THE MINISTRY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. v. 1. IN THOSE DAYS CAME JOHN THE BAPTIST. The method here used by Matthew to introduce a new section in his history of the Savior is one employed by the holy writers to refer to a preceding date or occurrence, Exodus 2:11-23; Isaiah 38:1. It was during the res... [ Continue Reading ]
The emphasis of John was on one fact: AND SAYING, REPENT YE; FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND. That was the chief content, the matter, the burden, of his heralding, the admonition to repentance, the watch-word which characterized his preaching. He deemed a complete change of mind and heart n... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew's manner of adducing the prophetic passage in this instance is peculiar: FOR THIS IS HE THAT WAS SPOKEN OF BY THE PROPHET ESAIAS, SAYING, THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT. He sets him apart from others concerning whom ther... [ Continue Reading ]
The appearance and habits of the Baptist should also be noted: AND THE SAME JOHN HAD HIS RAIMENT OF CAMEL'S HAIR AND A LEATHERN GIRDLE ABOUT HIS LOINS; AND HIS MEAT WAS LOCUSTS AND WILD HONEY. John was an antitype of Elijah, the great prophet and preacher of Israel, both as to his personal appea... [ Continue Reading ]
The effect of his preaching: THEN WENT OUT TO HIM JERUSALEM AND ALL JUDEA, AND ALL THE REGION ROUND ABOUT JORDAN. If not instantaneous, the success was rapid. The news traveled swiftly. First came those from the surrounding country, people from either side of the Jordan, whose homes were in or n... [ Continue Reading ]
John performed his ministry to all: AND WERE BAPTIZED OF HIM IN JORDAN, CONFESSING THEIR SINS. His powerful, appealing call to repentance had its effect. In ever-increasing numbers they came. The guilt-burdened men and women, whose lives had been lived in sham and deceit, made a frank, explicit,... [ Continue Reading ]
A perplexing, disagreeable situation: BUT WHEN HE SAW MANY OF THE PHARISEES AND SADDUCEES COME TO HIS BAPTISM, HE SAID UNTO THEM, O GENERATION OF VIPERS, WHO HATH WARNED YOU TO FLEE FROM THE WRATH TO COME? Matthew includes the members of both sects in one and the same category of unworthy intrud... [ Continue Reading ]
BRING FORTH, THEREFORE, FRUITS MEET FOR REPENTANCE. An entire change of heart must precede the performing of truly good works, such as measure up to the standard of an honest repentance, as conform to a real amendment of life. John insists upon their producing proper, suitable, sufficient eviden... [ Continue Reading ]
Having thus unmasked them, the Baptist makes his demand:... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THINK NOT TO SAY WITHIN YOURSELVES, WE HAVE ABRAHAM TO OUR FATHER; FOR I SAY UNTO YOU THAT GOD IS ABLE OF THESE STONES TO RAISE UP CHILDREN UNTO ABRAHAM. The fact that they were members, according to the flesh, of God's chosen people, the fact that they were descendants of Abraham, in a dire... [ Continue Reading ]
And this is not all: AND NOW ALSO THE AX IS LAID TO THE ROOT OF THE TREES. THEREFORE EVERY TREE WHICH BRINGETH NOT FORTH GOOD FRUIT IS HEWN DOWN, AND CAST INTO THE FIRE. The ax has been placed, it is even now ready to begin its work of just retribution, of stern justice upon every spurious desce... [ Continue Reading ]
John's sermon would have been incomplete without a reference to Him whose way he was sent to prepare: I INDEED BAPTIZE YOU WITH WATER UNTO REPENTANCE, BUT HE THAT COMETH AFTER ME IS MIGHTIER THAN I, WHOSE SHOES I AM NOT WORTHY TO BEAR: HE SHALL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY GHOST AND WITH FIRE. His... [ Continue Reading ]
This thought is carried out still further: WHOSE FAN IS IN HIS HAND, AND HE WILL THOROUGHLY PURGE HIS FLOOR, AND GATHER HIS WHEAT INTO THE GARNER; BUT HE WILL BURN UP THE CHAFF WITH UNQUENCHABLE FIRE. The picture is that of a threshing-floor in the Orient, a flat, open space paved with stones. T... [ Continue Reading ]
Baptism of Jesus. The time had now come for Jesus to enter upon His ministry, to be inducted into His office by a public ceremony: THEN COMETH JESUS FROM GALILEE TO JORDAN UNTO JOHN, TO BE BAPTIZED OF HIM. He now came forth from His concealment, while John was at the very height of his evangeli... [ Continue Reading ]
And yet Matthew writes: BUT JOHN FORBADE HIM, SAYING, I HAVE NEED TO BE BAPTIZED OF THEE, AND COMEST THOU TO ME? This passage is not out of harmony with John 1:31-33, where John says that he did not know Jesus. The apparent contradiction is in the translation only. In the original the word used... [ Continue Reading ]
So Jesus overrules John's objection: AND JESUS, ANSWERING, SAID UNTO HIM, SUFFER IT TO BE SO NOW; FOR THUS IT BECOMETH US TO FULFILL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS. THEN HE SUFFERED HIM. Obedience and fulfillment were the outstanding traits of the Messiah's vicarious work. In applying these, He could brook no o... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JESUS, WHEN HE WAS BAPTIZED, WENT UP STRAIGHTWAY OUT OF THE WATER; AND, LO, THE HEAVENS WERE OPENED UNTO HIM, AND HE SAW THE SPIRIT OF GOD DESCENDING LIKE A DOVE AND LIGHTING UPON HIM:... [ Continue Reading ]
The occasion must needs be marked by preternatural accompaniments:... [ Continue Reading ]
AND, LO, A VOICE FROM HEAVEN, SAYING, THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED. Here was a revelation of the divine essence. As soon as Jesus had been baptized, He at once walked up the bank away from the river. His baptism had been necessary, but the miracle which was now to take place wa... [ Continue Reading ]