The Gospel of Matthew

1
The Gospel of Matthew
Knowing the Messiah
2
Review

• 6 signs of Yeshuas Messiahship
• .The Magi
• The Star
• .Called a Nazarene
• .Born In Bethlehem
• .Time of His Birth
• .Role of Egypt as a preserver
• These were all prophetic issues beyond the
  control of a person that were fulfilled.

3
John 31-12

• 1In those days John the Baptist came preaching in
  the wilderness of Judea, 2and saying, Repent,
  for the kingdom of heaven is at hand! 3For this
  is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah,
  saying
• The voice of one crying in the wilderness
• Prepare the way of the Lord
• Make His paths straight.
• 4Now John himself was clothed in camels hair,
  with a leather belt around his waist and his
  food was locusts and wild honey. 5Then Jerusalem,
  all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan
  went out to him 6and were baptized by him in the
  Jordan, confessing their sins.
• 7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and
  Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them,
  Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the
  wrath to come? 8Therefore bear fruits worthy of
  repentance, 9and do not think to say to
  yourselves, We have Abraham as our father. For
  I say to you that God is able to raise up
  children to Abraham from these stones. 10And even
  now the ax is laid to the root of the trees.
  Therefore every tree which does not bear good
  fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11I
  indeed baptize you with water unto repentance,
  but He who is coming after me is mightier than I,
  whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will
  baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12His
  winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will
  thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and
  gather His wheat into the barn but He will burn
  up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

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700 year old prophecy

• Isaiah 403-5
• The voice of one crying in the wilderness
• Prepare the way of the Lord
• Make straight in the desert
• A highway for our God.
• 4 Every valley shall be exalted
• And every mountain and hill brought low
• The crooked places shall be made straight
• And the rough places smooth
• 5 The glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
• And all flesh shall see it together
• For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

5
Fulfillment

• Luke 1 5-25
• 5There was in the days of Herod, the king of
  Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the
  division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters
  of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6And they
  were both righteous before God, walking in all
  the commandments and ordinances of the Lord
  blameless. 7But they had no child, because
  Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well
  advanced in years.
• 8So it was, that while he was serving as priest
  before God in the order of his division,
  9according to the custom of the priesthood, his
  lot fell to burn incense when he went into the
  temple of the Lord. 10And the whole multitude of
  the people was praying outside at the hour of
  incense. 11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to
  him, standing on the right side of the altar of
  incense. 12And when Zacharias saw him, he was
  troubled, and fear fell upon him.

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Luke 1(Continued)

• 13But the angel said to him, Do not be afraid,
  Zacharias, for your prayer is heard and your
  wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall
  call his name John. 14And you will have joy and
  gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
  15For he will be great in the sight of the Lord,
  and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He
  will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even
  from his mothers womb. 16And he will turn many
  of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
  17He will also go before Him in the spirit and
  power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the
  fathers to the children, and the disobedient to
  the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people
  prepared for the Lord.
• 18And Zacharias said to the angel, How shall I
  know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is
  well advanced in years.

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Luke 1 (continued)

• 19And the angel answered and said to him, I am
  Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and
  was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad
  tidings. 20But behold, you will be mute and not
  able to speak until the day these things take
  place, because you did not believe my words which
  will be fulfilled in their own time.
• 21And the people waited for Zacharias, and
  marveled that he lingered so long in the temple.
  22But when he came out, he could not speak to
  them and they perceived that he had seen a
  vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and
  remained speechless.
• 23So it was, as soon as the days of his service
  were completed, that he departed to his own
  house. 24Now after those days his wife Elizabeth
  conceived and she hid herself five months,
  saying, 25Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in
  the days when He looked on me, to take away my
  reproach among people.

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John the Baptist

• He was a Levite (Priesthood) (Luke 15 ff)
• His father was a high priest-Zecheriah
• His mother was Elizabeth, a descendant of Aaron
• Elizabeth was a cousin of Mary, the mother of
  Jesus
• He was born 6 months before Jesus and died 6
  months before Jesus
• His birth was announced by an angel
• John grew up among the Essenes in the mountainous
  regions between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea.
• John means Yahweh is gracious and has shown
  favor.
• This indicates that John is an announcer of the
  grace and favor of God to mankind.

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Johns peculiar details

• He was called the baptizer or Immerser
• He wore camels hair, ate locusts, and lived in
  the desert.
• Why was John doing this?
• He was a Nazarene (Essene)

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Essenes

• A devout group of religious Jews
• many of them from the priestly class
• lived by a very strict code of conduct
• concerned with purity
• had built a community in the dessert of Judah
  some 200 years before Jesus was born. It was
  called Qumran. This is where the Dead Sea Scrolls
  were found.

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Why they formed

• There was much corruption in the priestly class
  in Jerusalem because priests were being appointed
  by the Roman governors and kings instead of being
  chosen by the God given method.
• The priesthood had become a political movement.
• Many of the Levites detested this and separated
  themselves and created this community of people
  waiting for the Messiah to arrive and cleanse the
  temple and restore Israel. These groups also took
  in widows and orphans.

12
Josephus Account

• Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book XVIII
• Believed in the immortality of the soul
• The rewards of righteousness are to be sought
  after
• They did not offer sacrifices in the temple, but
  in their own community because they perceived the
  Temple system as corrupt.
• They lived such righteous lifestyles that it
  seemed to be their addiction
• They had all possessions in common
• Did not marry
• Kept no servants
• Simple lifestyle
• Raised their own food
• Practiced ritual immersion (Daily immersion) Also
  called Nazarenes.
• About 4000 men in their community at this time.

13
Johns connection

• It is likely that John went to live with them
  after the death of his parents who were very old
  when he was born.
• He practiced the tenants of the Qumran community
• Lived in the same location (Judean wilderness)

14
Nazarenes

• The Essenes were also called Nazarenes.
• Nazarenes took Nazarite vows.
• Not cut hair (Why he is pictured with long hair)
• No strong drink (Fermented juice)
• No sexual activity
• John was a Nazarene and so was Jesus (Matthew
  223from Nazareth and a Nazarite.

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The Judean Wilderness

• Other important events that occurred in this
  place
• Location at which Elijah was taken up in a
  chariot of fire.
• Where Moses was taken by the Lord
• Where Jesus came to be baptized
• Where John the Baptist was beheaded at Herods
  fortress of Macherus.

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Judean country side and cave
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The Baptist

• John had come in the spirit of Elijah.
• He began preaching where Elijah left off
  (literally).
• He was teaching baptism which was highly
  practiced by the Essenes.
• These people were looking for the Messiah, so was
  John.

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Repentance

• 1In those days John the Baptist came preaching in
  the wilderness of Judea, 2and saying, Repent,
  for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!
• REPENT Central message of the Gospel.
• (Gk) Metanoeo- to change your mind, reconsider,
  or think differently

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Action point

• Everything we do starts with a thought.
• We think it first and then do it.
• It is no wonder that John wants us to change the
  way we think, because that will change the way we
  act.
• We are what we think we are.
• Johns message was to encourage people to change
  their minds about their lifestyles and thought
  patterns.

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What does the Bible say about it?

• Psalms 273 (KJV)
• As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.
• Rom 122
• Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this
  world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
  mind. Then you will be able to test and approve
  what God's will is--his good, pleasing and
  perfect will.
• Fruit keeping with repentanceIf you have
  repented, it will be evident. If it isnt you
  havent repented. (Faith without works is dead.)

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Why does he give this message?

• Repent for The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand.
• Kingdom of God/Heaven Place where God is the
  authority (King)
• At Hand (already here-presentin the person of
  Jesus and in us if we have submitted.)
• Luke 1721
• For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.

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What is the motive of a mind change then?

• Our motive for repentance is
• our desire to be included in the kingdom
• our love for the King and His reign
• our fear of the Kings judgement.
• Those who will not bow before the king and swear
  allegiance to him are enemies of the kingdom and
  are destroyed.

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Ritual Immersion (Mikva)

• 5Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region
  around the Jordan went out to him 6and were
  baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their
  sins.
• Baptism (Mikva) (Ritual Immersion)-Full immersion
  in fresh, running water in order to become
  ceremonially clean (Biblical Archeology)
• Baptism as a rite of immersion was begun by the
  Jews (Dr. Merrill Tenney, Zondervan
  Encyclopedia Bible)
• The term Mikva literally means any gathering of
  water, but specifically relates to the bath. The
  source of the word is found for the first time in
  scripture in Genesis 110 which says,
• The gathering of waters, He called seas.
• Because of this reference, the ocean is a
  legitimate Mikva to Orthodox Jews

24
Jewish Immersion Practice

• According to Jewish law, there were three
  practices that had to be accomplished before
  conversion was actually accomplished.
• Circumcision
• Baptism
• Sacrifice
• The Essenes only observed immersion, but not
  circumcision or sacrifice as required for
  conversion. (This is why in the Church, baptism
  was seen as the point of conversion.)
• It was accomplished in the presence of witnesses
  and after a profession of faith.
• In Rabbinic literature it was called a new
  birth(This is why we call it being born again.
  This is also why Jesus rebukes Nicodemus, a
  teacher of the law.
• The candidate was often immersed three times
  because the word Mikva occurred 3 times in the
  Torah
• Consider this in connection with being baptized
  in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy
  Spirit

25
The Baptism of John

• In water for repentance in preparation for
  something to come
• Acts 1824-26
• 4Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at
  Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the
  Scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25This man had been
  instructed in the way of the Lord and being
  fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately
  the things of the Lord, though he knew only the
  baptism of John. 26So he began to speak boldly in
  the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard
  him, they took him aside and explained to him the
  way of God more accurately.

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What we learn from Apollos

• He was mighty in the Scriptures
• He had been instructed in the way of the Lord
• He was fervent in spirit
• He spoke and taught accurately the things of the
  Lord
• He knew only the baptism of John
• Application A person can be
• Knowledgeable of scripture
• Knowledgeable of Jesus teaching
• Zealous and fervent about faith
• Teaching some things about Jesus accurately
• Even though they have not been baptized in Jesus
• However, baptism in Jesus is the more perfect
  way of the Lord.
• It is the point of rebirth

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3 Baptisms of Scripture

• 3 Baptisms
• .Water for repentance (Into John and Jesus) 1
  Peter 321
• .Holy Spirit (after waterseal) Ephesians 113
• .Fire (testing and final judgement) Matthew
  2020-22

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Johns baptismal formula

• Acceptance of truth Repentance
  baptismrighteousness and purity (Ritually)
• (The stress here is on doing something, not
  ceasing to do something.
• We do not stop doing sinful things to receive
  forgiveness. We start doing things that are
  pleasing to God which automatically results in
  turning away from things that displease him. True
  repentance produces righteous lives.
• Baptism without repentance is getting wet

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Baptism into Jesus

• Acceptance of Jesus repentance
  baptismsalvation,rebirth, and the Holy Spirit
• Baptism into Jesus
• clothes one with Christ (Galatians 327)
• Buries and resurrects one with Christ (Romans 6)

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Why does it matter?

• Apollos had Johns baptism, but he needed to be
  baptized in the one to come. John did not
  accomplish salvation, he simply announced it.
• Johns ministry diminished so the Jesus ministry
  could increase.
• In the same way, Johns baptism gave way to
  baptism into Jesus. This was the gate to the
  kingdom that Apollos had missed.
• Johns baptism could make you ritually clean, but
  not spiritually clean
• Johns baptism did not allow one to share in the
  death, burial, and resurrection with Jesus since
  it had not yet taken place.
• Johns baptism did not impart the Holy Spirit as
  a seal of salvation

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Further proof

• Acts 191-7
• 1And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth,
  that Paul, having passed through the upper
  regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some
  disciples 2he said to them, Did you receive the
  Holy Spirit when you believed?
• So they said to him, We have not so much as
  heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.
• 3And he said to them, Into what then were you
  baptized?
• So they said, Into Johns baptism.
• 4Then Paul said, John indeed baptized with a
  baptism of repentance, saying to the people that
  they should believe on Him who would come after
  him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
• 5When they heard this, they were baptized in the
  name of the Lord Jesus. 6And when Paul had laid
  hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them,
  and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. 7Now
  the men were about twelve in all.

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The Big Question?

• Did you receive the Holy Spirit?
• Pauls question indicates the assertion that the
  Holy Spirit was given when a believer accepts
  Christ.
• However,when they reply that they did not receive
  it, it becomes clear that it is not given as the
  belief stage. Rather it is given when belief is
  coupled with action in baptism into Jesus. They
  had been baptized in Johns baptism.
• Paul associates the reception of the Holy Spirit
  with baptism into Christ.

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The Pharisees and Saducees

• People came from all over to be baptized by him
  after confessing their sins.
• Pharisees and Saduccees came but did not repent.
  They were trying to look holy but they refused to
  change their minds.

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Sins of the Pharisees and Saducees

• What did these people need to repent from?
• Pharisees
• Excessive pride in their knowledge and reasoning
  ability
• Desire for power
• Desire to be seen as holy for the purpose of
  glorifying themselves
• Greed
• Saducees
• Refusal to believe Gods Word concerning the
  resurrection
• Liberal theology
• Reduction of truth to myth

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Johns response

• Brood of Vipers (That is not very nice?) He must
  not be a good Christian!
• John recognized that these spiritual leaders
  were serving the work of Satan and turning people
  away from God. He told them so very clearly.
• When confronting the adversary it is not wrong to
  speak the truth in a confrontational manner.

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Johns advice

• bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9and do not
  think to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as
  our father. For I say to you that God is able to
  raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
  10And even now the ax is laid to the root of the
  trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear
  good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

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Fruitful Trees and Abrahams Seed

• Son of Abraham A Hebrew Chosen A literal
  descendant of Abraham and a member of the Chosen
  people of God.
• John informs them that descendency is not enough
• the fruit of righteousness must be produced in
  spirit and in truth.

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Jesus Baptism

• Matthew 313-16
• 13Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the
  Jordan to be baptized by him. 14And John tried to
  prevent Him, saying, I need to be baptized by
  You, and are You coming to me?
• 15But Jesus answered and said to him, Permit it
  to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to
  fulfill all righteousness. Then he allowed Him.
• 16When He had been baptized, Jesus came up
  immediately from the water and behold, the
  heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the
  Spirit of God descending like a dove and
  alighting upon Him. 17And suddenly a voice came
  from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in
  whom I am well pleased.

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Why did He need it?

• This is the same question John asked.
• Jesus answer
• Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting
  for us to fulfill all righteousness.
• to fulfill all righteousness, to do all that was
  right, Jesus submitted himself to baptism even
  though he had nothing to repent of. It was a
  right action. If he did it to show the
  righteousness of God and to do what is righteous,
  then it follows that we must also do likewise to
  be made righteous

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Gods response

• My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased
• He did what was right
• He did not argue that He was good enough
• He simply obeyed
• In so doing, He pleased God
• We please God when we do what He asks whether we
  understand it or not, whether we agree with it or
  not.

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Conclusions

• Baptism is essential
• It requires repentance
• It fulfills righteousness
• It is a sign to others of our commitment
• It is our new birth point of delivery
• Jesus did it A servant is not greater than his
  master.