Matthew Chapter 5 - Helpful Notes

A brief recap: In my notes on Matthew 1, I talked about the importance of the Genealogy in establishing Jesus as the long awaited Messiah. In Matthew 2, I looked at Christ's birth, His nativity as it is called. In Matthew 3, I examined John the Baptist’s ministry and the doctrine of repentance and last week in Matthew 4, I spoke largely about temptation. Matthew 5 follows on directly from where we left Jesus after the healings and the miracles, we read, “there followed Him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis and from Jerusalem and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan.” (Matthew 4:25)

So let’s read Matthew 5: (Read)

This chapter, chapter 6 and chapter 7 of Matthew are what we call the Sermon on the Mount. The Sermon on the Mount is the longest single piece of teaching from Jesus in the New Testament.

We are going to deal with it in 6 sections:

• The Beatitudes.
• Salt and Light.
• Good Works and the Fulfilment of the Law.
• Oaths and their Consequences.
• Love in Practice.
• Like Father, Like Son.

 Verse 2 starts with the words “And He opened His mouth and taught them…” What does Jesus teach? He teaches men how to be blessed. That is how to be happy! John Wesley comments, “To bless men, to make men happy, was the great business for which our Lord came into the world…Knowing that happiness is our common aim, and that an innate instinct continually urges us to the pursuit of it, He in the kindest manner applies to that instinct, and directs it to its proper object.” Its proper object of course being our Creator, Almighty God!

So without further ado, let’s get right into the text.

First we have what is known as the Beatitudes:

There are 8 Beatitudes, with a possible ninth one, which is sometimes seen more as a commentary on the eighth. So let’s look at them in order:

• Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. If you want to be spiritually rich, you have to first acknowledge that you are spiritually poor. You have to understand that you are nothing, you have nothing and consequently you are a beggar before God.
• Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Whilst I’m sure those that have lost loved ones have felt the comfort of God’s Spirit, I actually believe that Jesus is talking about those that mourn for their sins. Their comfort is in the fact that they will be forgiven.
• Blessed the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Meekness is a humble heart. Those that are humble before God shall receive all the blessings of God, including salvation, everything pertaining to life and godliness, because “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” (James 4:6)
• Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Do you long for the holy way of living, here described by Jesus?
• Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. A principle elaborated on by Jesus in Chapter 6:14.
• Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. This speaks of the sanctification of the believer, something that lots of Christians tell me is neither possible, nor necessary…I’m going with Jesus on this one!
• Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. The peace that is made is between God and man; no wonder the Scripture says “he that winneth souls is wise.” (Proverbs 11:30)
• Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

In verses 11 and 12 Jesus expounds this saying, let’s read that (Read)

Salt and Light 13-16

It is unthinkable; impossible; that those that have been touched by Christ, born of His Spirit, “enlightened…and made partakers of the Holy Ghost,” to remain just like the rest of the world. But this does not mean that we are to hide away from the world, quite the opposite. In fact the whole design of the Christianity is what Wesley calls “a Social Religion.” This is the sense in which we are salt. If you put salt on your food, every morsel it touches is affected by that salt; you can taste it. In the same way, because you and I interact with the unsaved people of the world, when we are being obedient to Christ, waking in holiness, pro-active in the sharing of the gospel then we start to affect those around us.

Pastor Shane Idleman said, “We do the most for the world, when we are least like the world.”

Your very presence as a Christian, your “being different,” may bring conviction on the worldly minded man; your being “salt” may even, in some measure, restrain unwholesome conversation, or actions; or cause others to start to turn their minds to eternal things. Yet if the salt loses its savour, its saltiness, of what use is it? If a Christian, either starts to isolate himself and keep his religion private, or becomes just like the world, rather than like Christ; then it is the end of his usefulness. Christians are to shine, like lights in the darkness, ”a city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel…” So, whilst Christians are to spend time alone in prayer, even the Lord Jesus did that; whilst we are to separate ourselves from the world in terms of our values, customs and practices; we don’t speak like them, don’t live like them, don’t love the things that they love etc. We are not to become hermits living a monastic lifestyle, neither are we to hide what we are and what we believe; this would be the undoing of the very purpose of our continued existence in the world.

Good Works and the Fulfilment of the Law 16-30

Our good works, wrought for Christ and through Christ are to be seen, so that others might glorify God; that they might be moved to follow in your footsteps, by your good example.

Now, the Lord Jesus turns His attention to matters of the Law.

Verse 17 (Read) Some think that Christ is the against the Law, the enemy of it and the opposer of it, but that is not so. Christ is the “end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” (Romans 10:4) That is, He is the fulfilment, the culmination of it. He illustrates and establishes in this sermon what the Law showed us was lacking, yet couldn’t provide; that is moral obedience to God, internally and externally. The Gospel of Jesus Christ teaches Justification through Faith. Yet Paul says, “Do we then make void the Law through faith? God forbid: yea we establish the Law.” (Romans 3:31) To quote John Gill, “that faith is not right which is not attended with works of righteousness.” (John Gill’s Commentary.)

Now Jesus starts to show how deep the requirements of God truly are:

Firstly, our righteousness must exceed, or go beyond the righteousness of the Scribes and the Pharisees. It must not be just an outward righteousness like theirs, they are like “whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.” (Matthew 23:27) There is corruption within, rottenness, hypocrisy.

Jesus illustrates this with verses 21-22 (Read) and verses 27-28 (Read)

So again, He is emphasising the fact that He is not doing away with God’s moral requirements and saying don’t worry about them, rather He is teaching that they have an even deeper, stricter application than may have been thought! He also establishes His authority as the Son of God, with the repetition of the phrase, “Ye have heard it was said…but I say unto you…” These are not the words of a mere Rabbi, a teacher; or even a Prophet.

Does your right eye offend thee? Pluck it out! Does your right hand offend you? Cut it off! Whatever the sin is, that you hold dear, that you cherish and feed like your own child; that you cannot bear to be without, that is as much a part of you as your own body; “Feeding the eye with forbidden fruit,” as Matthew Henry puts it. Pluck it out! Cut it off! Jesus is saying, figuratively, or rather spiritually, whatever it takes to separate yourself from that sin. Throwing the TV in a skip; stamping on your mobile phone; putting a lock on the fridge; closing your Facebook account; whatever it is, make that sacrifice. Because God is a holy God and His kingdom is a sanctified kingdom.

Oaths and their Consequences 31-37

In verses 31-38 Jesus starts to teach about the taking of oaths and their consequences. Perhaps the most relevant to us is the issue of Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage. Marriage involves the taking of an oath before God and in Law. Here Jesus addresses the question of Divorce. Let’s compare Matthew 5:32 with the other Scriptures in the NT:

• Mark 10:11-12 (Read)
• Luke 16:18 (Read)
• 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 (Read)

So that should be fairly clear that God intends men and women that are married, to remain married, not get divorced and not to remarry. It should also be clear that separation is at best, to be temporary and is in fact contrary to the spirit and teaching of Christ and His Apostles. Are there any circumstances that allow for exceptions these rules? Yes.

• 1 Corinthians 7:39 (Read) Does this mean that only a widow may remarry and that a widower may not remarry? No, as Wesley might say, “a part is put for the whole.”
• 1 Corinthians 7:13 and 15 (Read) Matthew Henry comments, “In such a case the deserted person must be free to marry again.”

Are there any other circumstances that allow for Divorce and/or Remarriage. I believe there are. Let’s read Matthew 5:32 But I say unto you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication…” There is the exception. Fornication is sex outside of marriage, therefore it “breaketh wedlock” as William Tyndale puts it; it breaks the marriage covenant.  But even then it is at the discretion of the wronged partner. It doesn’t have to result in divorce, but it is allowed and so is remarriage under those circumstances.

Once this principle has been explained, I think it is unreasonable and perhaps contentious, to hold others to a standard, that not even the Lord Jesus is holding men and women to. Sadly, there are Christians who set themselves above the word of God, (whether through ignorance, or self-righteous conceit) “forbidding to marry,” as Paul puts it. But we must accept the authority of the Lord Jesus on this matter, “with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.”

Love in Practice 38-44

Jesus now starts to give practical advice on expressing love to others, even to those that hate us. Let’s read verse 38 (Read)

Under the Old Covenant it was said, “An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.” This is a quote from Exodus 21: 24-25 (Read) Now these verses were being used as an excuse for individuals to act as vigilantes, wreaking revenge on those who wronged them, often violent revenge. However, you will see in context that these verses do not give liberty to private individuals to mete out justice whenever they feel like it, rather they are instruction in Law, given to appointed judges, to act fairly and proportionately, on behalf of these individuals.

Jesus however, encourages the Christian NOT to return “evil for evil, or railing for railing:” as Peter says in 1 Peter 3:9, or as Paul puts it in Romans 12:17 “Recompense to no man evil for evil.”

In fact, in principle, we are to “turn the other cheek.” This is a proverbial saying, not a literal instruction, as should be clear from John 18:22-23 where we read “one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand…” Jesus does not meekly offer him his other cheek to be struck, rather he challenges the man, “If I have spoken evil, bare witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?” Christ’s response is one of reproof (and why would He not reprove those that sin, even against his own person) yet it is calm and rational. The perfect example for us.

Even in smaller matters, our attitude is to be the same:

• “If any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.” (Verse 40)
• Go the extra mile. (Verse 41)
• “Give to him that asketh thee,” (Verse 42) although we should use our “discretion,” as Mathew Henry puts it “lest we give that to the idle and unworthy,” which of course would be harmful, rather than helpful for them and us.

Jesus brings forth some truly radical and eminently practical teaching now, as he finishes of this section with the words we find in verse 43 (Read) I like Wesley’s comment, “God spoke the former part; the Scribes added the latter!” (Explanatory Notes on the New Testament – John Wesley)

But once again, in verse 44 Jesus removes the error of tradition and expounds the Scriptures correctly. (Read)

Like Father, Like Son 45-48

God is gracious to the evil and the good. He expresses love to the righteous and the unrighteous, by sending rain for their crops and sun to make them grow. Therefore Christians should love not just the good and the righteous, but also the wicked. Now here it is helpful if we define love from a Biblical perspective. We may love the wicked person and yet not love what he does. 1 Corinthians 13:6 says that “charity” that is love, “Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.” To love a man, does not mean that we must approve, or agree with him; it does not mean that we must become like him; rather it means we believe that God gives him the freedom to live as he will. I wish our own government would understand that basic truth and see that it underpins the true definition of tolerance.

Finally, Jesus finishes this chapter with those amazing words, “be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

As Jesus began this chapter He spoke of a way of living; a way of being, that was “blessed” or happy. Now He describes that life as perfection.

But you might say, “impossible” no man can be perfect! No, not by himself; not by his own efforts; not by good deeds wrought in the flesh; not by empty, vain words and actions; not by wishing, or pretending. But through the indwelling, empowering, sanctifying power of God, he may. As Jesus says, later on in Matthew 19:26 “ With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. Interesting that being “perfect” is a command, rather than a theological theory!

Copyright © Paul Jennings.

 

Matthew Chapter 4 - Helpful Notes.

If the emphasis of Matthew 3 was largely on Repentance, then I guess you could say that the emphasis of Matthew 4 is largely, at least the first part, on Temptation.

After the wonderful testimony of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we see that it doesn’t take long for the Devil to make an appearance. Should it come as a surprise to us, that when we enjoy a time of blessing, or refreshment, that it is followed by the devil’s assault?  Matthew Henry comments, “The enriched soul must double its guard. The devil has a particular spite at useful persons.” How true! The Devil is a past master at choosing his prey AND choosing his moment, he has been deceiving mankind for thousands of years, so his methods are well tested; they are diverse and deadly. William Gurnall, in his book “The Christian in Complete Armour,” said that the Devil, “shows his wily subtlety…in choosing the most advantageous season for temptation.” How true that is, even with the Lord Jesus himself. I want you to notice two things:

• The time when the Tempter comes.
• The object of the temptations.

Jesus is alone; he is hungry having fasted for 40 days and forty nights. In verse 2 we read that “he was afterwards hungry.” That is after fasting, Jesus, being in a body of human flesh, felt the weakness of that flesh, expressed as hunger…and at that precise moment, the Devil showed up!

When do the Devil’s strongest temptations come to you? When you are weak, when your flesh is wanting to take the lead, when those who otherwise might be of support are absent!

Even the Lord Jesus is tempted; and yet he was “without sin.” So here is an important difference to learn; temptation is not sin. Suffering temptation cannot be the same thing as committing sin, otherwise the spotless Lamb of God would be guilty of sin, here in the wilderness. There are two responses to temptation: One is “Enduring temptation,” as James puts it, the other is what Jesus himself calls “entering into temptation.” Go to Matthew 26:40-41 (Read) what does it mean to enter into temptation? Someone has described it as being, “engaged with it, connected to it.  You let it inside and its sitting in your living room.  The temptation that landed in your flesh has found a place in your affections. Temptation grows in power as it builds a position in your soul.”

Jesus is tempted, but he does not enter into temptation.

The Lord Jesus is not merely a man. He is God in the flesh; the God/Man as some theologians have termed it. We have also learned that he had not sinful flesh like us, therefore He was not “drawn away of his own lust, and enticed…” However, as Michael McGhee Canham says, “Temptation is not restricted to internal solicitations to evil, arising from one’s sinful nature, but also includes external solicitations to evil coming from Satan himself. It was in this sense that Satan solicited Christ to do evil.”

What was the object of the temptations?

We can see quite clearly from the three temptation’s that follow, that Satan is trying to get Jesus to act independently of his Father. Why is this significant? Why is this a problem? Why is this sin? Because Jesus said in John 6:38 “I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” Again in Hebrews 10:9 this quote is applied to Jesus, in his Kenosis, his Incarnate self, “Lo, I come to do thy will, O God.” The Scriptures affirm, ”To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17) To get Christ to act independently of his Father, would be to overturn the very reason for His incarnation; it would be to violate, what Wesley called “His eternal, intimate, indissoluble unity with the Father.” Let’s turn to John 5:19 (Read) Satan is striking at the very unity of the Godhead.

Now it is interesting that the nature of Christ’s temptation, is very similar to the temptation of Eve in the Garden of Eden and through Adam’s disobedience, the fall of man. Both temptations revolve around what John calls, “the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life.” (1 John 2:16)

Let’s take a look at the temptations, in order:

1. “If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.” (Verse 3) As has been noted, by many scholars, Christ’s answer in each case is “it is written.” The sword of the Spirit has been rightly termed “the offensive weapon of the Christian’s armour.” For us too, I think this is the most effective way to answer the devil. In verse 4, Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy 8:3; so let’s have a look at it in context. (Read) He spoke and manna came down; He also sent Quail into the camp. God commanded the ravens to bring “bread and flesh” to Elijah, by the brook. So in all these matters, the sustenance of those who had their trust in God, was not based on the availability of food, but rather on the care and ability of God.
2. “Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city…” (verse 5) That is to Jerusalem. Even in places of worship, in the holiest places Satan is at work. His temptations afflict the human heart. Look how versed the devil is in the scriptures. See how easily he can bring them to rememberance! Yet watch how subtly he perverts them. Go to Psalm 91:11-12 (Read) See the bit he left out? If we do not keep “in all our ways,” that is walking in obedience to God, then we forfeit the promise. Hebrews 5:8 says,”Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered…”Once again Jesus resists the devil, declaring “It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”
3. In verse 8 we have the final temptation. (Read) It sees that the devil shows the Lord Jesus some kind of vision of all the kingdoms of the world and all their glory; their wealth, their might, their splendour and so on… Here we see the real aim of Satan, the worst and most blasphemous temptation was saved until last. Ironic, since Jesus, as the Son of God, was already promised the kingdoms of the world. Go to Revelation 11:15 (Read) As Jesus rejects Satan’s proposal to take the place of God, and instead holds to the truth of the word; the devil leaves and the angels come and minister to Him. We can take encouragement from this example, in fact James expounds this principle in James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

In verse 12 Jesus learns that John the Baptist has been thrown into prison and he makes a journey from Nazareth in Galilee, down to Capernaum by the borders of “Zabulon and Nephthalim.” That is Zebulun and Naphtali, an area largely inhabited by Gentile pagans. And so we see another Prophesy fulfilled. Let’s look at it: Isaiah 9:1-2 (Read) The light of course is Christ, “the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” (John 1:9) the darkness being their sin, their ignorance and their delusional manner of living.

What message does Jesus bring with Him as we first hear Him start to preach? God loves you and He has a wonderful plan for your life? You’re a winner? Your someone special? No! Read verse 17 (Read) REPENT! Remember how we defined that in Matthew 3, based on William S. Plumer’s principles of repentance? Know that you are a sinner, have humility, confess your sins to God, a sense of shame, sorrow, self-abhorrence, hatred of sin, love of holiness, and amendment of life. Same thing John the Baptist was saying! Repent and “bring forth fruits meet for repentance.”

In verse 18 we see the first disciples being called. In this case it’s “Simon, called Peter and Andrew his brother.”

I think it is interesting that Jesus does not say “Believe in me,” but “Follow me!” As Jesus says, later on in John 10:27 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” You are not a disciple of Jesus, unless, like Peter and Andrew, you follow Him.

We read in the next verse that they “straightway left their nets, and followed him.” The same with James the son of Zebedee and John his brother. They immediately left the ship, and their Father, and followed him.” (Verse 22) What have you left to follow Jesus?

As Jesus begins His ministry, we see a number of things happening:

• He teaches in the Synagogues of the Jews. (Verse 23)
• He preaches the Gospel of the Kingdom. (Verse 22)
• He heals all manner of sickness and disease. (Verse 23)
• He healed all those that were taken with “torments” and “possessed with devils.” (Verse 24)

I want you to notice two things about this ministry. Firstly, those coming to Jesus for help, had no other hope in this life. No other way of healing. Secondly, the result of these miracles was: (Read verse 25)

Christ was ever a healer. The greatest healer there has ever been! He brought healing to the helpless.

“When other helpers fail, and comforts flee…(He is the)…help of the helpless.”

This goodness, this help, this healing are to show that Christ can not only heal physically, but that He can heal our souls of sin.

I believe that ultimately, that is what drove and still drives, multitudes to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Copyright © Paul Jennings.

Matthew Chapter 3 - Helpful Notes

The importance of historicity in the Gospels, cannot be emphasized enough. This is one of the things that makes the Biblical Gospels different from so many other religious writings. It is quite different from the so called “forgotten Gospels,” or Gnostic gospels, which are largely imitations of Scripture, borrowing similar language; a bit like the Book of Mormon.

“I am everything…split a piece of wood. I am there” says the Jesus of the Gospel of Thomas! Doesn’t really sound like the historical Jesus, in fact is no real anchor to historical events, at all. They are conspicuous by their absence! So, taking this on board, I think it is helpful, if we approach the Biblical gospels with the question “do these gospels fit their historical setting?” Do they harmonize with each other? However unprecedented the events that unfold are, what we have are primary sources; age relevant; framed by legitimate historicity. It is not necessary, therefore, to approach them with, what someone has called “the hermeneutic of suspicion,” but rather let the Bible speak; and let it speak to our mind and heart.

Enter, John the Baptist! “Repent ye, the kingdom of heaven is at hand” Compare this saying of John with the saying of Jesus in Mark 1:15. (read). One says “the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” (or is near) the other says, “the kingdom of God is at hand.” Whilst some have made much of the difference in these two terms, I believe in fact they are synonymous; two phrases, in these two instances, there is no suggestion in the text that they mean anything other than the same thing. Notice that there is first a condition given, before a person can enter into that kingdom. The condition given here by John the Baptist and later on by Jesus, is repentance, literally “a change of mind.” Again, we have another OT prophecy fulfilled in verse 3, (Read.)  Let’s look at its origin in Isaiah 40:3,(Read) A couple of things to note:

• Isaiah is talking about the journey of Israel out of Babylonian captivity and into Judea, but he is also looking ahead to the coming of the Messiah, which is the ultimate and most perfect fulfilment of this prophecy, which of course is why Matthew has it here.
• By comparing the quote in Matthew 3 and the quote in Isaiah 40, we can see that Matthew is also, clearly implying, that Jesus is God, since he is the one whose ministry is imminent; and John is the “Elijah” the one who is to prepare the way of the Messiah.

The meaning of the phrase is twofold; on the one hand it refers to the preparation that men must make in their hearts, for the coming of God; and secondly it is a statement, or proclamation in a general and sense, a command by God Himself, for the world to get ready for the coming of the Messiah; which as we have seen over the last two chapters, the foreknowledge of God and the wisdom of God; his use of the wicked and the righteous, has brought everything together at just the right time.

John the Baptist is a rough looking man, a hairy guy! One gets the impression that there was an abruptness about his speech. He is not afraid of confrontation, as we will see by his words to Herod, later on in the Gospels; and he is calling the people (as we see in verse 6) to do two things:

• Confess their sins (freely and openly).
• To be baptized.

Let’s read verse 7 and 8. We have two groups of people: The Pharisees, whose name signifies to separate (they separated themselves from the common people) and the Sadducees, who did not believe in angels, spirits, or the Resurrection. When John sees them, he calls them a name; “O generation of vipers.” Now there is no suggestion that this is said in a fit of anger, or emotion, rather it is an accurate description of their nature and character. They are subtle and cunning, they are crafty and dangerous. Therefore, John warns the Pharisees and the Sadducees, but he also warns those around them; just as we need to warn people of the “religious” (in inverted commas) predators who refuse to repent in our day.

There are two types of repentance, generally acknowledged: They are, Legal Repentance and Evangelical Repentance. Legal Repentance concerns the law and is what we might call an outward repentance; Evangelical Repentance involves the heart, and is what we would call an inner repentance.

Based on William S. Plumer’s principles of repentance(1), we might describe TRUE repentance as being characterised as having:

1. A knowledge of sin. “by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:20)

2. Humility, "Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer you?" Job 40:4 "O God, you know my foolishness."  Psalm 69:5.

3. Confession of sin; not to a priest, but to God. "He who covers his sins shall not prosper; but whoever confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy." Proverbs 28:13. "I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and you forgave the iniquity of my sin." Psalm 32:5.

4. Shame. "Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up." Psalm 40:2. "O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you." Ezra 9:6.

5. Sorrow, for sin. "Godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be repented of." 2 Cor. 7:9, 10.

6. Self-abhorrence.  ”Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:6;

7. Hatred of sin. “Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.” Psalm 119:128.

8. Love of holiness—“I delight in the law of God after the inward man.” Romans 7:22

9. An amendment of life, a thorough reformation, works meet for repentance. Matt. 3:8. "If I have done iniquity, I will do no more." Job 34:32. “If I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.” Luke 19:8.

An absence of these elements would most certainly give cause for concern as to whether repentance had taken place, or if it had, whether the repentance had been thorough.

In verses 8-10 John the Baptist warns the Pharisees and the Sadducees of 3 things:

• To “bring forth fruits meet for repentance.” (verse 8)
• Not to say within themselves, “we have Abraham to our father.” (verse 9)
• And finally he warns them “every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” (verse 10)

The presumption of security with God that does not involve sincere, thorough and true repentance from sin, to God, is here illustrated by this saying of the Pharisees and the Saducees. They were trusting in their Election as Israelites, descendants of Abraham, to be sufficient to grant them favour with God, despite the wickedness of their own hearts and lives. You will see that it is soundly and explicitly condemned by John the Baptist.  

Now in Galatians 3:27-29 we read:

“For as many of you as have been baptised into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek (Gentile) there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

You don’t need me to tell you that if the condemnation of the Pharisees is justified, then we also can apply the same principle to our own lives and ask are we truly repentant, have we honestly, as Paul says, “put on Christ” or are we trusting that we are God’s special people, therefore we don’t need to think about repentance? These Scriptures ought to challenge us.

In verse 10 John the Baptist says, “And now the axe is laid unto the root of the trees…”

John Wesley comments, “Speedy execution is determined against all that do not repent. The comparison seems to be taken from a woodman that has laid down his axe, to put off his coat, and them immediately goes to work to cut down the tree.” (Explanatory Notes on the New Testament – John Wesley)

I wonder if it is even more urgent than that! I picture in my mind the blade of the axe actually laid to the base of the tree. The woodman is pulling back the axe, about to take his first swing!

John goes on to speak about the Lord Jesus as being “mightier than I.” He is one of whom John is not worthy and “he shall baptize…with the Holy Ghost and with fire.” (verse 11) Just as John would cover with water, so Jesus would cover with the Holy Spirit and (certainly in the first fulfilment of this prophecy) with fire. Go to Acts 2:1-4 (Read)

Christ’s fan is in His hand (verse12)

 In the middle East, the farmer would use a fork to dig into the wheat and chaff and throw up it up into the air and let the wind separate the one from the other; the seed being heavier and the chaff, (the seed casing) being lighter. No wonder Psalm 1 says that the ungodly “are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.”

Christ’s fan is the word of his gospel and the floor, those who claim to love and live for God.

Finally in verse 13 we have the first reported appearance in our NT of the adult Jesus.

Jesus comes to John for baptism. John, perhaps understandably, does not feel that it would be appropriate since he esteems Jesus as far higher than himself, in terms of authority, worthiness etc. In fact we are told that initially John forbids it (verse 14) A measure of the humility of the man. But Jesus corrects him.

Here are the first words that Jesus speaks in the Gospel of Matthew. “Suffer it to be so now for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.” (verse 15)

See how even Jesus emphasises the importance of observing righteousness and fulfilling the ordinances of God.

The Bible Commentator John Gill said, ”It became (or it was fitting) for John to administer the ordinance of baptism to Christ, as he was his forerunner, and the only administrator of it, and that he might fulfil the ministry which he had received; and as it became Christ to fulfil all righteousness, moral and ceremonial, and baptism being a part of his Father's will, which he came to do, it became (or it was fitting) for him to fulfil this also. And since it became (or was fitting) Christ, it cannot be unbecoming (for) us to submit to this ordinance; and since he looked upon it as a part of righteousness to be fulfilled by him, it ought to be attended to by all those who would be accounted followers of him.” (John Gill’s Comentary)

That is why when those people in Jerusalem, at the preaching of the Gospel, ask Peter in Acts 2:37 “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Peter replies, “Repent, and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the Holy Ghost.”

Now Jesus did not have any sins, neither did he commit sin. But what we see here is the humble heart and the lowliness of Jesus. He was going to receive the highest honours, he was going to ascend into the highest heaven, all the world would bow “and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” But now he is willing to serve. Christ always taught by example, and if any want to be leaders in the church, elders, Pastors, they ought to take his example and be willing to be of “no reputation…” (Philippians 2;7)  Let’s go to Mark 10:42-45 (Read)

Matthew 3:16-17 (Read)

As Jesus is baptised, the Holy Spirit descends, or hovers down until He until He was resting upon the Lord Jesus. Symbolically, we are seeing a public confirmation of the anointing of Jesus in all his offices of:

• Prophet.
• Priest.
• King.

We then here the voice of the Father saying “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

I don’t know if you have understood the significance of this event. We have Father, Son and Holy Spirit, all manifested together, all confirming the identity and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Copyright © Paul Jennings.

 

 

 

Matthew Chapter 2 - Helpful Notes

Critics of the Bible sometimes liken it to a fairy tale, with fictional characters; a “once-upon-a-time” story.

From the beginning of Matthew Chapter 2 it should be clear that nothing could be further from the truth. There are enough names, geographical locations and events, to soundly repudiate what John Clifford called “sceptic blows.” God’s interaction with the world, His interruption of the affairs of men, particularly in terms of His Incarnation, take place at a certain time; at a certain place. This is one of the great strengths of the Bible; that you can go to these places that are spoken of; you can walk on the same patch of earth, you can see the Mount of Olives, Jerusalem, you can take a boat across the lake of Galilee, just as Jesus did.

If you go to the town of Caesarea, you will see an Amphitheatre there from the time of Herod. It was excavated in the late 1950s to the early 60s and it contains a Latin inscription: “Pontius Pilate, Prefect of Judea.” These names and places are historical and real. You can even continue your research beyond the Bible, into historians like Flavius Josephus. You will find corroboration of events like the Resurrection and the destruction of Jerusalem; but why would you not look at what is the primary source for the life of Jesus Christ, that source that accurately and faithfully puts these names and places into their correct context; why would you not go to the oldest and most closely connected text, the New Testament.

The Birth of Jesus

Christ’s birth, (here in chapter 2) is described as being in “Bethlehem Judea.” This is to distinguish it from Bethlehem in Galilee. Bethlehem Judea is situated about six miles south of Jerusalem and is also called the city of David, since it was the place of his birth. Go to 1 Samuel 16:1 (Read) this is particularly important for us, since we read in Chapter 1:1 Jesus is called “the son of David.” Remember that Christ being a descendant of David is a sign of His kingship; something that Matthew frequently emphasises, not least in this second Chapter.

But it is a different kind of kingship:

• His crown is to be a crown of thorns.
• His throne is to be a cross.
• He came to serve, rather than be served.
• What was intended as mockery, proclaimed the truth: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. 

In Matthew Chapter 2, we learn of another, very different king, Herod the Great.

Magi

At the time of Herod, “there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem.” It is generally held that “the East,” means Arabia, and is more or less confirmed in Genesis 25:6 and Judges 6:3. Sometimes the wise men are referred to as “the Magi,” the plural of Magus; this where we get our English word “magic” from. The etymology of the word is from the Old Persian; the Magi were kind of pagan Priest-Scholars. But hang on, doesn’t the Bible condemn Magic, and aren’t the wise men supposed to be, for want of a better phrase, the good guys! As John Wesley points out, this name “was anciently given to ALL philosophers, or men of learning; those particularly who were curious in examining the works of nature, and observing the motions of the heavenly bodies.” (John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes on the New Testament.) They were the scientists of their day! But how could the study of such things draw them to the God of the Bible?  Romans 1:20 and Psalm 8:3 give us the answer. In fact serious scientific enquiry, should lead one to a belief in God. In fact Christian apologists like Dr William Lane Craig use their knowledge of science and philosophy to give evidence for the existence of God.

• The Kalam Cosmological argument.
• The Teleological,“fine tuning” argument.
• And the Ontological Argument.

All of these utilise logical and scientific argumentation for the furtherance of the Gospel. Interesting that particularly, the Kalam is of Eastern origin.

 Matthew Henry said, “Good scholars should be good Christians, and then they complete their learning when they learn Christ.” (Matthew Henry’s Commentary) Those scholarly men searched the natural world and studied the stars to find the truth, and it is therefore, perhaps fitting, that it was a star that led them to He who was “the way, the truth and the life.” The star also perhaps indicated that the kingdom of this ruler, was to be a heavenly one.

King of the Jews

The wise men give Jesus the title, “King of the Jews.” So we have the contrast; there are, in a manner of speaking, two kings of the Jews. King Herod, violent, self-serving, desperate to preserve his own status and life and the Lord Jesus, gentle, self-sacrificing, the suffering servant, a king who “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant…” as Paul puts it in Philippians 2:7.

Herod had been made king of Judea by the Roman senate in about 40 BC at quite a young age and had increased the glory of Jerusalem by building the second temple “Herod’s Temple,” or “The Herodian Temple.” King Jesus on the other hand talks about the significance of a different temple; he calls it “this temple” meaning His own body. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. As the Theologian Louis Berkhof puts it:

“In the Incarnation the Son of God became flesh by assuming human nature…This wonderful birth was due to the supernatural influence of the Holy Spirit.” (A Summary of Christian Doctrine – Louis Berkhof)

God had had found a temple that was free from the pollution of sin. God had entered into His own creation, in a most remarkable way.

We have the fulfilment of prophecy in verse 6, remember, Matthew is very much on the theme of OT prophecy fulfilled.

In verses 7 and 8 we see the deceptiveness of Herod, the malice and determination. All this is hidden under a mask of religion “that I may come and worship him also.” Those who have an appearance of religion, sadly even the Christian religion, are often the most vehement and vociferous opponents of Christ and His Gospel. In Acts 4:25-27 (Read) a quote from Psalm 2. Even as Jesus was still an infant “thy holy child Jesus,” the devil sought to destroy Him through evil men.

The Coming of the Magi

In verse 11 the wise men finally meet the king they have been seeking. One can only imagine their thoughts as they enter into an environment very different from Herod’s palace, not quite what they expected as they came to pay tribute to this young monarch. No sweeping long corridors, no marble pillars, no guards, or fanfares to greet them! Yet, nevertheless they bow to Him who is worthy and offer their gifts.

So we have three gifts. “Footnote,” we do not necessarily have three givers! We don’t know for sure how many wise men there were.

The gifts are:

 

• Gold.
• Frankincense.
• Myrrh.

Gold is associated with kingship and Divinity in the Bible. The Ark of the Covenant was overlaid with gold (Exodus 25:10-17).

 Frankincense, also called Olibanum, is an aromatic resin or gum. It comes from a tree by making incisions in the bark and allowing the gum to flow out. When the gum is burned, it lets off a fragrance, a sweet smell and was therefore was used in worship, where it was burned as a pleasant offering to God (Exodus 30:34).  As indeed the life of Jesus was to be to the Father.

 Myrrh was obtained from a tree in the same manner as frankincense. It was a spice and was used in embalming. Perhaps this is pointing ahead to the death and burial of the Lord Jesus and as a symbol that there was to be no substitute in death; despite what the Qur’an teaches; no last minute reprieve, as in the case of Isaac and the ram caught in the thicket; but that Jesus Himself would be “the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.”

These were the most expensive and valuable treasures that the East had to offer, worthy of a king and yet how extraordinary that the recipients were just a simple carpenter and his wife. We know that Mary and Joseph were not wealthy individuals; how do we know? Because in Luke 2:24 we read that they offered in thanks for the birth of Jesus “according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” Why is that significant? Because in Leviticus 12:8 we read that if the mother “be not able to bring a lamb,” that is if she cannot afford to bring a lamb as an offering to God, “then she shall bring…two young pigeons.”

When such a poor family receive some of the most valuable gifts in Arabia, deposited on their doorstep, did you ever wonder, what did they do with them?

Read verse 13… How were such a poor family supposed to finance a prolonged stay in Egypt? Those gifts were not just prophetic, they were providential.

Read verse 15… This is a quote from the Old Testament, specifically from Hosea 11:1. Let’s read it. (Read) We see how God’s dealings with His people Israel, can also be prophetic and can have New Testament fulfilments, particularly Messianic fulfilments.

 

In other words, a passage of Scripture, whether it is openly prophetic, or historical, or poetic can be said to be fulfilled, when it is accommodated with what we might call the greatest propriety. That is the most fitting and perfect fulfilment. Israel, figuratively God’s son in Hosea 11:1, is literally God’s Son, in Matthew 2:15.

Again we see another prophetic fulfilment in verse 18, “In Rama…Rachel weeping for her children.” The people in Rama were Benjamites, the descendants of Rachel and in fact she was buried near that place. It is as if she has risen out of her grave and is weeping for her descendants, her children.

This is the product of the rage of Herod and his desire for vengeance. His murder of the infants, “from two years old and under…” echoes the murderous persecution of Pharaoh, and just as Moses was hidden and kept safe, small and vulnerable though he was, so are this poor family and especially, the infant Jesus, preserved and saved from destruction.

A Remnant

God has always preserved and protected His people in times of persecution; now this doesn’t mean there are no martyrs, but what it means is that a remnant is always kept. “I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.” Romans 11:4. During times of great persecution, God has always kept a faithful remnant: The Waldensians in France, the Hussites in Bohemia, the Lollards in England. In fact God stopped the expansion of Islam at the borders of North-Western Europe; I believe the remnant of the church became squeezed into that geographical space; that’s why we have the first attempts at Bible translation into the common tongue, the concentration of theological study and things like the Reformation taking place where they did. The church had fled persecution to “where she hath a place prepared of God. “ That is mainly why we find Christianity, a Middle-Eastern religion, flourishing in Europe; appearing almost indigenous.

So we read that when Joseph heard that Herod the Great was dead, they planned to return to Bethlehem. But the Bible tells us that Herod’s son, Archelaus was now the ruler. He is also known as Herod Archelaus, the son of Herod the Great and Malthace the Samaritan. He was the brother of Herod Antipas, and the half-brother of Herod Philip I.  I guess judging that it would be a case of “like-Father-like-son,” he decided not to return there, but to settle in Galilee, in the north; specifically, Nazareth.

And so, no doubt unknowingly, it was fulfilled “which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.”

Prophetic Fulfilment

So we have the fulfilment of three, seemingly contradictory, prophesies concerning the coming of the Messiah:

• That He was to be born in Bethlehem.
• That He was to be come out of Egypt.
• That He would be called a Nazarene.

Yet in this, as with all things concerning the coming of our Saviour, we see the astounding wisdom, providence and faithfulness of God and His word.

Copyright © Paul Jennings.