Feast of Tabernacles 2022 Meaning October 08, 2022

 

Feast of Tabernacles 2022 Meaning           October 08, 2022 

Feast of Tabernacles:  A Christian Feast; a Feast for the Saints, called in Old Testament, Sukkot (Succoth) Feast of Booths, or Feast of ingathering 

An overview of the Feast of Tabernacles:  Hear what the Lord Jesus told Moses: 

Leviticus 23:34 "Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the LORD.   {notice, the FoT is for only 7 days} 

Leviticus 23:35 On the first day there shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it. {the day is special High Day}

 

Leviticus 23:36 For seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation, and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. It is a sacred assembly, and you shall do no customary work on it. {8^th day if High Day}

 

·      Jesus is the key to understanding the Feast of Tabernacles.

·      He observed this Feast while on the earth and

·      He told His disciples to observe the Feast as well 

Apostle John wrote 

John 7:1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him. 

John 7:2 Now the Jews' Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. 

Apostle John wrote that Lord Jesus said

 

John 7:8 You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come." 

 

John 7:10 But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.

 

John 7:11 Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, "Where is He?" 

·      Notice the Jews expected Jesus to be at the feast, as was His custom and example. 

·      Jesus just gave a command to His disciples about the Feast if they love Him.

 

John 14:15 "If you love me, keep my commands.

 

John 7:14 Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught.

 

Why did Jesus not go up with His Followers?

 

·      Are we not to follow Jesus example in life.  Jews wanted to kill Him.

·      We can do that in many different ways today, where they could not. 

·      Go in person, Have sickness, illness, health concerns, we can do this in different way. 

·      Watch service on the internet, broadcast, Podcast, radio, rebroadcast, etc

 

1 Peter 2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered f   or us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

 

1 John 2:3-6 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.  (4)  Whoever says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.  (5)  But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: (6) Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.     {follow His example}

 

Jesus in His life set us an example to follow and we are to do likewise 

If we celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, we are promise 3 things:

 

Deuteronomy 16:15 For seven days you are to celebrate {the festival} in the presence of the LORD your God at the place where the LORD will choose; for the LORD your {1} God will bless you in all your harvest and in {2} everything you do in all the work of your hands}, and your {3} joy will be complete.

 

Living in a temporary {Condo or Hotel} dwelling will teach us that our bodies in this life are only temporary, like a tent.  It is not meant to last forever. 

The Apostle Paul tells us: 

2 Corinthians 5:1-2 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  (2)  For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 

2 Peter 1:13-14 Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, (14) knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. 

Micah 4:1 Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the LORD's house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And peoples shall flow to it.    {Jesus Kingdom will be over all the earth} 

Micah 4:2 Many nations shall come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths." For out of Zion the law shall go forth, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.  

Micah 4:3 He shall judge between many peoples, And rebuke strong nations afar off; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore.  {Peace in the world}

 

Micah 4:4-5 But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, And no one shall make them afraid; For the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.  (5)  For all people walk each in the name of his god, But we will walk in the name of the LORD our God Forever and ever.  {people will have their own land, example, we like our 5 acres}

 

·     We will have a 1,000 years of peace and prosperity.

·      We will be the firstfruits of God's spiritual born into God's Family. 

·      We will have the opportunity of bringing Word of God to every human then alive and to those born during the Millennium. 

Will Jesus insist that everyone observe the Feast of Tabernacles after He returns? 

Zechariah 14:16 Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.  {left from battle}

 

Zechariah 14:17 If anyone from the families of the earth will not come to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, there will be no rain for them.   {people at first will be force to be happy}

 

Zechariah 14:18 "If the people of Egypt do not come to Jerusalem to take part, they will have no annual Nile overflow {no rain}. A plague will come from the LORD to strike the nations who do not come to observe the Feast of Tabernacles.  {no rain, and a plague on those who does not go to feast}

Jesus in His life set us an example to follow and to do likewise.

 

After returning to the earth in power and glory, Jesus will reeducate the people through His annual festivals.  It is so much hard to unlearn false things than to learn new truths.

 

We saw from the past that Jesus will rule from Jerusalem and we will rule under Jesus and we will be Spirit born Saints.

 

Daniel 7:14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.

 

Daniel 7:27 Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.'

 

Do we know who will be in the Kingdom of God

 

Luke 13:28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.

 

Ezekiel 37:24 "'My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees.

 

Here, Jesus is talking to His disciples, over 12 tribes of Israel

 

Luke 22:29-30  And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me,  (30)  that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."   {disciples reward when Jesus returns to the earth}

 

Revelation 5:10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."  {we will be there}

 

Revelation 2:26-27 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations;  (27)  'He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels— as I also have received from My Father;

 

Everyone will bend the knee and acknowledge Lord Jesus is God

 

Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,  (10)  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,  (11)  and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

Will the Government of God last forever?

 

Daniel 7:18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.'

 

·      We just covered why the Feast of Tabernacles was given to us by our Lord Jesus. 

·      Jesus gives us a glimpse of what life would be like during the Millennium (1000 years) as the Spirit of God will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.

 

Habakkuk 2:14 For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea.

 

Will we be serving the people by teaching the Law of God and directing them to take the right action?  We will be teachers.

 

Isaiah 30:20 And though the Lord gives you The bread of adversity and the water of affliction, Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, But your eyes shall see your teachers. 

Isaiah 30:21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.   {we will be doing this?, teaching friends, people, family member not called during this time}

 

Will we be successful in teaching the people during the Millennium?

 

Jeremiah 31:34 No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."  {Yes, all will know about Lord Jesus}

 

Will Food be plentiful in the lands?

 

Isaiah 30:23 Then He will give the rain for your seed With which you sow the ground, And bread of the increase of the earth; It will be fat and plentiful. In that day your cattle will feed In large pastures.

 

Will there be a new language?

 

Zephaniah 3:9 "For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, That they all may call on the name of the LORD, To serve Him with one accord.  {now we have one world language}

 

What happens at the end of the 1,000-year period or Millennium?

 

Revelation 20:3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him (Satan) up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.

 

Revelation 20:7-8 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison  (8)  and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 

 

Revelation 20:9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.

 

Luke wrote in the summer of 52 A.D. about Paul planning to keep the feast at Jerusalem. 

 

Acts 18:21 but took leave of them, saying, "I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing." And he sailed from Ephesus.

 

Ezekiel is covering the various Feast Days during the Millennium

 

The Feast of Tabernacles will celebrate Israel’s new position in God’s Millennial Kingdom

 

Isaiah 66:23  And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me," says the LORD.  {people will go to Jerusalem to worship Lord Jesus}

 

Ezekiel 44:24 When disputes arise, they {Priests} are to serve as a judge, adjudicating matters according to my ordinances. They are to enforce my laws, my statutes, all of my appointed feasts, and they are to sanctify my Sabbaths.          (Notice, My, yes we will enforce the Law of God)

 

·      By keeping Jesus festivals we remain focused on what is important in our view of the future and our role in it.

·      Each time we keep them we deepen our understanding of prophecies throughout the Bible that fill in the details of God’s wonderful plan for us and all of mankind.

 

 

Feast of Trumpets, 2022 - Jesus Returns to the Earth September 26, 2022

Feast of Trumpets, 2022 - Jesus Returns to the Earth                September 26, 2022 

We are here to celebrate a few things today: 

·      One of war and

·      The return of Jesus to the earth, to be King and Priest

·      A Time of Judgment and Justice

·      Our change to Spirit Bodies

·      Jewish New Year

 This day is very exciting for us, the Saints and Elect. We will be changed to Spirit Beings, with a new body and rule with and under our Lord Jesus, our King. 

On this day when Lord Jesus returns to take complete control of the earth and start the 1000 rule, the Millennium.  He will then establish the Kingdom of God forever. 

First month of the year, Trumpets takes place on the first day of Tishri, 

·      which was the seventh month on the God’s religious calendar.

·      but the first month on the civil calendar. 

A different name on this day has come to be known in modern times as Rosh Hashanah, which means “Head of the year” is the Jewish New Year. 

The biblical Judaism by name for this holiday is Yom Teruah, literally "day of shouting or blasting" and in Christianity is called the Feast of Trumpets.

It is one of the Jewish High Holy Days mentions by Leviticus 23:23.  

Interesting, the timing of this feast; Feast of Trumpets is the only feast that occurs on the first day of the month, at the new Moon, when the moon is dark and the shape is that of a thin crescent.  Pending doom for evil. 

All the other Feast Days occur later in their respective months when the moon is shining brightly. 

What does the Scriptures tells us about the Feast of Trumpets? 

Leviticus 23:23-24 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, (24) "Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a Sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. 

Notice, the word, trumpets is plural and not singular.  Two different celebrations 

This is where we find the name of this feast day. It is from this ceremony that the Feast of Trumpets draws its name. There is a great deal of symbolic meaning tied in with the blowing of these trumpets, especially with regard to the end time in which we're living. 

We read before where trumpets were blown to: 

1.   Announce God's solemn feasts, as well as

2.   Call God's people to assemble, as an

3.   Alarm of invading armies and

4.   Impending warfare. 

The bottom line, Feast of Trumpets pictures this time of climactic world war and the establishment of the Government of Lord Jesus upon this earth! 

The tribulation will be ongoing, why is it cut short?  

Matthew 24:21-22 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. (22) And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened. 

Just short of the 6000 years allotted to Satan, rest of the time later. 

This last minute intervention by Jesus when He returns in the power and glory of His Kingdom of Heaven with the final trumpet announcing God’s war with the Satan and his armies, will be sounded.

Lord Jesus will send forth His angels to gather His elect 

Matthew 24:31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. 

Those Saints are alive at the time and the dead Saints will be resurrected 

Paul says who will be coming with Lord Jesus 

1 Thessalonians 3:13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones.   {you and me} 

It would seem reasonable that if Lord Jesus will be returning in His glory,  and We will be with Him and be like Him in the clouds, 

Apostle Paul said 

Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.     {Change to Spirit Beings} 

So, when Lord Jesus deals with human beings, He clothes Himself with the clouds, allowing mankind to continue existing. 

Zechariah 14:12 This is the plague with which the LORD will strike all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths. {rot – consumed away} 

Most prophecy buffs says this will be a nuclear war in the future.  But what if Jesus removes the cloud from Himself to destroy those who decided to fight against Jerusalem, to see His face.  The Glory of God. Would this statement explain what happens.  Just wondering.  Think about Moses example. 

Prophecy says time before Lord Jesus returns, will be a dark day that will be upon the earth.  remember, Dark Moon of the 1^st day of the month. 

Amos 5:20 Is not the day of the LORD darkness, and not light? Is it not very dark, with no brightness in it? 

Joel 2:31 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. 

This is where the blood moon is mention, something will happen 

Is this why all will see Jesus’ return to the earth? When Jesus spoke to His disciples of the day of His return He said that His sign will appear in the sky, on the Clouds of Heaven.  Dark day, light shines out to all. 

Matthew 24:30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 

Mark 13:26 "At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 

Then what happens? 

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. (17) Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord. 

1 Corinthians 15:50-52 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. (51) Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed; (52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.   {Angels gathering Saints together} 

We will be change from physical human flesh to spiritual immortal life. 

What is going to happen to us? 

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests {and kings – Rev 1:6} of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. 

This first resurrection occurs at the Last Trumpet. 

I believe most individuals desire to live forever.  And yet, without God, that’s not going to happen. We are all going to die at least once. 

It is hard for someone to believe that they will die in this age 

But God is going to resurrect those people who are willing to follow Him to an eternal life. And for those who, in this lifetime, have lived and died with God, that resurrection comes when Christ returns 

What happens now, a dramatic battle between good and evil after Jesus returns to Earth.  This is the time of the 2^nd Coming when Jesus will return to the earth to fulfill His promises and fulfill the prophecies made about Him. 

Revelation 19:11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 

The 2^nd Coming of Christ is our hope and confidence that God is in control of all things and is faithful to His Word and His promises 

Titus 2:13 while we wait for the blessed hope; the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 

The important of the 2^nd Coming is because the world needs a Righteous King to put to end of the evil that is on the earth.  Day of justice for all of the innocent blood that has been spilled on the earth Do we really believe in the 2^nd Coming?  {Jesus says this will happen later} 

2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 

We know the Scriptures tell us that no one knows when Jesus will return. 

·      This verse refers to Jesus bringing judgment against evil in the world after he returns to Earth.

·      The white horse that Jesus rides symbolically depicts the holy and pure power that Jesus has to overcome evil with good. 

Revelation 19:12-14 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. (13) He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. (14) And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.   

Lord Jesus will fight against the wicked and will have blood all over him. 

Saints dressed in white linen that symbolizes holiness will fight against this evil and will emerge victorious from the battle. 

Revelation 19:15-16 (15) Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. (16) And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. 

This expresses Lord Jesus ultimate authority 

Now comes the battle that occurs between Lord Jesus and His Holy Forces and the Antichrist and his evil forces, resulting in the destruction of evil and victory for good.  Yes, God (Jesus} wins in the end. 

Revelation 19:19-20 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. (20) Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 

Revelation 19:21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.  {battle known as Armageddon} 

Jude 1:14 Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints,    {Saints and Angels, you and me} 

Now the Millennium starts the 1000 years rule of Jesus on the earth, Satan is locked up, we will then start to rule under Jesus to enforce the Kingdom of God on the earth.  This is what is covered in the Feast of Tabernacles. 

Finally, Again, as I said at the first, The Feast of Trumpets represents the return of Jesus Christ to the earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords and to establish the Kingdom of God forever and we will be with Lord Jesus when He returns. 

This Day of the Awakening: Changed to Spirit at the Trumpet a day of great rejoicing 

Daniel 12:2 Many of those who are sleeping in the dust of the earth will awaken; some to life everlasting, and some to disgrace and everlasting contempt. 

Isaiah 26:19 "But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. Those who live in the dust will wake up and shout for joy! For your dew is like the dew of dawn, and the earth will give birth to the dead. 

You better believe we will shout for joy as we are brought back to life, very encouraging for those who believe Jesus and confess His Name to others 

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 Let me tell you a secret. Not all of us will die, but all of us will be changed; (52) in a moment, faster than an eye can blink, at the sound of the last trumpet. Indeed, that trumpet will sound, and then the dead will be raised never to decay, and we will be changed. 

Ephesians 5:14 for the light is making everything visible. That is why it says, "Wake up, sleeper! Arise from the dead, and the Messiah will shine on you.'' 

Psalms 50:4-5 He summoned the heavens above and the earth below, to sit in judgment on his people.  (5)  "Assemble before me, my saints, who have entered into my covenant by sacrifice."  

Wedding and Wedding Supper of the Lord Jesus:  The Scriptures is a marriage covenant 

Joel 2:16 Gather the people, Sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather the children and nursing babes; Let the bridegroom go out from his chamber, And the bride from her dressing room. 

1 Peter 1:18-19 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, (19) but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 

1 Corinthians 6:20 because you were bought for a price. Therefore, glorify God with your bodies. 

Are not our bodies a living sacrifice to our Father 

Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true and proper worship. 

Matthew 25:6-7 "But at midnight there came a shout: 'The groom is here! Come out to meet him!'  (7)  Then all the bridesmaids woke up and got their lamps ready. 

Luke 14:16-17 Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests.  (17)  At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' 

Coronation of the Lord Jesus as our King 

Psalms 98:6 With trumpets and the sound of a horn; Shout joyfully before the LORD, the King. 

Hebrews 1:8 But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the scepter of your kingdom is a righteous scepter.

 Yes, the Saints will be change to Spirit Beings at our Lord Jesus Return and will live forever with Him. 

Book of Matthew 3:1-17 September 24, 2022

Book of Matthew 3:1-17               September 24, 2022

John the Baptist, somewhere around A.D.26. What do we know about John.

 

Matthew 11:11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

 

Matthew 11:13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.     {Last Old Testament Prophet}

 

John 10:41 And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spoke of this man {Jesus} were true.

 

John the Baptist was in prison in the fortress of Machaerus because he had courageously denounced the adulterous marriage of Herod Antipas and Herodias.  They killed him by cutting his head off.

 

Luke 1:15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.   {Was he a Nazarite? No proof}

 

Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea

 

John did more than baptizing, but he preach about the Kingdom of Heaven.

 

Matthew 3:2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."

 

Notice what Lord Jesus was preaching about, same as John

 

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

 

We see John message was a call to repentance, a call to action, making a change of the mind, not merely to feel sorry for what they had done.  A change of direction in lifestyle.  A New Way of Life.

 

John’s main message wasn’t “You’re a sinner, you need to repent.” John’s main message was “Messiah the King is coming.

 

If the kingdom of heaven is at hand, then we must get ready now

 

Matthew 3:3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'"

 

About 30 years have passed between Chapters 2 and 3.

 

John the Baptist was born into the priesthood, born to Zacharias and Elisabeth in their old age. He is preaching out of the camp {Jersualem}, in the desert as he must have been rejected by the Jewish Leadership.   John fulfills Isaiah prophecy.

 

Isaiah 40:3-5 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.  (4)  Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth;  (5)  The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

 

The idea was to build up a great road {repaired, smoothed, straightened, and leveled} for the arrival of Lord Jesus, our King and to fill in the holes and knock down the hills that are in the way

 

Matthew 3:4 John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

 

John also dressed like Elijah. John ate locusts and wild honey.  May have their mantle. {similar to covering, jacket}

 

2 Kings 1:8 So they answered him, "A hairy man wearing a leather belt around his waist." And he said, "It is Elijah the Tishbite."

 

Matthew 3:5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan.

 

This term is repented 2 times, meaning that a great many people go out to see John the Baptist.

 

Mark 1:5 Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

 

Matthew 3:6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

 

John completely immersed in water those he baptized

 

Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him: John’s ministry met with wonderful response. There were many people who recognized their sinfulness, their need to get ready for the Messiah, and were willing to do something about it.

 

Remember, the Jewish leadership were upset that John was baptizing individual without their official approval.  They are the only ones that can baptize gentiles and others.

 

John is testifying to Jesus’ preexistence before birth: He was Jesus’ cousin, three months older.

 

John 1:15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.' "

 

Matthew 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 

The people and the Jewish leaders had to walk at least 20 miles from Jerusalem to hear John the Baptist.  We would look at this as an overnighter, with food and place to stay.

 

This is our introduction to these two important groups in first-century Judaism. These two groups were very different and often in conflict. Together they represented the leadership of Judaism

 

Generation of vipers”: To a Pharisee this refers to Gen 3:15, the seed of the serpent. He is calling them the sons of Satan!

 

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."

 

Matthew 3:8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

 

Philippians 1:11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

 

Matthew 3:9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

 

It was widely taught in that day that Abraham’s merits were plenty for any Jew’s salvation and that a Jewish person couldn’t go to hell.

 

Pharisees: “separatists”; the legalists, the ritualists, out of them came the traditions of the Talmudic Jew.

 

Sadducees: liberalists, rationalists, “reformed” (modernists, humanists) who denied the inspiration of the Word and didn’t believe in the resurrection (so they were “sad, you see.”).

 

Matthew 3:10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

 

John likened his ministry to the ax of God clearing His orchard of dead wood, especially that which did not bear the fruit of repentance.  Scary for those who have the spirit in man.

 

Matthew 3:11 "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

 

John warns them to prepare for the Messiah’s coming, because He is coming with judgment. The Jews thought that the Messiah would come with judgment, but only against Israel’s enemies

 

Remember, Holy Spirit was not given in general until after Jesus’ resurrection on the Day of Pentecost.  Baptize with fire when the earth is cleaned of the wicked.

 

Acts 19:4 Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus."

 

Acts 19:5-6 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  (6)  And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

 

Matthew 3:12 His winnowing fork {fan} is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

 

The wicked is the chaff and stubble

 

Malachi 4:1 "For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up," Says the LORD of hosts, "That will leave them neither root nor branch.

 

 

 

The Baptism of Jesus

 

Matthew 3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.

 

Did this include those Jesus has called as His disciples.

 

Matthew 3:14 But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"

 

John recognized the irony in this situation. Jesus had nothing to repent of, and it would be more appropriate for Jesus to baptize John

 

Matthew 3:15 Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.

 

Jesus’ baptism was not just like anyone else’s, in the sense of being a display of repentance. It was not a display of repentance, but instead it was a righteous identification

 

Matthew 3:16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.

 

Luke 3:22 And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him {Lord Jesus}, and a voice came from heaven which said, "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased."

 

John 1:32-34 And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.  (33)  I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'  (34)  And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God."

 

 

This verses indicates that John the Baptist saw this phenomenon and understood what it meant.

 

Is this similar to Pentecost.  The Law and the prophets were until John the Baptist. John is the last of the Old Testament prophets.

 

Matthew 3:17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

 

This was God’s official recognition to the people of Jesus as the Messiah.