Matthew 3:9-12 ( ESV )
9And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our
father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for
Abraham.
10Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree
therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
11“I baptize you with water for 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 with fire.
12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing
floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with
unquenchable fire.”
o
Axe
is laid to the root-Judgment was now at hand. The axe was ready to swing and
take the whole part of the tree. The roots and all were to be destroyed. All
the unfruitful trees would be done away with and face eternal judgment.
o
3
types of baptism in verse 11 are mentioned.
1. John’s Baptism which was Lord I am being baptized to declare to all
that I am a sinner and I am ready for the Messiah to come. 2. Baptism of the
Holy Spirit-Not tongues but rather a baptism in which the Holy Spirit places us
into the Body of Christ. I Cor. 12:13
3. A baptism of being immersed in fire. The future judgment in which
unbelievers will inherit Hell.
o
(Note
John’s humility in all of this: I am not worthy-He felt as though he was
unworthy to even unfasten the sandal straps of the one who was Messiah.)
o
Winnowing
fork-Tool that was used for tossing grain into the wind so that the chaff would
blow away from it. (There are two groupings 1)Wheat which could be used and 2)
Chaff which was of no use to anyone. Two Destinations of these groups: 1) Wheat-Gathered into the barn or made part
of the kingdom. 2) Chaff-Which would
burn with unquenchable fire. The judgment of Hell.
Matthew 3:13-17 ( ESV )
15But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus
it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he
consented.
16And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the
water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him,£ and he
saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;
§
Jesus-This
is the one John had been speaking about earlier. The last we heard of Him was
in Nazareth in Matt. 2.
§
If
John would have had his way he would have been baptized by Jesus. He saw no
need for the sinless lamb of John 1:29 to participate in his baptism.
§
The
QUESTION IS WHY? There may be several reasons for this to have taken place. We
know that by doing it according to Jesus Words Righteousness was fulfilled.
Here are several. 1. Jesus identified with John’s message of the people’s need
for repentance and need of God’s righteousness. He himself though sinless was
identifying with the people’s need in this area. He will later bear theirs and
our sin upon him and his perfect righteousness would be placed upon them and us
who believe. 2. He was giving approval to John’s ministry. 3. He identified
with us as sinners. 4. As an Aaronic High priest, He would enter into the
ministry and this was a special ceremony that he would enter into for his
public ministry. Ex. 29:4-7 In the same way our Lord now entered into his
public ministry. They were washed with water and anointed with oil. Jesus was
now washed with water and was anointed by his Father and the Holy Spirit.
§
All
3 were now involved. The whole trinity was represented Father, Son, and the
Holy Spirit. (The Dove was a symbol of virtue. Gen. 8:6-11 the raven and the
dove. The fullness of the spirit was declared before all upon Jesus life. (He
was already there but now it is declared.)
§
God
declares before the whole world he is pleased with His son. Same words at the
mount of transfiguration in Matthew 17:5 along with the words Hear Ye Him. The
Father declares about His Son’s perfect righteous character.
APPLICATIONS
AND OBSERVATIONS:
1. AS A BELIEVER DO YOU NEED TO BE
BAPTIZED? (WATER) THIS IS NOT FOR
SALVATION BUT TO DECLARE TO ALL OF YOUR FAITH IN JESUS.
2. AS A BELIEVER YOU ARE NOT ALONE
IN YOUR FAITH BUT YOU HAVE BEEN PLACED INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST.
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