Matthew Chapter 3 NLT
4 John’s clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey. 5 People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John. 6 And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.
Don’t be overly concerned with the way John the Baptist was dressed, it was pretty common and wouldn’t have drawn attention in that day. Also that food combination was pretty common at that time as well.
John’s baptism is the matter of interest here. John’s baptism was a baptism of “repentance” and Jesus then comes to be baptized by John in the Jordan River. But why would Jesus need to be baptized? He was not guilty of any sin, he lived a sinless live and therefore did not need to repent.
Matthew 3: 13-17 NLT
13 Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?”15 But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him. 16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” Some say that Jesus was baptized as an example for us to follow. There is some value in that. Some say that Jesus was baptized as an example of being set apart. There is some value in that. Some say it was for identification with mankind. There is some value in that. Some say it was in obedience to the Father. There is some value in that.
Let me take you back to the Old Testament and show you why I believe that Jesus was baptized.
Jesus said that he came to fulfill the law and not to abolish the law. Jesus also came to serve as our High Priest in the order of the Old Testament Priests who would offer up sacrifices for the sins of the people. In order to do this Jesus had to go through the ritual that an Old Testament Priest would have in order to serve in that role. Was it an absolute must that Jesus do this, I don’t know. I do know that it would have spoken volumes to the Jewish peopel of that day, it is what they would have understood a Priest would have to do in order to offer sacrifices. Jesus would offer himself as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.
Look at Exodus 29:1-7 NLT
“This is the ceremony you must follow when you consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests: Take a young bull and two rams with no defects. 2 Then, using choice wheat flour and no yeast, make loaves of bread, thin cakes mixed with olive oil, and wafers spread with oil. 3 Place them all in a single basket, and present them at the entrance of the Tabernacle, along with the young bull and the two rams.4 “Present Aaron and his sons at the entrance of the Tabernacle, and wash them with water. 5 Dress Aaron in his priestly garments—the tunic, the robe worn with the ephod, the ephod itself, and the chestpiece. Then wrap the decorative sash of the ephod around him. 6 Place the turban on his head, and fasten the sacred medallion to the turban. 7 Then anoint him by pouring the anointing oil over his head.
I John 2:20 & 27 NLT
20 But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you his Spirit, and all of you know the truth.
27 But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.
Matthew 3:16 NLT
16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him.
Jesus was baptized because He had to fulfill the legal requirements for entering into the priesthood. He was priest after the order of Melchizedek.
Psalm 110:4 NLT
The Lord has taken an oath and will not break his vow: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
Hebrews 5:8-10 NLT
8 Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. 9 In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. 10 And God designated him to be a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 6:20 NLT
20 Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Jesus became the sacrifice for our sin.
I Peter 2:24 NLT
He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.
2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT
21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
Pretty Cool, huh… Read all of Hebrews 7 for an even better understanding.
Matthew 28:19 The Message
18-20Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”
Matthew 4:1-11
Here Jesus is tempted by Satan and every time Jesus is tempted, he defeats Satan by quoting scripture. How well prepared are you to rebuke Satan when he comes after you?
Matthew 4:12-17
Jesus begins to preach. Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the kingdom of Heaven is near.
Matthew 4:18-22
Jesus chooses his first disciples. What did Jesus say to them? “I will make you fishers of other people.” Are you a disciple? Are you making other disciples? These are serious questions we need to ask ourselves.
Matthew 5
Matthew 5 is the famous “Sermon On The Mount.” The Beatitudes. “Supreme Blessedness.” These are attitudes that we should have to be like Christ.
“They are blessed who realize their spiritual poverty,
for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
4 They are blessed who grieve,
for God will comfort them.
5 They are blessed who are humble,
for the whole earth will be theirs.
6 They are blessed who hunger and thirst after justice,
for they will be satisfied.
7 They are blessed who show mercy to others,
for God will show mercy to them.
8 They are blessed whose thoughts are pure,
for they will see God.
9 They are blessed who work for peace,
for they will be called God’s children.
10 They are blessed who are persecuted for doing good,
for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
Jesus then proceeds to turn the world upside down with his teaching.
Matthew 5:21-26
Anger is Murder
Jesus teaches that Anger is deadly. Jesus says if you are angry with another, you are guilty of murder.
Yes, Jesus meant just what he said, I know you don’t like it, I don’t either but Jesus didn’t ask me.
Matthew 5:27-30
Lust is Adultery
Jesus says if you lust after another person you are guilty of adultery. Did you get that? You don’t have to physically do anything to be guilty.
I know, I know, it sounds ridiculous but Jesus is RADICAL!
Matthew 5:43-48
Jesus goes so far as to tell us that we need to be loving the people we don’t like. that’s right, those people who get on your nerves, who drive you crazy. You gotta love them. Not only that, we have to love the ones that no one wants to love. The ones who are guilty of horrible crimes. Jesus says it’s easy to love your family (well most of the time) it’s easy to love those you like and those who do nice things for you. Jesus says there is no reward for loving those folks, the reward comes from loving the unlovely, the ones that it would be too easy to hate.
Matthew 6:1-4
Giving – Jesus isn’t saying you have to hide what you do for people. Jesus is saying don’t do it for show!
Prayer – Jesus isn’t saying that you have to go into hiding to pray, don’t pray in the hearing of others just so you sound spiritual to others!
Matthew 6-:14-15 (WOW, don’t read this)
Did Jesus actually say if you don’t forgive others that he will not forgive you?
He said it, I don’t like it, and that doesn’t change a thing. We better take Jesus seriously!
Matthew 6:16-18 (Fasting is Biblical)
Jesus is obviously assuming that you and I as his disciples are going to FAST. How are you doing in that? Do you really want to be that close to Christ? Is food really enough to make you walk away from rich spiritual blessings? For most people it sadly is…
Matthew 6:19-24
MONEY – Is Jesus more important than your relationship with your material goods?
Jesus says our hearts follow our treasure. (Time, Talent, Money, where do you spend these?) It’s the true condition of your heart!
Matthew 6:33 Don’t Worry about a Thing…
33 Seek first God’s kingdom and what God wants. Then all your other needs will be met as well. (Do you really trust Him this much?)
Matthew 7
You’re not anyone’s JUDGE!
Ask, Seek, Knock, it is a promise from God. If we are diligent, if we really seek to know, if we keep searching, God will give us what we ask for.
Do unto others what you want them to do to you. (What goes around comes around.)
Only a relatively few people are going to heaven.
Your actions reveal who you truly are.
finally…To hear God’s Words and ignore them makes one a fool.
Pastor Ronnie