Sitting in our chairs in the twenty-first century, it is again hard to imagine how much enthusiasm would have been going through Matthew’s hearers’ hearts as they contemplated the events that he described, believing what he said of them was true. He had proclaimed that the Davidic king had come. He had said that this was the Son of Abraham who would be the real sacrifice. He said that the Messiah had come, and after more than 580 years without a descendant of David reigning on the throne, the Davidic throne was occupied again.
But there was something else that had to happen if people could really believe that this Jesus from Nazareth really was the Messiah who had been promised for centuries. He had to have a forerunner. Thus, Matthew’s announcement in chapter 3, with his introduction of John the Baptist is, “Behold, the forerunner of Jesus Christ!”
Doesn’t this seem like an odd statement? Why would Jesus need someone else to authenticate him as the Messiah? Why does Matthew feel it necessary to speak of John the Baptist when he could have used this space to give us more details of Jesus’ life?
Well, first it should be pointed out that Matthew is not alone. In fact, though the gospel writers differ in their arrangement and emphases, all find it necessary to include John the Baptist. Which again leads us to ask, “Why?” The answer is because it is necessary, as a fulfillment of prophecy that the Messiah would have a forerunner. Therefore, if Jesus had come along and claimed to be the Messiah, while having no forerunner, they could have said, “This cannot be him. For God has told us that he will send one who will prepare his way.” For they would have known of the following prophetic announcements:
Isaiah 40:3-5 – “A voice is calling, clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. Let every valley be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; and let the rough ground become a plain, and the rugged terrain a broad valley; then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
Malachi 3:1 – “‘Behold, I am going to send my messenger, and he will clear 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.”
Malachi 4:5-6 – “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. And he will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse.”
This last quote makes up the last words of the Old Testament – a proclamation to await the forerunner who will precede the coming Messiah. That’s pretty exciting in light of John the Baptist, isn’t it? But keep in mind that 400 years pass from the end of the Old Testament to the time of John the Baptist. That’s why people are willing to travel great distances in the wilderness to see him.
But does Matthew make clear to the reader who John the Baptist is? Yes, in John 3:3, he tells us that “this is the one” about whom Isaiah 40:3-5 had been written. Then in Matthew 11:9-10, Matthew includes Jesus declaration that John was the one fulfilling Malachi 3:1.
But what about this prophecy of Elijah? John fulfills this as well as Matthew records Jesus’ words to the multitudes, “For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you care to accept it, he himself is Elijah, who was to come” (Matthew 11:13-14).
Therefore, from the end of the Old Testament we wait 400 years for the forerunner to come, but he comes. God is faithful to his promise. “Elijah” comes, proclaiming that the Messiah is coming after him.1 Therefore, when Jesus comes on to the scene, John is able to say, “Behold the Lamb of God” (John 1:29).
It is important for us to see that to prepare the way didn’t mean simply to say that the Messiah is coming. It meant to get people ready to see the Messiah. And in John’s eyes (and that of the rest of Scripture) repentance is necessary in light of the coming king. The following are a few reasons why repentance is necessary before the coming of Christ:
1. Because we cannot rely on our heritage (3:3-10)
In verses 3-10 we read of John’s confrontation with the Sadducees and Pharisees, for they were coming out to look into the baptism of John. But John only baptized those who had first repented. Therefore he proclaims to them, “Bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance” (3:8). And before they can even say anything he says, “And do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’: for I say to you, that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham” (3:9).
What he is saying to them is that you cannot rely on your physical descent from Abraham to find yourself right before God. For, though it may be true that they were of those from whom the Messiah came, they were also in Adam, having sinned in the garden and being plunged in depravity and guilt before God with him. Thus, they must have their sins dealt with to stand righteously before God. And John also assures us again that those who are Abraham’s children are those who share in Abraham’s faith (Galatians 3:29).
In the same way, it doesn’t matter how godly of a family you come from, you must repent and believe if you are to find righteousness in the sight of God.
2. Because Jesus is coming to bless and condemn (3:10-12)
The main reason that John preached repentance is because, though Jesus was coming to bless, he was also coming to condemn. He was coming to pronounce judgment on men, as he did often with the Scribes and Pharisees. This is most likely the meaning of verse 11.
When we read a phrase like “baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire,” we automatically think that this is a great thing that we all want to experience. And the first part is surely the experience of all those who believe in Christ. However, being baptized in fire does not seem to carry the idea of blessing in light of the surrounding verses. John is speaking of judgment. Therefore, I believe John wants to ensure his readers that repentance is necessary because though Jesus is coming to bless, he will also pronounce judgment on those who have not believed.
3. Because people must be transformed (3:7-8)
I want to mention this one final note on why repentance is necessary because I want us to understand what repentance is. Repentance is something that brings about a transformation in someone. It brings about change. This is what John is saying to the Pharisees and Sadducees in verses 7-8. It must produce fruit.
And what people need if they are to stand before God is to be changed inside and out. This is only done by God’s miracle of bringing about faith and repentance in someone. Therefore, repentance is more than a decision (it is definitely not less), for it is a reflection of a transformation that God had miraculously brought about in someone’s heart that will show in the individual’s life.
So we see that John and his message are necessary before the public pronouncement of the Christ, but Jesus’ actions in this chapter also add to confirmation that he is indeed the one.
Throughout the rest of chapter 3 and the beginning of chapter 4, Matthew continues to show us that Jesus is indeed the one. He is the perfect Son. Adam, who was the called the son of God, sinned in the garden. Israel, who is referred to as God’s son, sinned in the wilderness. But Christ does not sin; he is indeed the true Son of God, who is in fact God the Son.
We see his obedience in Baptism (3:13-17) as he wants to be baptized that he might “fulfill all righteousness” (3:15). And the Father takes note of this obedience proclaiming, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (3:17). But the greater test of obedience occurs as he is driven into the wilderness and is tempted by Satan.
The scene of Matthew 4:11 is different from that of Genesis 1-3 or of Deuteronomy 6-8, where Adam had everything he needed and Israel had seen God feed them. Jesus had gone without. He had fasted forty days and nights. He was no doubt hungry. Yet even in this he shows us that no matter his state, his desire is to be in strict conformity to God’s every word (4:4), trusting in his Father (4:7), and worshiping God alone (4:10). He sets before us a perfect model of obedience. He is the obedient Son.
And his obedience is utterly important to us. Taking our sin on the cross is what rids us of our guilt before God, but without Jesus being able to transfer his perfect righteousness to us, we are without righteousness before God.
But let me pause one moment to point out something about the first temptation (i.e. turning the stone into bread). What’s bothered me for years is why this would have been sin. I mean, Jesus was hungry and had the power to do this very thing. Why is it wrong?
I believe the reason why it was wrong is because God had a plan for his Son to walk a road of obedience involving suffering before he went to the cross. And this was one part of choosing obedience when it involved choosing suffering. No doubt, the strength that Jesus showed here was the same strength that he displayed in not acting on the shouts from the crowd to save himself if he was the Son of God (Matthew 27:40). Indeed, his obedience unto death on the cross is the very thing that affirms that that he is the Messiah. Therefore, this temptation was one step that the Father had intended for his Son as he would walk a hard road of obedience that would involve suffering.
This is the very thing the author of Hebrews confirms, writing, “In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered” (Hebrews 5:7-8). This does not mean that Jesus didn’t know how to be obedient, simply that God ordered steps of obedience through suffering that Jesus gradually followed to the cross.
Therefore, what do we learn from these two chapters in Matthew’s gospel? Let me leave you with three things.
1. The importance of total repentance
We all need to take time, stop, and ask God to examine our lives to see if repentance has indeed occurred in us or if we need to do so right now. Often we get so busy that we fail to see the need for this, but it is indeed necessary in light of the coming King.
2. The need to trust God
Thinking of Jesus’ choice of suffering (when he could have chosen another route) makes me wonder how much I trust God. Often I try to avoid anything dangerous when it might be the very thing that God has ordained to train me in obedience and grow me in such. Trials are no doubt often the hand of God in our midst. Therefore, learn not to despise them but to trust the hand of your Heavenly Father through them.
3. The need to prepare men for his second coming.
We no doubt are in somewhat of a similar position of John the Baptist and the disciples (mentioned in chapter 4) in that we must preach to prepare people for the coming of Christ and call men to him (3:2 and 4:18-22). The message that John preached (3:2) and Jesus preached (4:17) is the same message that we must proclaim today. Therefore, let us go and make disciples by the strength and grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen.