Matthew 3-4 (The Kingdom of Heaven is Near and Jesus Begins His Ministry)

Chapter three of Matthew begins with the arrival of John the Baptist who had arrived to prepare the way for Jesus Christ. There has been approximately twenty five years, or maybe more, since the end of chapter two of Matthew. In chapters three and four, after the introduction of John the Baptist, we will see the baptism of Jesus, the temptation of Jesus, the calling of the first disciples, and the beginning of Jesus' ministry. 

In Matthew 3:3, Matthew, along with the other Gospels, quotes Isaiah 40:3 in reference to John the Baptist:

 "A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
    make straight in the desert a highway for our God."

John is, of course, announcing the imminent arrival of Jesus. Because Isaiah speaks of God comforting His people who were in exile, by having Matthew quote this point to the divinity of Jesus.

Malachi 3:1 and 4:5-6 speak of Elijah returning to prepare the way before God arrives to judge Israel:

“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts." (Malachi 3:1)

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.  And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.” (Malachi 4:5-6)

Elijah is also mentioned similarly to John the Baptist in 2 Kings 1:8 because Elijah wore a garment of hair, with a leather belt about his waist, and John the Baptist wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist. The promises of Elijah were to prepare a way before God's arrival to save and judge, just as John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus.

People were instructed to repent and be baptized. The instruction of repent and be baptized was so urgent because the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand:

 "Bear fruit in keeping with repentance." (Matthew 3:8)

"Even 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." (Matthew 3:10)

John's message to the Pharisees and the Sadduccees is one of urgency. It was a stern, but true reminder to them that the fact that true children of God are only children of God because of His actions, and that they can not expect to be spared from judgment unless they repent and believe in who is to come. The Kingdom of Heaven is near.

Temptation is something that God uses for our good. If we overcome temptation, our faith is strengthened, but if we fall to temptation, we recognize the need for forgiveness and God's grace is glorified that much more. We can see through history where people have been tempted and they have failed. This includes Adam in the beginning, as well as Israel in it's history. Jesus, however, did not fail.

Comparisons can be drawn between Jesus' forty days in the wilderness when He was tempted, and the forty years that Israel was tested in the wilderness. Israel did not fully trust God, so they were left to wander for forty years. It took forty years for the unbelieving generation to die off. Jesus, however, remained faithful and the Father was pleased.

Jesus' response when he was first tempted in Matthew 4:3 ("And the tempter came and said to him, 'If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.'"), was to quote Scripture. He said, "It is written..." His response is important for believers because it emphasizes the importance of knowing Scripture, especially when dealing with temptation. It is a reminder of the importance of reading our Bibles often.

When Jesus began His ministry, He went to Capernaum, which was the land of Zebulun and Naphtali. While much of Matthew focuses on Jesus' ministry to Jewish people, this shows that the mission of Jesus was never just for the salvation of Jewish people, but also Gentiles. Salvation was not just for one ethnicity, but for people from all nations. This would also foretell the Great Commission later in Matthew to go into the world and make disciples.

Matthew 4:23-25 tells of Jesus beginning to minister to larger crowds after calling his first disciples:

 "And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan."

Here, Jesus does three things which would summarize His entire ministry: teaching in the synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and affliction among the people. He demonstrates the urgency of the kingdom at hand by proclaiming the Gospel. It also shows God restoring a broken world by healing the diseased.

Matthew 1-2 (The Birth and Arrival of Jesus)

The first two chapters of Matthew deal with the arrival of Jesus. Through various Old Testament references, Matthew shares that Jesus' arrival is the climax of the Old Testament. The word, "messiah", is a translation of a Hebrew word for "anointed one", and the equivalent of the Greek word, "Christ".

Matthew places Jesus within history and the Old Testament by referring to Jesus' genealogy (Matthew 1:1-17). He announced that there were a total of fourteen generations between Abraham to David, fourteen generations from David to the deportation to Babylon, and from deportation to Babylon to the Christ were fourteen generations.

Promises from God to Abram

 "Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.  And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”" (Genesis 12:1-3)

"...and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”" (Genesis 22:18) 

shed light on what Jesus came to do because God told Abram to go from his country and his kindred and to the land he will show him. By referring to making a great nation of Abram, it also foretells of the elect, the Church, who will be of every nation and tribe. By being in Jesus and obeying him, we too will be blessed.

Just as God made promises to David:

 "...from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house.  When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.  He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.  I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you.  And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’” (2 Samuel 7:11-16)

that he would give rest to him from his enemies, God promises us that he will give us rest from sin and broken heartedness when we turn to Christ. In Psalm 89:3-4, God says that the covenant was extended to David's descendants. The promise of the throne says that the throne will have to be a descendant of David. Jesus comes from this genealogy.

In the genealogy of Jesus, by including five women rather just men (as was customary at the time), and by including Tamar, Rahab, and Ruth (all Gentiles) is significant. In Matthew 1:21, it speaks of Jesus coming to save His people from their sins. This would include men and women, Jew and Gentile. Salvation was not just for the Jews, as was common thought at the time, but also for Gentiles.

When Joseph learned that Mary was pregnant, he first assumed that she had been unfaithful. He sought to divorce Mary quietly because he did not want to put her to shame. But when an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, he changed his mind and stayed with her. It should also be noted that they did not have relations until after Mary gave birth to Jesus, putting aside any doubt that an Old Testament prophecy was being fulfilled:

 "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14, which Matthew 1:23 quotes) 

By showing mercy on Mary, Joseph's behavior was ideal for a model disciple.

In Matthew 2, we see the introduction of the wise men, or the magi. Number 24:17 helps us to understand why the magi would follow a star to find a king because it talks about a star coming out of Jacob and a scepter rising out of Jacob:

 "I see him, but not now;
    I behold him, but not near:
a star shall come out of Jacob,
    and a scepter shall rise out of Israel;
it shall crush the forehead of Moab
    and break down all the sons of Sheth."

In Matthew 2:11, the wise men saw Jesus and Mary and they fell to the floor and immediately began to worship him. Looking at Psalm 72:8-11, we can see the anticipation of the Messiah who was to come.

 "May he have dominion from sea to sea,
    and from the River to the ends of the earth! 

 May desert tribes bow down before him,
    and his enemies lick the dust! 

 May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands
    render him tribute;
may the kings of Sheba and Seba
    bring gifts! 

 May all kings fall down before him,
    all nations serve him!" (Psalm 72:8-11)

All kings will fall down before Him and every nation will serve Him. The wise men likely knew they were in the presence of the prophesied one here.

Isaiah 60:1-5 speaks of a "light" coming to Israel and that it is the time of salvation for His people.

"Arise, shine, for your light has come,
    and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. 

 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
    and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
    and his glory will be seen upon you. 

 And nations shall come to your light,
    and kings to the brightness of your rising.

 Lift up your eyes all around, and see;
    they all gather together, they come to you;
your sons shall come from afar,
    and your daughters shall be carried on the hip. 

 Then you shall see and be radiant;
    your heart shall thrill and exult,
because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,
    the wealth of the nations shall come to you." (Isaiah 60:1-5)

When the light appears and the wise men see the star rest over the place that the child was (Matthew 2:9), they are over-joyed. They were so full of excitement they gave gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. However, Herod was very upset of this light and assembled a group of people to locate where the Christ was born to have him killed.

Herod's reaction in Matthew 2:3-8 and 16 in some ways foretells what was to come later in Jesus' life in Matthew 26:3-4 and 27:1-2. While later on it was the chief priests led by Caiaphas who plotted to kill Jesus and enlisted the help of Pilate, at this time it was Herod who had enlisted the help of the chief priests and scribes.

Herod's actions in Matthew 2:13-16:

 "Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”  And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt  and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men."

parallel these of the ancient king of Egypt in Exodus 1:15-22

 "Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah,  “When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.”  But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live.  So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the male children live?”  The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.”  So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong.  And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.  Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.”

because the king of Egypt had ordered all sons be murdered just as Herod had all male children in Bethlehem murdered. The king ordered all sons to be murdered by subjects in Egypt because the mid-wives were fearful of God and obeyed Him. Similarly, after Herod realized he had been tricked by the wise men, he ordered the death of all male children under two years old.

Twice in Matthew 2:13-23, different things happen to Jesus in order that the Old Testament might be fulfilled.

 "...and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” (Matthew 2:15)

 

"And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene." (Matthew 2:23)

I believe Matthew is trying to show us the relationship between the Old Testament and the arrival of Jesus, in a broad sense, is that the history of God's redemption of Israel points to Jesus.

Overview of the Gospel of Matthew

The Gospel of Matthew was written by Matthew, also known as Levi. Matthew was a former tax collector who would go on to join Jesus during his ministry as a disciple. This Gospel was likely written in the late 50s or early 60s.

Matthew was one of the most popular books of the early church. The Gospel of Matthew identified Jesus as the one true King and would bring about the Kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew also paints a clear picture of discipleship. A disciple is any person that submits to the teaching of another. In the New Testament, it refers to those who submitted to the teachings of Jesus. More specifically it refers to those who traveled with Jesus during his ministry.

The audience of Matthew is clearly Jewish. Because there are so many Jewish themes throughout this Gospel, it is obvious that the primary audience was Jewish-Christians. It is focused more than the other Gospels on how Jesus is the King who the Jewish people had waited on and who came as an answer to the fall that had cursed creation. The restoration of creation is announced in Jesus’ own words: “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17). It is also illustrated in Jesus’ work as he worked many miracles and reconciled people to God through forgiveness of sins.

Included in Matthew is five major discourses, including the Sermon on the Mount, the commissioning of the apostles, the parables about the kingdom, a discourse about the childlikeness of believers, and the discourse on the second coming. Some have suggested a parallel between these five discourses and the five books of Moses in the Old Testament, the Pentateuch. 

Athanasius, Early Church Father from North Africa

In America, and much of the West, we tend to think of church history as being dominated by white men. Artwork of most early Church fathers depict them as white men, especially Medieval artwork. However, I do think it is interesting, and perhaps even important, to acknowledge that some of the most important, and influential Church fathers were not as depicted in most Western artwork. All early Church fathers were not white men. Many secularists today say that Christianity is a "white man's religion". However, if not for a black man born in 298 AD, Christianity may have been overrun by false teachings.

Athanasius was an archdeacon and a secretary to the bishop of Alexandria and a man that God would use to defend and preserve Biblical truths. Athanasius was described as a short, dark skinned man who was a fierce defender of the Trinity, the teaching that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all one God in three divine persons. Shortly after Emperor Constantine changed Christianity from a persecuted religion to an officially sanctioned religion in 313 AD, Arius of Alexandria began to teach that Jesus was a created being, and not an eternal being. Arius taught that there was a time that Jesus did not exist, and that Jesus was God-like, and not actually God in the flesh. “There was a time when [the Son] was not" began to spread thanks to Arius. This teaching became known as Arianism.

Athanasius strongly refuted Arianism and taught that Scripture teaches that there is an eternal relationship between the Father and the Son. Athanasius argued that if Jesus were not fully divine, He would not be able to save mankind. He also said that Jesus has always existed and is equal with the Father, but also distinct from the Father. The same applies to the Holy Spirit.

In 325 AD, a council was called by Emperor Constantine to resolve the issue over the divinity of Jesus. This was known as the Council of Nicaea. The majority agreed with Athanasius, and the Greek word, "homoousious" (which means "of the same substance, nature, or essence”) was introduced. The result of the Council of Nicaea was the Nicene Creed, which declared "the Son to be “begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father.”

In 328 AD Athanasius became bishop of Alexandria. Arians, and even some bishops that wanted less divisive language than what was used in the Nicene Creed, sought compromise on the issue. However, Athanasius refused to compromise on the issue. He rightly viewed the issue of the Trinity to be one that there can be no compromise on. The Trinity is an issue that is non-negotiable. Athanasius feared that if he compromised on such a vital issue, then the truth could then become victim. There was much opposition against Athanasius, and even Emperor Constantine sided with the Arians. Athanasius did not budge. His stubbornness led to the phrase, Athanasius contra mundum, or “Athanasius against the world.”

Biblical truth prevailed and the Nicene Creed was confirmed at the Council of Constantinople in 381 AD. Unfortunately, Athanasius died in 373 AD and did not live to see the fruits of his work. However, his work still stands today and is one that Orthodox Christians worldwide affirm. The heresy of Arianism still exists today, however, with Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons, but one has to wonder where Christian teaching would be without this short African man who stood firm for Biblical truth and the divinity of the Son.

Which Comes First- Regeneration or Faith?

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? The question has its roots in ancient times, and seeks to answer which is the cause and which is the effect. A much more important question, though, is which came first- regeneration or faith?

We often here about someone becoming a "born again Christian". The idea of being a "born again" Christian is a bit of a redundant term. In order to be a Christian, you must first be born again. So to say one is a "born again Christian" is to say that they are a "Christian-Christian". There are no other kinds of Christians.

Becoming "born again" is synonymous for a theological term, "regenerate". When we speak about someone becoming "regenerated", or refer to someone as a "regenerate", we are essentially saying that they are born again.

But before we jump into regeneration, we should first should look at why we need to be born again. We can all agree that we are all under the power of sin and are born into this world as sinners. Adam, as our federal head, served as the representative for all human kind, and in his sin, we all became sinners. As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians, "in Adam all die."

Prior to regeneration, we were all dead in our sins and trespasses. We were alive phsyically, but dead spiritually. Prior to our rebirth, we walked according to "the course of the world." Our measuring stick for what we consider good is the world and we naturally attempt to blend in. The world sets the standard for the unregenerate.

One of the most explicit verses we see about our state is from Ephesians 2:1-3: "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins  in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind." Other verses we find that speak of our condition are:

-"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

-"there is no one who does not sin" (2 Chronicles 6:36)

-"What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: 'None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." (Romans 3:9-12)

-"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9)

-"Also, the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead." (Ecclesiastes 9:3)

-"Jesus answered them, 'Truly, truly I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin." (John 8:34)

-"Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me." (Psalm 51:5)

As you can see, Scripture paints a very bleak picture of man, and one that is in grave danger. Our condition reads worse than any horror story ever written. However, in spite of the wickedness of man, God had a plan to redeem his people by sending his son, Jesus Christ, to die for all the sins of his people. But how does this apply to us?

"Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.² This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” ³ Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” ⁴ Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” ⁵ Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ⁶ That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷ Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ ⁸ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:1-8)

Nicodemus came to Jesus at night. First, we know two things about Nicodemus- he was a Pharisee, and a ruler of the Jews. He was also a well educated man that had been highly trained in theology. He recognized Jesus as a rabbi and was very respectful towards Jesus. Answering Nicodemus' question in verse 2, Jesus got right to the point in verse 3, "Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Notice the emphasis that Jesus placed on regeneration as a necessary condition for believing in him. Use of the word, "must" is significant for a person to even see the kingdom of God, let alone enter it. 

"Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?”  Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." When something important was being stated, Jews would often repeat themselves, and at times use slightly different wording. While Nicodemus' response was a clear humanistic response (how can he enter his mother's womb a second time?), Jesus responded that not only could you not see the kingdom of God if you weren't born again, but you couldn'r enter it either.

Jesus attempted to explain this to Nicodemus in verse six: "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." Jesus re-emphasized a beginning point that, that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit, is Spirit. It is noteworthy that Jesus had to start with a basic point with someone like Nicodemus who was so well educated, yet knew so little.

"The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” It is interesting that the Greek word for "wind" is "pneuma" and the Greek word for "Spirit" is "pnematos". So when Jesus was saying that "You have to be born of the Spirit, and it's like the wind," he is essentially saying, "the pneuma is like the pneuma."

The Holy Spirit's work is mysterious, therefore regeneration is mysterious. The Spirit is invisible and we can not see the Spirit regenerating someone. We can, however, see the effects of regeneration. In the same way we can't see the wind, we can feel and hear the effects of the wind. Wind itself is invisible, but the effect of wind is not invisible.

When the Holy Spirit regenerates our hearts, our disposition changes. We are no longer an enemy of God and are no longer at war with God. We now run to God, which could have never happened had the Spirit not changed the disposition of our souls. With a change in disposition in our souls, we now seek God and have an affection for God that wasn't previously there. Our hearts once were beating only for our own selfish desires, it is now beating for God. This is the effect of the Spirit blowing where it wishes and blowing into us.

"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules." (Ezekiel 36: 26-27) God promised a time in which he would give a new spiritual rebirth to his people. Instead of a heart of stone, unable to respond to God, God promised to give us a new heart that would enable us to respond in obedience.

"One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul." (Acts 16:14) This is another example of regeneration. God first opened Lydia's heart so that she was able to hear Paul's preaching and respond in faith.

Who has power over death? No one, but God. A dead man has no ability to make himself alive. This can only happen by the work of God. Just as Lazarus did not assist Jesus in bringing himself back to life, a spiritually dead person can not bring themselves back to life. They can't meet God halfway, because they are DEAD. This is a process that is by God alone. An illustration I have heard before has us at the bottom of the sea, dead and drowned. God does not throw us a life raft and hope that we grab it so he can pull us in. God goes down to the bottom of the ocean and pulls us up and breathes new life into us.

Once God has made us alive, we will then have our disposition changed to one who is no longer at war with God. We must then repent, and place our faith in Christ. But if God had not stepped in and intervened, and regenerated our heart and given us hearts of flesh, we would not have had a desire for Christ. Spiritually dead people do not develop faith which causes God to regenerate them. Their faith is the fruit of the regeneration.

Scripture is clear. Regeneration comes before faith. One does not possess the ability to have faith until God removes our heart of stone and gives us a heart of flesh. Today, far too often modern evangelical teaching states that after we come to Christ in faith, we are then regenerated. But a dead man can not make himself alive. Salvation is a monergistic work. God regenerates our hearts, thus enabling us to come to him in faith and repentance. Soli deo gloria!