The Messiahs Messenger Matthew 3 John the Baptist

The Messiah’s Messenger Matthew 3

John the Baptist l. A Hero of Faith, Luke 1: 13 -16 l Great in God’s sight l Filled with the Holy Spirit l Turned many in Israel to the Lord l Prophet of the Highest, Lk. 1: 7679 l Courageous preacher, Lk. 3: 18 -20 2

Message and Life, Matt. 3: 110 l John fulfilled prophecy (King is coming) l Voice crying in the wilderness, Matt. (Isa. 40: 3 -5); Lk. 3: 4 - 3: 3 6 l Messenger of preparation, Mal. 3: 1 l Elijah of promise, Mal. 4: 5 -6 (Matt. 11: 14) 3

Message and Life, Matt. 3: 110 l Kingdom is near, Matt. 3: 2 l Expectation of Israel, Dan. 2: 44; 7: 13 -14, 17 -18 l Daniel 2: 44 was being fulfilled, Mark 9: 1 (Acts 1: 8; 2: 1 -4) l Daniel 7: 18 was being fulfilled (Heb. 12: 28) 4

Message and Life, Matt. 3: 110 l Message of repentance, Matt. 3: 2 l Turn people back to God’s law, Malachi 4: 6; Luke 1: 16 -17, 77 l Warned of wrath to come, Matthew 3: 7, 10; Malachi 4: 5 -6 l Baptism of repentance, Matt. 3: 5 -6; Mk. 1: 1 -5 l Fruits of repentance, Matt. 3: 7 -10; Lk. 3: 10 -14 (Acts 26: 20) 5

Message and Life, Matt. 3: 110 l Self-denial, Matt. 3: 4; 11: 7 -8 l Food and clothing l Reminiscent of Elijah (2 Kgs. 1: 8) l His self-denying life was a living protest against the selfish indulgence of his day 6

Message and Life, Matt. 3: 110 l Lessons: l God keeps His word (fulfilled prophecy) l The King has come and his kingdom exists today, Col. 1: 13 l Repentance crucial, Lk. 13: 3, 5; 2 Pet. 3: 9 l We must deny self to live for God, 7

Contrasts with John, Matt. 3: 11 -12 l With Jesus: Jesus was mightier than John, 3: 11; cf. John 3: 28 -30 l John’s reverence for Jesus, Matthew 3: 14 l John rejoiced in being a servant of the Christ, John 3: 29 8

Contrasts with John, Matt. 3: 11 -12 l With Mankind: None greater than John, Matt. 11: 9 -11 a l Much more than a prophet; the Messiah’s messenger, 11: 9 -10 (Lk. 1: 76) l None greater because of his work, devoted strength and humility, 11: 11 9

Contrasts with John, Matt. 3: 11 -12 l With Kingdom Citizens: John not as great, Matt. 11: 11 b-12 l John was not an immediate participant in the Messiah’s kingdom, 11: 11 b l Forceful endeavor to enter the kingdom was the result of John’s work, 11: 12 (Lk. 16: 16) 10

Contrasts with John, Matt. 3: 11 -12 l Lessons: l Should rejoice in being servants of Christ (1 Tim. 1: 12; 1 Pet. 5: 5) l Be faithful in our work and receive Christ’s commendation (Lk. 16: 10; Matt. 25: 21) l Cannot sleep your way into the kingdom (Luke 13: 23 -24) 11

John’s Service, Matt. 3: 13 -17 l Helped to fulfill all righteousness when he baptized Jesus, Matt. 3: 13 -15 l Jesus came to do the will of God (Jno. 6: 38; Heb. 10: 7) l It was God’s will that Israel receive John’s message and baptism l Therefore, righteousness was 12

John’s Service, Matt. 3: 13 -17 l Helped spread the gospel by identifying Jesus as the Son of God, John 1: 29 -34 l Once Jesus was identified, John pointed others to Christ and away from himself, John 1: 35 -37; 3: 2531 13

John’s Service, Matt. 3: 13 -17 l Lessons: l We must serve righteousness through obedience (Rom. 6: 15 -18) l We must point others to Jesus (Jno. 1: 40 -42, 43 -46) 14

John: The Messiah’s Messenger l Knew his role and did his work, John 3: 28 l John was a great man of faith l You can be greater than John by serving righteousness in the kingdom of Christ l Being born of “water and the Spirit” is greater than those “born of women”, 15