Our Gospel reading for this week is from Matthew, and introduces us to John the Baptist, a man who dressed oddly, ate a diet that most would not care to touch, and preached a bold and fiery message that attracted some, but angered many. Let’s take a moment to study his message, and see what our response will be.
John the Baptist was the son of Zachariah, a Jewish priest, and his wife Elizabeth, who was a cousin of the Virgin Mary, thus making John a second cousin to the Lord Jesus. Growing up the son of a priest who served in the Temple, John’s family would have been fairly comfortable financially. Sometime in his adult years he was compelled by the Holy Spirit to leave that behind and go out deep into the Judean wilderness, east of the Jordan River, to pray and commune with God. Sometime around 26-27 AD, shortly before the start of Jesus’ ministry, John reappeared near the Jordan River, telling all who would listen that they needed to repent, that God’s Kingdom was at hand (vs. 1-2).
Unlike many preachers, both back in Biblical times and especially today, John the Baptist wasn’t interested in the praise of the people, only in pleasing God. He lived a life separated from the material world, and he practiced what he preached. Many people from all around Judea and Galilee flocked to hear him preach by the Jordan River, about 20 miles east of Jerusalem. He told it like it was, both to religious leaders, politicians, and the common people (vs. 7-12). John criticized the Pharisees for being legalistic and hypocritical, following the letter of the Jewish Law, but ignoring it’s true intent. He criticized the Sadducees for using religion to advance their political position. He called all, rich and poor, religious and nonreligious to repentance, to turn to God, and change their lives.
Repentance means to make a 180 degree turn from going your own way to going God’s way. A person who has repented will stop rebelling and begin following God’s way of living as laid out in the Bible. One must admit their sin and turn to God. God doesn’t expect us to clean up our lives before we come to Him. Only He can get rid of sin. Genuine repentance will bring both a change in attitude and a change in behavior. Just feeling sorry for some wrong action is not real repentance. There must be a change (vs. 8). John preached that faith is more than words or ritual. One must change their behavior. God looks beyond our words and religious activities. Does our conduct back up what we say? Good works are the inevitable fruit of genuine repentance.
One thing that some of the religious people of his day said was that they did not need to repent from any sins, as they were “children of Abraham”, descendants of their holy father Abraham. They felt that because of that they were exempt from any need for repentance. John preached that merely being a physical descendant of Abraham did not make one spiritually secure (vs. 9). Abraham’s real descendants are those who have repented and come to faith in Jesus. Believers lives should produce a crop of good deeds. One who is a Christian in name only has no value to God. People who claim they believe in God, but don’t live for Him, are like unproductive trees that will be cut down (vs. 10). To be productive we must obey God’s Word, the Bible, resist temptation, serve and help others, and share our faith.
John preached of the coming Messiah, and how He would separate the wheat from the chaff (vs. 12). In Bible times men would toss the grain into the air with a winnowing fan. This would separate the wheat and good grain from the chaff, the useless outer shell. One day, God will do the same with people. Unrepentant people will be judged and discarded. Those who have repented and believe will be saved.
Matthew, our Gospel writer, quoted Isaiah 40:3, in reference to John the Baptist and his ministry. John prepared the way for Jesus and His ministry of salvation. Today there are many people who need to be prepared to meet Jesus, as well. We need to show them they need His forgiveness. Our lives need to show His teachings. We need to “make straight paths for Him” by correcting misconceptions about Jesus that have hindered their coming to Him.
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