Written by David Self Monday, 03 September :00 - Last Updated Saturday, 01 September :30

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1 Explore the Bible Lesson Preview September 9, 2007 "God's Sinless Son" Background: Matthew 3:1-4:16 Lesson: Matthew 3:13-4:11 Motivation: Repentance is not a popular call in today's society. But, is it ever popular? It must be prompted by God's Holy Spirit and be accompanied by the "fruit of righteousness". It is a change of attitude with an accompanying change of action. Examination: I. The Ministry and Message of John the Baptist (3:1-12) A. The In-between Period: Chapter 2 closes with Jesus' infancy; Chapter 3 begins when He is thirty. What happened during roughly 90% of His life? William Barclay suggests four things: 1. Jesus was growing up in a good home. The importance of a good stable home to a child's development cannot be overstressed. His knowledge of the Bible started here. 2. Jesus was fulfilling the duties of the eldest son. Joseph's apparent absence at the wedding feast of Cana (John 2:1) leads us to believe that Mary was widowed. It fell to the eldest son to care for the family. 3. Jesus was learning what it was like to be a working man. "Jesus worked in Nazareth for all the silent years in order that he might know what our life was like, and that, understanding, he might be able to help." (William Barclay, Matthew pp ) 4. Jesus was faithfully performing the lesser task before the greater task was given to Him. (Luke 19:17; Heb. 5:8) B. The Intimidating Prophet After four hundred years of prophetic silence, John the Baptist, according to Alexander MacLaren, leapt into the arena fully grown and fully armed. 1. John Spoke Like A Prophet (1) He came "preaching" in the wilderness. The Old Testament prophets spoke boldly the Word of God. 2. John Behaved Like A Prophet (2-3) If Jesus was the royal King, then John was His herald. " Make his paths straight " creates the word picture of a herald going forth in advance of a King. 1 / 5

2 3. John Dressed Like A Prophet (4) His "camel's hair suit" reminds us of Elijah (2 Kings 1:8) His "health food diet" was in stark contrast to the religious establishment in nearby Jerusalem. 4. John Was Received Like A Prophet (3) "all the region... went out to him." (5) The people acknowledged that John's message was from God. His message was not entertaining or politically correct, but he drew great crowds. 5. John Saw Response Like A Prophet "Baptized" (6) Believer's Study Bible, p. 1336: "John's name in Greek is John the one who baptizes.'" This John came forward with the rite of baptism, which was unique both in method and meaning. The meaning (repentance) was different, and the presence of an administrator unique. The Jews in John 1:25 asked the Baptist why he introduced the new rite if he were not the Christ or Elijah or his prophet to come. John replied that he was sent from God to baptize in water (John 1:33). Thus, God initiated the ritual. Jesus said that John's baptism came from heaven (21:25). After the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, baptism, for the church refers to and pictures death, burial, and resurrection (Rom. 6:3-5; Col. 2:12). John's baptism was required for both Jews and Gentiles as a sign of a repentance that results in the forgiveness of sins (Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3). Although John's baptism may have its background in the O.T. (Lev. 15:13; Num. 19; Is. 1:16; 44:3; Jer. 4:14; Ezek. 36:25; Zech. 13:1), John is, nevertheless, unique in that he administered the baptism himself and called for repentance before the coming of the messianic kingdom." 6. John's Message Was The One Of A Prophet a. Repent and Confess Sin (2, 6) Believer's Study Bible, p. 1336: 3:2 "In the Judaism of the interbiblical period, obedience to the Law became the condition for membership among God's people. Obedience would bring God's kingdom and transform the world. The Law came to be an intermediary between God and man; to gain the words of the Law was to gain life in the world to come. Thus, the O.T. doctrine of election which found expression in the covenant was replaced by a doctrine of obedience to the Law. Instead of constitution, a standard by means of which the covenant was preserved, obedience to the Law became the condition for membership. Legalism replaced election. Failure to obey necessitated repentance, and repentance was the theme of John's preaching. John demands repentance, a turning from' sins in view of the coming Day of Judgment. Jesus (4:17) also preaches repentance as an invitation to respond to divine initiative (cf. 13:44-46) and issues the call to repent, not because God is going to act at some time in the future, but because God is now acting. Jesus' call for repentance is in itself the activity of God's kingdom. To John and Jesus, repentance means more than simply accepting the yoke of the Law, which was the current view of Judaism; rather, it involves both an acknowledgment of sin and an ethical change in conduct for all men - even those of Jewish descent, who could claim access to a treasury of merit as children of Abraham (c. 9). John's baptism in water constitutes the outward sign of true repentance (v. 6). Repentance' ( metanoia, Gk.) means to turn' from sin to God (cf. 2 Cor. 7:10). The kingdom of heaven' is a Semitic idiom in which heaven' is substituted for the divine name (see against heaven' in Luke 15:18). This form of expression would appeal to Matthew's Jewish readers more than kingdom of God,' 2 / 5

3 a phrase found in Matthew only four times. For the development of this concept, see 4:17; 11:11-13; 12:28; 19: At hand' means that God is about to act to bring both judgment ( baptize with fire') and salvation ( baptize with the Holy Spirit'). This is to be accomplished by Him who is coming after me' (v. 11). b. Bear Fruit "Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance" (8) John would not tolerate the religious leaders to be only "Sabbath believers," jumping on the repentance "bandwagon" for show. He wanted action to match words. A tree that does not bear fruit is cut down (10). c. Be Separate (9-12) John would not allow a profession without a change in position; he demanded nothing less than separation from old, sinful ways. 1. Baptism is a symbolic break with the world's system. We are buried to an old way of doing things. His baptism with the Holy Spirit and Fire will usher in His new kingdom. 2. Wheat must be separated from chaff. (12) There is a clear division between those in the Kingdom and those not. (Matt. 7:21-23, Luke 13:25-28). II. The Baptism of Jesus (3:13-17) A. The Test of Jesus' Baptism - Never before in their national history had Jews consented to baptism. The rite was reserved for polluted proselytes, but was not appropriate for the sons of Abraham. That's why John was so shocked that Jesus would desire baptism. Jesus recognized a true movement of God among His people and saw the next step along His Messianic journey. B. The Timing of Jesus' Baptism - This event was the beginning of Jesus' public ministry. It was His "coronation" as the Messiah. C. The Trinity at Jesus' Baptism 1. The Spirit - descending like a dove. 2. The Son - gazing at the open heavens 3. The Father - blessing His Son with acknowledgment that He was the Messianic King (Psalm 2:7) and the Suffering Servant (Isa. 42:1). Believer's Study Bible, p. 1337: 3:16, 17 "The Trinity is seen in the presence of the Father in the audible blessing and assurance, in the submission of the Son to baptism, and in the Spirit's anointing of the Son for His role as Messiah. The voice from heaven (v. 17) alludes to Ps. 2:7, the coronation formula for the messianic King of Israel, and to Is. 42:1, the ordination formula for Isaiah's Servant of the Lord. The passages combined indicate that Jesus' mission as the kingly Messiah would be realized in terms of the Suffering Servant (cf. Is. 52:13-53:12). Jesus did not become the Son of God at His baptism, for this He was from the beginning (cf. John 1:1-18; Col. 1:13-20; Heb. 1:1-3). The divine voice only ratified and publicly proclaimed an already existing sonship, which conditioned both His message and task, for His kingdom is one of teaching, healing, humility, and sacrifice (8:17; 12:18-21; 20:28). Sonship is the basis for the Father's choice of Jesus to fulfill the role of Messiah. The roles of Son of God and Messiah are not synonymous, since Jesus' sonship precedes messiahship. Because He is Son, He does not become the Son; but as Son, He is tempted to decide what kind of Messiah He will become. More than filial consciousness is involved in Jesus' sonship; a supernatural and exclusive relationship exists between Father and Son, which even demons recognize at the beginning of His ministry (Mark 1:23-26; Luke 4:33-35)." III. The Temptation of Jesus (4:1-11) A. If Satan cannot steal your victory, he'll try to steal your joy. Jesus went 3 / 5

4 physically from the river bottom to the mountain top. Spiritually, it was just reversed. From the wonderful moment of confirmation at His baptism, He was "driven" (Mark 1:12) into the barren wilderness. After Elijah's great triumph on Carmel, he ran for his life before Jezebel (1 Kings 19:3). It's instructive to understand the word "tempted". (Gr. Pierazein) is much closer to our concept of "tested." In Genesis 22:1, God "tempted" Abraham to slay Isaac. The word in both contexts does not carry a meaning of "seduction to evil." (James 1:13-14) B. If Satan cannot get you to do the wrong thing, he'll try to get you to do the right thing in the wrong way or with the wrong motive. Satan didn't try to get Jesus to renounce His messiahship, only to accomplish it in a different way. John summarizes sin in I John 2:16 "For all that is in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life - is not of the Father but is of the world." 1. Lust of the Flesh - The first temptation is of bread. After a forty day fast, the craving for food would have been intense. Morever, Satan may have been tempting Jesus to make His messianic message one of primary appeal to physical needs - feed the hungry, heal the sick, comfort the hurting. 2. The Pride of Life - The second temptation is for a spectacular display of messianic power. This would not only confirm His status, but would be a shortcut to popular appeal. 3. Lust of the Eyes - The third temptation was the glory of the kingdoms of this world. Every object that has ever tempted mankind to take their eyes off God was on display. Some believe that Satan was offering kingship of a temporal sphere in exchange for the eternal salvation desired. C. When Satan comes against you, imitate Jesus. 1. Establish Your Position - Luke and Mark emphasize that Jesus was led by the Spirit (Mark 2:1, Luke 4:1). Our position is "in Christ" (1 Cor. 1:2; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 3:27; Eph. 1:3, 7; Col. 3:15) Don't try to take on Satan in your own power. 2. Engage the Promises - In case of each temptation, Jesus responded with Scripture. The value of memorizing and applying scripture cannot be overestimated. 3. Express the Pronouncement - "Away with you Satan!" (10) James 4:7 "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (Eph. 6:12-18; Jude 9). Application: 1. God's leader speaks against sin. 2. Baptism is the first step of Christian obedience. 3. Satan's Temptation can be overcome by God's power and Word. Teacher's Pack: Item 5: Handout: Temptations Illustrator p. 75 "John the Baptist: His Life and Ministry"; p. 40 "First Century Capernaum" 4 / 5

5 Notes: **You may now access David's Lesson Preview in MP3 format at: study.org/ ; also, the Highpoint Bible Study (Downtown) is available on MP3 at the HFBC site under the Highpoint link/downloads. Dates: 9/11-11/13 - Living Proof w/ Beth Moore; 9/13-12/11 - Men's Life & Breakfast; 9/ Evangelism Explosion Clinic; 10/12 - Bunko, Babes & Burgers, Women's Event; 10/25 - Leadership Commitment Event; 10/31 - Fall Festival; 11/4 - Celebration Sunday (churchwide event); 11/25 - Thanksgiving - 10 a.m. worship (SS opt.) 6:30; 12/1 - MTC Christmas Store; 12/1 - Kingdom Kids Winter Event; 12/1 - Preschoolers Christmas Party; 12/ Christmas Presentation; 12/23 - Christmas - both a.m. services (no SS, no Ascend). 5 / 5