Book of Joel Chapter 3 Vs. 6

 The Lord Judges the Nations

The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border. Joel 3:6

have ye sold... They had sold them to the Greeks to get them further away from their homeland, so there would be less chance of them returning. This speaks in the past tense, and is not connected to the end time prophecy, except that God had not forgotten even in the endtimes what they had done.

unto the Grecians... The sons of Greece. Although not prominent militarily, the Greeks were active in commerce on the Mediterranean in the 9^th century B.C.

Phoenician and Philistine involvement in slave trade (Joel 3:6) is mentioned elsewhere (cf. Amos 1:6, 1:9). According to Kapelrud, the Greeks mentioned here are actually Ionians (y^ewānı̂m), who populated the coasts of Asia Minor (Joel Studies, p. 154). Ionian commerce was at its peak in the seventh and sixth centuries b.c. Eze. 27:13, 27:19 mentions Tyrian trading arrangements (including slaves) with the Ionians (or Greece). The trading recalled in Joel may have occurred in conjunction with Judah’s fall to the Babylonians.

Gospel of Matthew Chapter 3 Vs. 17

 The Baptism of Jesus

Matthew 3:17 “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

This is my... God claims Jesus as His own Son (cp. Mat. 17:5; John 12:28; Heb. 1:1-4).

Here again between verse 16 and 17 we see all 3 Persons of the Trinity are clearly delineated. The Father’s command to hear His Son and the Spirit’s vindication and empowerment officially inaugurated Christ’s ministry.

Again, the most important thing to me, in this Scripture above, is the agreement of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The three were present at this important event, and not only present, but approving. The Father God spoke of His approval in the Son.

Again, the Scriptures can tell us so much, if we will only take the time to look. The One in God is the Spirit. They are in agreement. There are three totally separate personalities in one accord.

A voice from heaven — the voice of God the Father — said, This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased (cf. Eph. 1:6; Col. 1:13). God repeated these words about Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mat. 17:5). All three Persons of the Godhead were present at this event: the Father who spoke of His Son, the Son who was being baptized, and the Spirit who descended on the Son as a dove. This verified for John that Jesus is the Son of God (John 1:32-34). It was also in keeping with Isaiah’s prophecy that the Spirit would rest on the Messiah (Isa. 11:2). The descent of the Holy Spirit empowered the Son, the Messiah, for His ministry among people.

Book of Joel Chapter 3 Vs. 5

 The Lord Judges the Nations

Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things: Joel 3:5

Because ye have... Which is all of the Lord's (Hag. 2:8); or which he had bestowed upon his people, and they had taken from them.

and have carried... Either the rich furniture of the houses of his people, which they carried into their own houses, or "palaces", as it may be rendered. Having either taken them away themselves, or bought them of others that had taken them.

Or else the rich vessels of the temple; as these were carried away by the Chaldeans, and put into their idol temples (Dan. 1:2); so afterward they were taken by the Romans, and put into the temples of their gods.

Whether any of these came into the hands of the Tyrians, etc. by any means, and were put into their idol temples, as the temple of Hercules, is not certain; however, it is notorious that the Roman Catholics and the Tyrians are an emblem of, not only build stately temples, and dedicate them to angels and saints, but most profusely adorn them with gold and silver.

my goodly pleasant... And all goodly and desirable things; which is putting them to an idolatrous use they were not designed for.

They had taken the silver and gold in the temple, and also, robbed the people of their silver and gold. They worshipped false gods, and used God's precious metals in that false worship.

These are specified as robbery (Joel 3:5) and slave trade (Joel 3:6). Since neither the Phoenicians nor the Philistines are mentioned as robbing the temple treasuries during the destruction of Jerusalem (cf. 2Kgs. 25:1-30), Joel 3:5 may refer to Israel’s wealth in general, not to the temple (cf. Wolff, Joel and Amos, p. 78).

Gospel of Matthew Chapter 3 Vs. 16

 The Baptism of Jesus

Matthew 3:16 “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:”

out of the... Would such statements as "out of the water" (Mark 1:10), "they went down both into the water ... they were come up out of the water" (Acts 8:38-39), and others express baptism by burial or by sprinkling?

Here all 3 Persons of the Trinity are clearly delineated. The Father’s command to hear His Son and the Spirit’s vindication and empowerment officially inaugurated Christ’s ministry.

So much was told spiritually in these two verses 16 and next 17, and yet, you cannot separate the two. So look forward to the next verse. We know by the description of the baptism, that He went under the water; or else how could He come straightway out.

The most important thing to me, in this Scripture above, is the agreement of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The three were present at this important event, and not only present, but approving. The Father God spoke of His approval in the Son.

The Scriptures can tell us so much, if we will only take the time to look. The One in God is the Spirit. They are in agreement. There are three totally separate personalities in one accord.

The significant thing about the baptism of Jesus was the authentication from heaven. As Jesus came up out of the water… the Spirit of God came down on Him in the form of a dove. As One went up, the Other came down.

Book of Joel Chapter 3 Vs. 4

The Lord Judges the Nations

 

Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head; Joel 3:4

Yea, and what... Questions 6-7. The last ones in Joel.

coasts of Palestine... This refers to Philistia.

ye to do... The Tyrians, Zidonians, and Philistines were near neighbors of the Jews, and implacable enemies to them. And are here put for the enemies of the true church of Christ, the Roman Catholics and Turks, and in whose possession those places now are.

These are addressed by the Lord, inquiring or demanding the reason of their ill usage of him and his people: "what have ye to do with me?" to be called by my name, or accounted my people? I know you not, nor will I have any fellowship with you. Or what have ye to do with my people, to disturb and distress them? What wrong have I or they done you, that you thus use them?

will ye render... For turning you out of your land, and putting my people into it? Do you think to retaliate this?

and if ye... By doing an injury to my people:

swiftly and speedily... Bring swift and sudden destruction upon you.

2Thes. 1:6 "Seeing [it is] a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;"

Vengeance is the Lord's. Tyre and Zidon, along with the coastal area of Palestine, were well known for oppressing the people of God. They will now, taste of the very same injury they had done to God's people. They had allied with the evil nations that came against Judah, instead of helping Judah.

In Joel 3:4-8 the Lord spoke directly to the Phoenicians (Tyre and Sidon) and the Philistines, two groups that profited economically from Judah’s demise (cf. Eze. 25:15; 28:20-24). The Lord identified Himself with His people (note Me in Joel 3:4) and denied that these nations had any justification for their actions (this is the force of the rhetorical questions in Joel 3:4).

God then announced that He would repay them for their offenses (Joel 3:4).

Gospel of Matthew Chapter 3 Vs. 15

 The Baptism of Jesus

Matthew 3:15 “And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer [it to be so] now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.”

“Suffer it to... Means allow it to be or let it happen. Jesus sought this outward identification with John’s ministry “to fulfill all righteousness”. By identifying Himself with those He came to redeem, Jesus inaugurated His public ministry as the Messiah. In regard to the Jewish religious observances, such as synagogue worship, attendance at feasts, and payment of the temple tax, Jesus always met the duties of a faithful Jew.

us to fulfil... Both were sent by God and had to fulfill what they were sent to do.

Christ was here identifying Himself with sinners. He will ultimately bear their sins; His perfect righteousness will be imputed to them (2Cor. 5:21). This act of baptism was a necessary part of the righteousness He secured for sinners.

Jesus, in speaking to John, affirmed His authority; and John submitted to the higher authority. Jesus was telling John that the correct thing for everyone to do is to do everything righteous. Don’t give anyone the appearance of not fulfilling all righteousness.

The first public event of His ministry is also rich in meaning:

1. It pictured His death and resurrection (Luke 12:50);

2. It therefore prefigured the significance of Christian baptism;

3. It marked His first public identification with those whose sins He would bear (Isa. 53:11; 1Pet. 3:18);

4. It was a public affirmation of His messiahship by testimony directly from heaven.

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 did Jesus mean? The Law included no requirements about baptism, so Jesus could not have had in view anything pertaining to Levitical righteousness. But 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. If Messiah were to provide righteousness for sinners, He must be identified with sinners. It was therefore in the will of God for Him to be baptized by John in order to be identified (the real meaning of the word “baptized”) with sinners.

Book of Joel Chapter 3 Vs. 3

 The Lord Judges the Nations

And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink. Joel 3:3

they have cast... Seven reasons for judgments on Gentiles:

1. They have cast lots for My people (Joel 3:3).

2. They have given boys to be harlots.

3. They have sold daughters for wine.

4. They have lived in drunkenness.

5. They have taken My silver and gold (Joel 3:5).

6. They have taken My pleasant things into idol temples.

7. They have sold My people as slaves (Joel 3:6).

Not only parted their land, but cast lots for their persons, Or played at dice for them, how many captives each soldier should have, and which should be their share and property.

Ninety seven thousand Jews, Josephus says, were carried captive by the Romans, who very probably, cast lots for them, as was usual in such cases (see Nahum 3:10).

and have given... Either they gave a boy to be prostituted to natural lusts, in lieu of a whore; and a girl to be debauched for a bottle of wine: or they gave a boy for the price of a whore, as the Targum and Kimchi interpret it.

That is, they gave a boy, instead of money, to a whore, to lie with her, as the eunuch was given to Thais. And they gave a girl to the wine merchant for as much wine as they could drink at one sitting.

These phrases both express their uncleanness and intemperance, and also the low price and value they set upon their captives; and is applicable enough to the Papists, notorious for the same abominable lusts.

The people of Israel have been treated with very little respect, since the time of the prophets. They went into slavery, and were sold for a very small amount. The worst thing that happened to them, was possibly in Adolph Hitler’s time, when he killed so many Jews, and even made soap out of some of them.

The reason for God’s judgment is the nations’ treatment of His covenant people (My inheritance; cf. see Joel 2:17), My people. The nations had scattered the Lord’s people, sold them as slaves to distant lands, and divided up His land. “Scattered” (from pāzar, “to disperse”) seems to refer to the Babylonian Exile (cf. Jer. 50:17). Even though the Lord Himself assigned the land to Israel’s enemies (cf. Lam. 5:2; Mic. 2:4), He still held these nations guilty for their failure to recognize His sovereignty and for their cruel treatment of His people.