom of God the spiritual
kingdom over which He is also King.
f. It is critical to correct understanding of the Bible to have
these two kingdoms clear in our minds.
Hopeless confusion will result if the two kingdoms are not
clearly understood.
g. The subject of Matthew is the Kingdom of Heaven. A
literal, physical kingdom with people who can fight literal
enemies headed up by a military King, The Lord Jesus Christ.
(See Rev. 19:11-16 for a picture of the Kingdom of Heaven.
(
See Note Page 1348_3,
)
h. This Kingdom is rejected in the Book of Matthew.
C. John's Message: verses 2-3.
1. The call to the people of Israel was to repent. Repentance is a
godly sorrow for sin with a corresponding turning from that sin to
obedience to the Lord's commands.
2. Israel's sin of which they need to repent goes all the way back to
the time of Samuel when the people of Israel rejected God from
being their King. Instead they wanted a human king.
God gave them Saul who led them into disobedience.
3. “And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of
the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected
thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.”
(1 Samuel 8:7 KJB).
4. Read carefully 1 Samuel 8:1-22.
5. Isaiah gives them the promise of a renewed Kingdom with the
Lord as their King. Matthew quotes Isaiah 40:1-5 in Matthew 3:3.
6. Note: God laid out the book of Isaiah in the same manner as the
Bible is laid out. The Bible has 66 Books– Isaiah has 66 chapters.
The O. T. has 39 Books-Isaiah has 39 chapters closing with Israel
in disobedience. Malachi, the 39th book of the O. T. pictures Israel
in disobedience. Isaiah 40 begins with the ministry of John the
Baptist as does the N. T. The Bible closes (66th book) with a new
heaven and a new earth-Rev. 22. Isaiah chapter 66 ends with the
blessings of a new kingdom.
7. Read Jeremiah 31:1-40 to see why John the Baptist is sent to
preach repentance to Israel before the Lord will bring in His
Kingdom.
8. Unfortunately, the leaders of Israel refuse to repent. Therefore,
they reject God's next offer of the King and the Kingdom of
Heaven.
9. The next time God's offers Israel the Kingdom, it will be
accepted. This is the Millennial reign of Christ in His Kingdom of
Heaven He brings to pass. Rev. 20:4-21:1-2.
10. See Zechariah 12:10; 13:1,9; 14:4,7
D. John's Appearance, Food & Location: verses 4-5.
1. Note: the appearances of Elijah and John are similar.
2. Both would be called rugged “mountain men” in our day.
3. “And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a
girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the
Tishbite.” (2 Kings 1:8 KJB).
4. Both men are to present the King to Israel; both men minister to
types of the anti-Christ (Ahab & Herod); both men are killed
(Matthew 14:10; Revelation 11:7).
5. The Hebrews reject the offer of the Kingdom under John, but
will accept it under the ministry of Elijah.
6. John ministers in Jerusalem, Judaea and in Jordan.
E. John's Baptism: verse 6
1. Please note, John's baptism was for a totally different reason
than believers in the church age are baptized.
2. Church age believers are baptized to show that they have
repented of their sins and have received the Lord Jesus Christ as
their Lord and Savior. Baptism does not save us, but is a step of
obedience to show that we have been identified with Christ in His
death, burial and His resurrection. This baptism includes Jews as
well as Gentiles providing they are “saved. “ We could call our
baptism, he “Kingdom of God” baptism, showing we are a member
of Christ's invisible kingdom of God.
3. John baptized Jews only. They were to repent of their sins and
the sins of their forefathers for rejecting God as their King and
rejection of His Kingdom of Heaven.
4. If they repented of this rejection, they were to give evidence of
this repentance by being baptized in water. This included the
promises to accept the King when He appeared and accept His
Kingdom of Heaven.
5. Peter introduced another baptism in Acts 2:38. The nation of
Israel has rejected their King once again. When Peter reached to
them this truth, the Jewish people asked what they should do about
rejecting their King and His Kingdom. Peter then tells them, “Then
Peter said unto them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in
the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38 KJB)
6. Note: The Jews are to repent of rejecting Jesus as their King and
His Kingdom of Heaven; they are to be baptized in the Name of
Jesus Christ for He is the One they rejected as King. Then their
sins will be remitted (the sins of rejecting their King) and they will
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
F. Note then: The three forms of baptism:
1. John's baptism: Requirements: repent of rejecting God and His
Theocracy (Kingdom); promise to accept the King when He comes
and offers the Jews their Kingdom of Heaven.
2. Peter's Baptism: Requirements: once again the Jews have
rejected their King and His Kingdom of Heaven. Now what are
they to do? They are to repent of rejecting their Messiah and King.
They are to give outward evidence that they have repented of their
rejection by being baptized in water. Carefully read Acts 2:22-38.
3. Believer's Baptism: For Jews and Gentiles alike who will repent
of their sins, believe that Jesus Christ died for them, was buried
and rose again 72 hours later. After calling on the Lord to save
them, they are born into the Kingdom of God. After being saved,
then they are baptized in water to give public acknowledgment of
their salvation. Romans 10:9-13; Acts 9:26-40.
G. John's Reaction To The Religious Leaders: verse 7
1. The Pharisees and Sadducees were religious leaders.
2.
Who were the Pharisees and what did they do.
3. Sadducee: a member of an ancient Jewish party, representing the
ruling hierarchy, that accepted only the written law and rejected
the oral, or traditional, law They were opposed to the Pharisees.
They did not believe in the resurrection or in angels: “For the
Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor
spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.” (Acts 23:8 KJB).
4. John called them a “generation of vipers. “ Micah foretold of the
generation of wicked people whom God would judge as serpents:
“They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their
holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our
God, and shall fear because of thee.” (Micah 7:17 KJB).
5. When John warns them of the “wrath to come. “ He is referring
to such places as Revelation 6:16-17 KJB, “And said to the
mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him
that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the
great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”
H. The Fact Of Repentance: verse 8
1. Note: none of the Pharisees or Sadducees repented or were
baptized. They were self-righteous. The Pharisees were primarily
responsible for the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ .
2. If they are right with God as they pretended, they would have
repented, been baptized and brought forth fruit of that action.
3. Note the word, “meet.” This is a very expressive word in the
King James Bible. It means to be equal to or to compliment each
other. If the Pharisees are righteous, then they should be bringing
forth fruit that is equal to their profession. Instead they were
plotting how to kill their King and Messiah.
4. It is interesting that God used this word to describe Eve. She was
to be Adam's “helpmeet,” Genesis 2:18
I. John Exposes Their Failure: verse 9
1. They believed that because they came from Abraham, they were
right with God for that reason alone.
2. If they were really of Abraham, they would have brought forth
the fruit of their relationship.
3. Jesus told the Pharisees the same truth in John 8:39, “They
answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith
unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works
of Abraham.” (John 8:39 KJB).
4. Note the Deity of Christ: He could raise up stones to worship
Him if He so desired. He prefers men and women to worship Him
willingly.
J. John Reveals The Judgment That Faces Them: verse 10
1. John continues the idea of bearing fruit. He uses the analogy of a
fruit tree.
2. If a fruit tree refuses to bear fruit it is cut down and burned.
3. The Pharisees were like dead fruit trees waiting for the axe to
cut them down and burn them.
4. Jesus used the same thought: See Matthew 7:16-20.
K. John Continues The Punishment Facing Them: Verses 11-12.
1. John baptized those who truly repented v. 11.
2. John speaks of the Lord who is mightier then himself. John felt
he was not worthy to carry the shoes of Jesus, v. 11.
3 . Rather than baptize with water, the King will baptize them with
the Holy Ghost and fire, verse 11. This gives us the two ministries
of Christ: Baptism with the Holy Ghost (Acts 1:5) and the baptism
of fire.
4. The Lord Jesus Christ will baptize unsaved sinners with fire
when He comes as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
5. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8, “And to you who are troubled rest with
us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his
mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know
not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
6. Verse 12 continues this awesome baptism with fire. The wheat is
a picture of those who are right with God. The chaff is a picture of
unsaved sinners. The wheat will be taken Home to the “barn.” The
unsaved sinners at His Second Coming will be burned as chaff and
then put in the Lake of Fire forever.
7. See Matthew 25:41; Revelation 16:8-11; 19:20; 20:9,14-15; 2 Peter 3:10-13.
8. No sane person seeks the baptism with fire. It is important that
we know the language of the Bible, not what someone thinks the
Bible should say
L. The Baptism Of Jesus:
Verses 13-17.
1. Note: His baptism is given in all four Gospels.
2. Jesus comes to where John is baptizing Jews who will repent of
rejecting their King and promise to receive Him when He comes.
3. The location is at Bethabara (John 1:28). Bethabara means: “The
House of Crossing.” This is place where Israel crossed the Jordan
River as they entered into the land. See Joshua Chapter 3.
4. Note: Each Gospel writer gives additional information about
what they have been chosen to record. These are not
contradictions, but additional truth given from a different
perspective.
5. John shrunk from baptizing his Lord: verse 14.
6. Jesus insisted that John baptize Him. verse 15. Note the Bible
word “suffer.” This is the right word. It means the giving of
permission to do something with the corresponding willingness to
bear the consequences.
Permitting or allowing some things many times causes suffering.
7. Note: Jesus used the same word in Mark 10:14 KJB, “But when
Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer
the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such
is the kingdom of God.” It takes some “suffering” to get children
ready for church.
8. Note a picture of the Trinity:
verses 16-17; see
See Note Page 997
,
. The Father is in Heaven speaking; the Holy Spirit is
descending in the form of a dove; while Jesus is in the water.
9. Other references to the Trinity: “For there are three that bear
record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and
these three are one.” (1 John 5:7 KJB). See Genesis 1:27; 11:5-7,
to name a few.
10. You might wonder why Jesus wanted to be baptized. He
certainly had no sin; He was the King; His Father was pleased with
Jesus (verse 17).
11. The answer is that Jesus always obeyed every commandment
and everything He asked others to do. Again we are confronted
with the fact that baptism is not mandatory It is a step of
obedience.
12. Jesus kept every O. T. feast for example. He kept every law
that was given in the O. T. He was obedient to every command of
His Father. Although Jewish leaders accused Him of breaking the
law, they were wrong. What happened was, they had added laws to
their religious ritual that God had never given. No one was
obligated before God to keep these man made religious rules.
13. Notice in the Trinity, each personality has a function. God the
Father is revealed to us as a Father. Jesus Christ, equally God, is
revealed to us as the only begotten Son; while the Third Person of
the Trinity is know as the Holy Ghost (Spirit).
14. Man, who was originally made in the image of God is also a
trinity. We are souls, living in a body with a spirit. Note in 1
Thessalonians 5:23 KJB, “And the very God of peace sanctify you
wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be
preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
15. Note also Genesis 2:7, Body from dust; breath, spirit and man
became a living soul.
