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The Voice of One Crying Out. Matthew 3:1-6. In Matthew 3, we find a something of a Messianic prophecy. Matthew 3:1-6. This is not a prophecy about Jesus, per se. This is technically a prophecy about John the Baptizer.
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The Voice of OneCrying Out Matthew 3:1-6
In Matthew 3, we find a something of a Messianic prophecy. • Matthew 3:1-6. • This is not a prophecy about Jesus, per se. • This is technically a prophecy about John the Baptizer. • However, the prophecy pinpoints the Messiah, because the Messiah was to have a forerunner.
This is one of 11 prophecies in Matthew that is not introduced with a fulfillment formula. • In other words, Matthew doesn’t say, “Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet” (cf 2:17). • He says that John is the one about whom Isaiah spoke. • Matthew doesn’t leave any room for a double or typological fulfillment here. • Isaiah was given a glimpse of the future by God, and he spoke about John the Baptist.
Isaiah’s Prophecy
The Book of Isaiah divides neatly into two sections. • Chapters 1-39 speaks about judgment that will befall the wicked Israelites. • Chapters 40-66 speak about the hope of the Israelites after the Babylonian Captivity. • That’s important as we study this prophecy. • This prophecy begins the lengthy section on hope in the Book.
Isaiah 40:1-5. • God calls on the prophet to comfort His people. • Why would God want the people comforted after the Captivity? • Does this tell us something about the love God has for His people? If so, what? • Does God want us comforted today after we have sinned? • How might He comfort us today?
Judah had received double from the Lord for her sins. • How did the nation receive double for her sins? • Do we ever receive double for our sins? • Does it ever feel as though God is giving us double for our sins? • This voice cries in the wilderness. • Can you think of other times when the people of God cried in the wilderness? • Do you think there’s a connection between that time in the wilderness and this?
The one in the wilderness was to make straight the paths of God. • How did John the Baptizer do that? • It was common in Jesus’ day to have others prepare the way for important people. • Kings would often send emissaries to prepare a town for a royal visit. • Sometimes they would need to make repairs to the roadway the king would be traveling. • The glory of the Lord would be revealed (v 5). • How would God’s glory be revealed?
The Prophecy and John
John’s message was: “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (v 2). • What does that message have to do with preparing the way of the Lord? • Why is repentance necessary to be part of the kingdom of God?
Why would John wear “strange” clothing and eat “strange” food? • Would his behavior help or hurt his message? • The people are going to John. • Shouldn’t he have gone to them? • Isn’t the role of the preacher to go to people? • Why are the people baptized “confessing their sins” (v 6)?
The Prophecy and Jesus
Matthew uses this prophecy to say some important things about Jesus. • Jesus is a king. • The “kingdom of heaven” is the kingdom of Jesus. • Remember, it was kings in antiquity who had their arrival announced. • Jesus is divine. • Matthew very subtly uses this prophecy to declare the deity of Jesus. • Notice that “Lord” in Is 40:3 is “Yahweh” in Hebrew. • Matthew equates Jesus with Yahweh.