Good day, guten tag, buenos días. May All who read this be blessed: The following is adapted from my original manuscript notes “Meditations on The Gospel According to Saint Matthew” Originally written between 2003-2010 and updated with newer information and improved references as the transcription process continues. All Scriptures cited are from the New King James Version (NKJV/NKJ) unless otherwise noted. The commentary will be by itself in the beginning. The Bible Text(s) themselves will follow (for those who do not have ready access to a Bible). [i] MATTHEW 3:13-17 COMMENTARY 3:13-14 OUR NEED ● No matter how holy or dedicated a life we may lead, when compared to that of Jesus, “[A]ll our righteousnesses are like filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6)[ii] . ● John the Baptist, who was dedicated from the womb to the Lords service, saw in Jesus, someone whose life far outshone his own. Moreover, he saw this before Jesus even began His ministry – v14. 3:15 HIS EXAMPLE ● Jesus did not need to be baptized for repentance of sin; He had none. Yet, He did submit to baptism as an example for us of submission to God. 3:16-17 THE TRINITY ● The three Persons of the Godhead are present here, interacting together with one another: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. See also, Mark1:9-11 (and note)[iii] ; Luke 3:22 (and note)[iv] . Matthew 3:13-17 NKJV (13) Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. (14) And John tried to prevent Him, saying, I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me? (15) But 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. (16) When 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. (17) And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. END NOTES: [i] Special note: I have yet to transcribe into electronic format the majority of my manuscript notes. I do apologize if there are references to other notes that are not presently available. I am working on them as I have time and energy. In the meantime, if other material is already transcribed or, is of limited enough volume that I can quickly get it done, then any cross-references with notes will be at the bottom. Thank you for your patience and support. For those interested, Matthew Chapter 3 and its notes will posted in their entirety on my blog at sovereigngracebroadcaster.wordpress at 1800 CST. Just a reminder, Chapters 1 and 2 and other material such as topical studies on healing and miracles, the Trinity or Tri-unity of God, are currently available. [ii] Isaiah 64:6 (6) But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away. 64:6 FILTHY RAGS • ALL our Righteousnesses, “all,” our “Righteousnesses,” plural, the best of the best that we can do on our own is nothing but filthy, disgusting, bloody, vile, putrid rags in His sight. They are less than useless. [iii] Mark 1:9-11 (9) It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. (10) And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. (11) Then a voice came from heaven, You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 1:9-11 JESUS’ BAPTISM – WHY? • Why was Jesus Baptized if He was without sin? If we compare Matthew’s account (Matthew 3:13-17) we find that Jesus answered John the Baptist’s very same question by saying, “it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” (Matthew 3:15). Now John obviously knew what Jesus meant by that because he then proceeded to baptize Jesus. But for us today, especially those of us of a “Gentile” (i.e., non-Jewish) background; it still begs the question, why? The answer lies in the Old Testament; specifically in Leviticus, chapter 8, verse 6, the consecration of Aaron and his sons, as priests (cf. Exodus 20:1ff; 40:1-15) to serve the LORD as the representatives of the people. – Note the role of priests was to act as “representatives of the people” not “representatives of God.” • Christ’s baptism is the fulfillment of this Old Testament type or shadow. As Aaron and his sons’ consecrations as priests began with their ceremonial washing, so too with Christ; at the beginning of His ministry (at the age of 30, in conformance with the Law, see Numbers 4) Christ was baptized (ceremonially washed) and anointed by the Holy Spirit (cf. Luke 4:18), this also in fulfillment of the Old Testament type (cf. Leviticus 8:10-12). Thus, as our High Priest (cf. Hebrews 4:14) He fulfilled all righteousness. Trinity • At Jesus’ baptism, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit were all present together. Compare Matthew 3:16-17 and note; Luke 3:22. Exodus 29:1-35 (1) And this is what you shall do to them to hallow them for ministering to Me as priests: Take one young bull and two rams without blemish, …. (35) Thus you shall do to Aaron and his sons, according to all that I have commanded you. Seven days you shall consecrate them. (Ellipsis added for brevity. Luke 4:18 (18) The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; Leviticus 8:10-12 (10) Also Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them. (11) He sprinkled some of it on the altar seven times, anointed the altar and all its utensils, and the laver and its base, to consecrate them. (12) _ And he poured some of the anointing oil on Aarons head and anointed him, to consecrate him. Hebrews 4:14 (14) Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. [iv] Luke 3:22 (22) And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.. 3:22 THE TRINITY PRESENT ● All three Persons of the Godhead were present at Jesus’ baptism; the Father, speaking from heaven, the Son in the water, and the Holy Spirit descending from heaven in the form of a dove. ● This negates the heresy of modalism, that God is a trinity in mode not persons; that is to say, that there is one God who manifests in three different “modes” or “forms” but there is no distinction between them, the “modes” appearing or operating one at a time.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 10:42:56 +0000
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