So verse 1 brings up John the Baptist. I knew very little about John the Baptist other than he preached that people should be baptised for the repentance of sins prior to Jesus' coming. My researching showed that accounts of John in the New Testament are very similar to the accounts given by Josephus, a well respected Jewish historian. Johns mother was Elizabeth, Jesus' mothers cousin :P Johns preaching was prophesied and this is documented in verse 3. Malachi 3:1 prophesied the coming of a "forerunner" to Jesus. Someone to prepare the way!
Verse 7 brings up Pharisees and Sadducees. The Pharisees and Sadducees were opposing Jewish political party type groups. Both were so tied up in ancient traditions that they neglected to see Jesus as the true Messiah. (Here is a website about the differences: m)
And the rest gets pretty tough :)
The Pharisees and Sadducees were probably pretty used to being honoured by those in their presence. But John comes out calling them vipers. They feel that they don't have to repent because they are descendants of Abraham and thus He warns them that just because they are descendants of Abraham they are not freed from having to repent from their sins. Can't ride into heaven on the coat sleeves of a righteous relative so to speak.
In verse 11 John says that he will baptize in water for the repentance of sins, but the baptizer who follows him will baptize in holy spirit and fire. He says that the one who follows will come and collect the "gooders" and purge the "garbage" so to speak. That he will clean the earth of evil! Woot?
And so Jesus comes to John to be baptized in verse 13. John states that he is unworthy of baptizing him and that if anything Jesus should be baptizing him! But Jesus says "Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him." (3:15). So it seems that Jesus being baptized by John was the catalyst to Jesus for beginning his "mission" to..essentially save humanity! It was necessary for this to happen to fulfill God's will!
The last two verses document God's "reaction" to the day's events. The heavens BREAK OPEN! And the spirit of God descended like a dove. Apparently the dove plays some heavy significance. Leviticus outlines the different levels of sacrifices that could be offered to God. The dove was the lowest grade of sacrifice and as such was the sacrifice of most poor people who couldn't afford things like bulls and ... goats? A pretty awesome thing to consider when taking into account the fact that Jesus was here to save ALL people! Even those who were not Pharisees and Sadducees :D The poorest of the poor.
And finally verse 17. God speaks! "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Not only does this verse affirm the belief that Jesus was sent from God, but also is a testament to Jesus righteousness during the undocumented years. Only Jesus was ever free from sin. If Jesus had been a horrible person most of his life, surely God would not have been proud ;)
This was interesting. There are sooo many things I didn't go into detail on, but surely if you're more interested you can look it up. If I had the time I would for sure. There is SOOO much information out there!
SO EXCITING!
God bless!
Matthew 3
1In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
2And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
3For 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.
4And 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.
5Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
6And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
7But 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?
8Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
9And 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.
10And 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.
11I 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:
12Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
13Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
14But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
15And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
16And 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:
17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
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