Gospel of Matthew Chapter 3 Vs. 11

 John the Baptist Prepares the Way

Matthew 3:11 “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:”

water unto repentance... Ten reasons forgiveness is not by water:

1.The word "unto" is Greek: eis, a preposition translated "for" (because of, by reason of, on account of) in Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3; Acts 2:38. Eis is translated "for" (because of) 140 times; "on" 58 times; and "upon" 25 times. It appears in "for this same purpose" (Rom. 9:17; Col. 4:8); "for this cause" (John 18:37; 1Pet. 4:6); "for this purpose" (Acts 26:16; 1Jhn. 3:8); and "for that intent" (Acts 9:21).

2. On all occasions confession of sins was required and was made before baptism (Mat. 3:8, 3:11; Mark 1:5; Luke 3:8-14).

3. Only believers were baptized after repentance and faith in Christ (Mat. 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:28, 2:41; 8:12-13, 8:37; 16:14-15, 16:31-33; 18:8; 19:1-7), and, in some cases, after receiving the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17-18; 10:44-48).

4. Christ who knew no sin was baptized. Christ submitted to baptism for two reasons:

(1) To fulfill righteousness (Mat. 3:15)

(2) To be manifest to Israel (John 1:31)

5. Baptism is only a symbol of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (1Pet. 3:21).

6. It’s not essential to salvation (2Cor. 1:13-21).

7. Faith in the blood of Christ brings remission of sins (Mat. 26:28; Rom. 3:24-25; 4:1-25; 5:1-11; 8:2; 10:4-10; 1Cor. 15:1-5; Eph. 1:7; 2:8-9; Gal. 3:19-29; John 3:16; Acts 10:43; 13:38-39; 1Cor. 1:18-21; 1Jhn. 1:9; 5:1).

8. Old Testament saints, including John and all in Luke 1:15, 1:41, 1:46, 1:67; 2:25-38 who were filled with the Spirit, were saved without water baptism.

9. Christ forgave sins without baptism (Mat. 9:1-7; Luke 7:36-50; 18:9-14; 19:1-9; 23:43; John 4:49-53; 7:31; 8:30-31; 11:45; 12:11, 12:42; Acts 3:1-11, 3:16; 4:10-12; etc.).

10. It does not put away the filth of the flesh (1Pet. 3:21).

shall baptize you... See John 7:37-39; Acts 1:4-8.

Three types of baptism are referred to here:

1. With water from repentance. John’s baptism symbolized cleansing;

2. With the Holy Spirit. All believers in Christ are Spirit-baptized (1Cor. 12:13);

3. With … fire. Because fire is used throughout this context as a means of judgment (verses 10, 12), this must speak of a baptism of judgment upon the unrepentant.

John was saying, truly my baptism (baptism of repentance), is important, you must repent; but there is a better baptism (baptism of the Spirit), that is the earnest of the Spirit (2Cor. 1:22). He was saying, when you receive this baptism of the Holy Ghost, it will set you on fire for God.

The relationship of John the Baptist to the coming Messiah was clearly seen. John believed he was not even worthy to carry (or untie) the sandals of the Coming One. John was simply an introducer who was preparing a remnant for the Messiah, and who was baptizing in water those who responded. The Coming One would baptize them 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 and Mal. 3:2-5. Joel had given the promise of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Israel. An actual outpouring of the Spirit did occur in Acts 2:1-47 on the day of Pentecost, but experientially Israel did not enter into the benefits of that event.

Book of Joel Chapter 2 Vs. 31

 The Lord Will Pour Out His Spirit

The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. Joel 2:31

The sun shall... Not by eclipses, as Aben Ezra; but by the clouds of smoke arising from the burning of towns and cities. Which would be so great as to obscure the sun, and through which the moon would look like blood.

before the great... Joel 2:30-32 proves that the Holy Spirit will be poured out upon all flesh, and people will continue to be saved during the future tribulation period, for these signs will take place only during that time and before the great and awesome day of the Lord (Acts 2:16-21).

The days of our life are our days wherein we do what we please; that will be the "Day of the Lord," when He, our Judge, shall require the account of all our doings. It will be "great," because it is the horizon of time and eternity; the last day of time, the beginning of eternity. It will put an end to the world, guilt, deserts, good or evil.

It will be "great," because in it great things will be done. Christ with all His Angels will come down and sit on His Throne; all who have ever lived or shall live, shall be placed before Him to be judged; all thoughts, words, and deeds shall be weighed most exactly; on all a sentence will be passed, absolute, irrevocable throughout eternity.

The saints shall be assigned to heaven, the ungodly to hell. A great gulf shall be placed between, which shall sever them forever. So that the ungodly shall never see the godly nor heaven nor God; but shall be shut up in a prison forever, and shall burn as long as heaven shall be heaven, or God shall be God.

"That day shall be great to the faithful, terrible to the unbelieving; great to those who said, 'Truly this is the Son of God;' terrible to those who said, 'His blood be upon us and upon our children."

"When then thou art hurried to any sin, think on that terrible and unendurable judgment-seat of Christ, where the Judge sits on His lofty Throne. And all creation shall stand in awe at His glorious Appearing and we shall be brought, one by one, to give account of what we have done in life.

Then by him who hath done much evil in life, there will stand terrible angels. "There" will be the deep gulf, the impassable darkness, the lightless fire, retaining in darkness the power to burn, but deprived of its rays. There is the empoisoned and ravenous worm insatiably devouring and never satisfied, inflicting by its gnawing pangs unbearable. There that sharpest punishment of all, that shame and everlasting reproach. Fear these things; and, instructed by this fear, hold in thy soul as with a bridle from the lust of evil."

Mark 13:24-25 "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light," "And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken."

The very best thing a Christian can do, is be ready to meet their Lord. We are not to fear these things, but rejoice when they happen, because our redemption is near.

Luke 21:28 "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."

Blood and fire and billows of smoke suggest the effects of warfare. The turning of the moon to blood refers in a poetic way to its being darkened (cf. the parallel line, The sun will be turned to darkness, and Joel 2:10; 3:15). Though such phenomena will signal doom for God’s enemies, His people should interpret them as the precursors of their deliverance (cf. Mat. 24:29-31; Mark 13:24-27; Luke 21:25-28).

Gospel of Matthew Chapter 3 Vs. 10

 John the Baptist Prepares the Way

Matthew 3:10 “And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”

And now also... The 3rd New Testament prophecy in Matthew (Mat. 3:10-12). Next, Mat. 5:3. Threefold: judgment (Mat. 3:10; 7:15-23); Spirit baptism (Mat. 3:11; Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-39; 11:14-18); and second coming (Mat. 3:12; 13:30, 13:39-43, 13:49-50; 25:31-46).

every tree which... Keep away from false prophets or teachers (see, 1Jhn. 4:1).

Seven ways false prophets are known:

1. By outward general conduct (Mat. 7:15; 5:20; 6:1-24; 23:1-33; 2Tim. 3:5)

2. By inward state (Mat. 7:15; 5:22, 5:28; 23:25-28; Mark 7:21-23)

3. By the kind of fruit in works produced (Mat. 7:16-20; 23:1-24; 2Cor. 11:13-15; Phlp. 1:15-17; 3:3, 3:17-19)

4. By the kind of fruit in doctrine taught (Mat. 7:16-20; 12:33-37; 15:1-9; 16:12; 23:1-33; 1Tim. 4:1-6; 6:3-5; 2Tim. 3:1-8; 4:1-4; 2Pet. 2:1-22)

5. By professing to do, not doing the will of God (Mat. 7:21; 5:20; 23:1-33)

6. By satanic backing (Mat. 7:22; 24:24; Acts 8:9-13; 13:6-13; 16:16-24; 2Cor. 11:13-15; 2Thes. 2:8-12; Rev. 13:1-18; Rev_16:13-16; 19:20)

7. By their destiny (Mat. 7:23; 25:41, 25:46; 2Cor. 11:13-15; Rev. 19:20; 20:10-15)

Just as this is true in the natural realm, so it is in the spiritual. A man cannot be a saint and a sinner at the same time (Mat. 7:24; Rom. 6:16-23; 8:13).

What a sentence upon professed preachers and Christians who do not bring forth good fruit! See John 15:1-8.

In this, John was telling this people, you have had your chance. Preparation had been made. If you are not productive to the kingdom, you will be cut down. Just as we will see in a later lesson where Jesus cursed the fig tree and it withered and died.

Irreversible judgment was imminent.

Book of Joel Chapter 2 Vs. 30

The Lord Will Pour Out His Spirit 

And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. Joel 2:30

And I will... Each revelation of God prepares the way for another, until that last revelation of His love and of His wrath in the Great Day.

In delivering His people from Egypt, "the Lord showed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt (Deut. 6:22). Here, in allusion to it, He says, in the same words, of the new revelation, "I will show," or "give, wonders, or wondrous signs," (as the word includes both). Wonders beyond the course and order of nature, and portending other dispensations of God, of joy to His faithful, and terror to His enemies.

As when Israel came out of Egypt, "the pillar of the cloud was a cloud and darkness to the camp of the Egyptians," but "gave light by night" to the "camp of Israel" (Exo. 14:19-20). So all God's workings are light and darkness at once, according as people are, who see them or to whom they come.

These wonders in heaven and earth "began in" the First Coming and "Passion of Christ, grew in the destruction of Jerusalem, but shall be perfectly fulfilled toward the end of the world, before the final Judgment, and the destruction of the Universe."

At the birth of Christ, there was "the star" which appeared unto the wise men, "and the multitude of the heavenly host," whom the shepherds saw. At His Atoning Death, "the sun was darkened," there was the three hours' darkness over the whole land.

On earth "the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom, and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent, and the graves were opened" (Luke 23:44-45; Mat. 27:45; 27:51-52).

And the Blood and water issued from the Savior’s side. After His Resurrection, there was the vision of Angels, terrible to the soldiers who watched the sepulcher, comforting to the women who sought to honor Jesus.

His Resurrection was a sign on earth, His Ascension in earth and heaven. But our Lord speaks of signs both in earth and heaven, as well before the destruction of Jerusalem, as before His Second Coming.

Mat. 24:7 "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places."

Mat. 24:29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:"

The great and dreadful day of the Lord will be preceded by ominous signs (wonders) of impending judgment (cf. Joel 2:10; see also Eze. 32:6-8 for literary parallels). Blood and fire and billows of smoke suggest the effects of warfare. The turning of the moon to blood refers in a poetic way to its being darkened (cf. the parallel line, The sun will be turned to darkness, and Joel 2:10; 3:15). Though such phenomena will signal doom for God’s enemies, His people should interpret them as the precursors of their deliverance (cf. Mat. 24:29-31; Mark 13:24-27; Luke 21:25-28).

The great and dreadful day of the Lord will be preceded by ominous signs (wonders) of impending judgment (cf. Joel 2:10; see also Eze. 32:6-8 for literary parallels).

Gospel of Matthew Chapter 3 Vs. 9

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

 

Matthew 3:9 “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.”

John was telling these people not to expect to be saved, just because they had Abraham as an ancestor in the flesh. As we will read in Paul’s writings later on, not the physical ancestors of Abraham will inherit salvation but those who are of the spirit (believers in Christ). Those, who by faith, have been grafted into the family line of Abraham by the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

We are related to Abraham through our faith, just as he was accounted worthy by his faith. We also see a message to these self-righteous people; that God can take from the things they count as unimportant, and make of them a family for Abraham.

They believed that they, as physical sons of Abraham, were automatically qualified for Messiah’s kingdom. John completely repudiated Pharisaic Judaism and said that God, if necessary, could raise up… stones to become His children.

Book of Joel Chapter 2 Vs. 29

The Lord Will Pour Out His Spirit

 

And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. Joel 2:29

And also upon... And this God has done, and is still doing. He left the line of Aaron, and took his apostles indiscriminately from any tribe. He passed by the regular order of the priesthood, and the public schools of the most celebrated doctors, and took his evangelists from among fishermen, tent-makers, and even the Roman tax-gatherers.

In those days... And he lastly, passed by the Jewish tribes, and took the Gentile converts and made them preachers of righteousness to the inhabitants of the whole earth. The same practice he continues to the present day; yet he did not then pass by a man brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, no more than he would now a man brought up in a celebrated seminary of learning.

He is ever free to use his own gifts, in his own way; and when learning is sanctified, by being devoted to the service of God. And the possessor is humble and pious, and has those natural gifts necessary for a public teacher, perhaps we might safely say.

God would in many cases prefer such: but he will have others, as intimated in the prophecy, that we may see the conversion of men is not by human might, nor power, but by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts. The learned man can do nothing without his Spirit.

The unlearned must have his gifts and graces, without which both their labors would be unprofitable; and thus, the excellency of the power is of God, and no flesh can glory in his presence.

Will I pour... Notice the word "pour". This is speaking of an abundance, not just a few drops. It is a gift from God to His followers.

This will be true regardless of age, gender, or social class (Joel 2:29 is better trans. “and even on the male and female servants”; cf. NASB).

This is probably an allusion to Num. 11:29, where Moses, responding to Joshua’s misguided zeal after an outpouring of the divine Spirit on the 72 elders (cf. Num. 11:24-28), declared, “I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit on them!” This extensive outpouring of the Spirit will signal the advent of divine blessing (contrast 1Sam. 3:1, where the absence of prophetic visions characterized a period of sin and judgment).

Gospel of Matthew Chapter 3 Vs. 8

 John the Baptist Prepares the Way

Verses 8-10: “Fruits meet for repentance:” John rebuked the Pharisees, asking them to give evidence of “fruits meet for repentance” (verse 8). There can be no doubt that the New Testament concept of repentance grows out of its usage in the Old Testament, where the term (Hebrew Shub), means far more than an intellectual change of mind.

Genuine repentance proves itself by the fruits of a changed life. John the Baptist further rebuked them for their belief in nationalistic salvation.

“Abraham to our father” means that they were trusting in their physical descent for salvation, rather than in God, which would have constituted a spiritual relationship to Abraham the “father of the faithful.”

Matthew 3:8 “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:”

Bring forth therefore... Proof was required in genuine repentance to discourage mere profession and outward show (Luke 3:8-14; 19:8; 2Cor. 5:17; 7:9-11).

meet for repentance... There are Seven Original Words for "Repent".

Repentance itself is not a work, but works are its inevitable fruit. Repentance and faith are inextricably linked in Scripture. Repentance means turning from one’s sin, and faith is turning to God (1Thes. 1:9). They are like opposite sides of the same coin. That is why both are linked to conversion (Mark 1:15; Acts 3:19-21).

Note that the works John demanded to see were “fruit” of repentance. But repentance itself is no more a “work” than faith is.

Their feelings were summed up in John’s words to them (Mat. 3:7-10).