Tag: Matthew 3

Fruit in the Wilderness

Genesis 9-11, Proverbs 6, Matthew 3

Devotion by Marcia Railton (IN)

You might not expect a man who works in the wilderness and eats locusts and wild honey to talk much about fruit. But here in Matthew 3 we hear from just such a man, one who is often referred to as John the Baptist, speaking twice of fruit.

Perhaps his most famous line is, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near!” (Matthew 3:2 NASB). It is such an effective charge and accurate description of the ministry given by God, that Jesus will also say the exact same thing when he begins his preaching in the next chapter (Matthew 4:17). The kingdom of heaven is a term used only by Matthew, and he, a Jew who was very careful about his use of “God”, spoke often of the kingdom of heaven. The other gospel and New Testament writers did not use the term kingdom of heaven but rather called it the kingdom of God. In the Old Testament neither phrase was used, but the people of God were definitely looking for the promised Messiah, the Chosen and Anointed One of God who would save them, and they too were looking forward to a kingdom set up by the God of heaven, an everlasting kingdom (such as Daniel 2:44). As the Messiah, Jesus Christ, was now ready to begin his preaching ministry on earth the kingdom was closer than it had ever been before! The time to repent had certainly come!

As John addresses some of his audience, the Pharisees and Sadducees (who in their pride and self-righteousness will reject the Messiah), John calls them a “brood of vipers” (or offspring of vipers), referring to being poisonous, spiritually speaking. Perhaps this sounds familiar to us because on more than one occasion Jesus will use the same term for them as well (Matthew 12:34 and again in 23:33).

So with the “pleasantries” aside, John gets right to the meat, or perhaps in this case, the fruit of his preaching saying: “Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance; 9 and do not assume that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’; for I tell you that God is able, from these stones, to raise up children for Abraham. 10 And the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore, every tree that does not bear good fruit is being cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matthew 3:8-10 NASB). Having told his listeners to repent he now tells them to bear fruit consistent with repentance. In other words, don’t tell me that you repent – show me that you repent. To repent is much more than recognizing or even saying that you have been and done wrong. To truly repent requires a change, a movement, an actual TURN from sin. A visible, tangible, positive, nourishing, healthy “fruit” that is evidence of the inner heart change.

The Jewish Pharisees and Sadducees were relying on their genealogy, their fancy titles, their turned up noses, their faithful fathers, their long lists of human made rules, their strict checkmarks. God wasn’t impressed. John was sent to prepare the people for Jesus. He said, repent, it’s time to change. Jesus would also repeat John’s words: “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matthew 7:19). It is important. Eternal life and death important. Are you bearing good fruit consistent with repentance?

Reflection Questions

  1. What have you repented of? What do you need to repent of? Beyond saying you are sorry, what will it look like to change and turn from sin? What will the fruit in keeping with repentance look like in your life?
  2. John the Baptizer was known for his message of repentance and the act of baptizing, and in fact Jesus’ baptism by John also happens in this chapter, when the voice from heaven (that would be God) acknowledges that Jesus is His beloved and pleasing Son (I love that part!). How does John’s message of repentance and the act of baptism go hand and hand? Why do you think the perfect Son of God was baptized?
  3. Jesus continues the fruit theme a few chapters later saying, “You will know them by their fruit” (Matthew 7:19). What fruit are you known by: good fruit or bad? Give an example of each (good and bad) that you have grown in the past? What type of good fruit do you want to grow today and in the future? What is required to grow this good fruit?

Prayer

Dear God, we thank you for your beloved and pleasing Son, your chosen Messiah, and the example and teaching he brought and the kingdom that is closer today than it was yesterday. Thank you for John who prepared the way for Jesus. Help us also prepare others to meet Jesus. Thank you for the opportunity you give us to repent and turn from sin towards You and Your better way. Help me not be like a Pharisee who proudly thought they had it all together. Show me, Lord, where I need to change, what I need to repent of, and what good fruit you want me to bear. Help be honestly see and get rid of bad fruit in my life so I am prepared for Your Son’s return. In his name we pray, Amen.

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Fall and Rise

Old Testament: Genesis 3

Poetry: Psalm 1 (all week)

New Testament: Matthew 3

There are some four-thousand years between the first and second Adam, both the bookends of the fall of man.  Through the first Adam, sin found a foothold in the world.  Through the second Adam, Jesus Christ, the sting of eternal destruction in the second death (Rev. 21:6, Rom 6:23) is broken and restoration that comes from God is complete. Being familiar with scripture and his role as Savior, Jesus knew he was the precious Lamb of God, who upon him was transferred the weight and debt of all our sins.  Jesus would go on to fulfill this role as our purification offering, fulfilling the law and the words of prophets.

In a similar manner, Jesus redefines and completes baptism in Matthew 3.  Although not defined by religious laws in the Old Testament, baptism had become a common practice for sects of Judaism from the time of Malachi to the beginning of the Common Era.  It was performed as a ritual cleansing, done in preparation to ready oneself to make a sacrifice at the temple. This could be done time and time again because of the literal and spiritual uncleanliness that would appear between trips to the Temple. John’s baptism took on this role, specifically for the forgiveness of sins. So why would a sinless Savior need to engage in such a symbol?

“Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’  Jesus replied, ‘Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’ – Matthew 3:13-17

The first reason Jesus is baptized is as simple as he stated, “to fulfill all righteousness.” Baptism is not merely for the forgiveness of sins. It is first and foremost the public dedication of your life to love God, accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, and live for his Kingdom.  To us this means that looking for a pass on sin without submission is not living-saving nor does it accept the grace of God.  Specifically, those who participated in the baptism of John for the forgiveness of sin were told to be rebaptized when they knew this Good News.

The second basis for baptism is the fulfillment of the gracious cleansing we receive by the sacrifice of Jesus. Just like the payment of Christ, baptism is once and for all.  By being fully immersed in water, we demonstrate not only His death, but our own. Likewise, in rising out of the water, we illustrate the cornerstone of our hope, that Jesus has risen from the dead.  Furthermore this illustrates by dying to Him, we are raised to life, asking the raised Christ to live in us as Lord of our life today and being assured of the hope of our own resurrection if we remain faithful. 

Arguably the third purpose for baptism is the invitation of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Jesus is shown this power of God at His baptism, and the Holy Spirit descending onto ministry of miracles.  Baptism, in fullness, is an invitation for the Spirit of God to direct your path (Rom 8:14), bear fruit because of its presence (Gal 5:22-23), and to even comfort in times of hardship or grief. (John 14:26) It is the same power that raised Jesus from the grave that can now live in us. (Rom 8:11)

If you haven’t considered baptism up to this point, what is stopping you from such a confession of faith? Baptism is not the culmination, but the entry point of faith. You do not have to understand the nuances of scripture, only that our Heavenly Father sent His Son into the world to die for your sin, and they are coming back to Earth with eternal life in hand.

If you have already dedicated your life through this public confession, hold close to your heart the promise that is in the symbol.  Time and time again, we trip, stumble, and fall flat on our faces, but with each fall, we are lifted out of the waters of baptism and covered in the grace of God through Jesus Christ.  Thank God we do not have to be reimmersed.  Many of us would spend the vast majority of life underwater. We can confess to Heavenly Father with a repentant heart and the power of baptism in Jesus Christ not only banishes the wages of sin, but gives us the present presence of God for now and for eternity.

-Aaron Winner

Reflection Questions

  1. If you haven’t considered baptism up to this point, what is stopping you from such a confession of faith?
  2. If you are baptized, what does it mean to you?
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