The New Testament – Verse by Verse Bible Study – Part 3

In this Bible Study series on Internet Pastor Online we will be studying through the New Testament verse by verse. You can watch or listen to the study by going to the Online Church page.

Matthew Chapter 3

Matthew 3:1-17 (NKJV)
1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’ ” 4 And John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto 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 fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” 15 But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. 16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

After Malachi there was no prophet until John the Baptist came. His message was in your face and had two components: (1) a soteriological (salvation) component, repent, and (2) an eschatological (end times) component, for the kingdom of heaven is near. As we have discussed the idea of a coming kingdom was well known at the time of Christ. They were waiting for a return to the glory days of the Davidic kingdom, but the idea that repentance was necessary in order to enter this kingdom was something new and was difficult to swallow for the religious leaders of the day who believed that as children of Abraham they would automatically be granted entrance into the Kingdom of God. John’s message, however, was that a change of mind, heart, and attitude (repentance) was necessary.

It is still as necessary to repent and humble ourselves, to prepare the way of the Lord, as it then was. There is a lot to be done, to make way for Christ into a heart and life as not only Savior but Lord.

John’s message was a fulfillment of the prophecy in

Isaiah 40:3 (NIV)
3 A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.

and

Malachi 3:1 (NIV)
1 “See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty.

John extends the connection into verses 12 and 13.

John’s came dressed similarly to Elijah (clothes of camel hair and a leather belt.

2 Kings 1:8 (NIV)
8 They replied, “He was a man with a garment of hair and with a leather belt around his waist.” The king said, “That was Elijah the Tishbite.”

He preached in the desert as a way to separate people from the religious system of the day. A new way, The Way was coming and John was preparing the people.

Matthew 3:11 (NIV)
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.

Those hearing John’s words would have been reminded of two Old Testament prophecies:

Joel 2:28-29 (NIV)
28 ‘And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

Malachi 3:2-4 (NIV)
2 But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, 4 and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD, as in days gone by, as in former years.

Jesus Baptism

Matthew 3:13-17 (NIV)
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Jesus’ response to John was that it was fitting for Him to take part in John’s baptism at this time in order to fulfill all righteousness. What is Jesus talking about? There are no requirements in the law about baptism, so Jesus isn’t talking about Levitical righteousness. Since John’s message was a message of repentance, and those experiencing it were looking forward to a coming Messiah who would be righteous and who would bring in righteousness, Jesus participating in the baptism would identify Him with sinners. It is this identification that is at the heart of baptism.

All three Persons of the Trinity were at the baptism of Jesus: the Father who spoke of His Son, the Son who was being baptized, and the Spirit who descended on the Son as a dove. The descent of the Holy Spirit empowered Jesus, the Messiah, for His kingdom ministry.