Jesus Christ Was Tempted

The Temptations of Jesus the King

Text: Matthew 4:1-11

　

As we begin to look at the time of the "temptation" of Jesus we will see that this takes place immediately after His baptism by John the Baptist and before He begins His earthly ministry.

What was the Earthly ministry of Jesus:

Act 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: [who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil]; for God was with him.

Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; [that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage].

Jesus was not tempted so that The Father could learn anything about Him because The Father had already approved His Son:

Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, [This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased].

Jesus Christ was "tempted" so that every creature in Heaven and on Earth, or under the Earth would know that Jesus is the "Conqueror"of sin and of death.

Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This "temptation" was not a "trial" for Jesus. It was to show everyone in Heaven, in Earth and under the Earth that The Christ of God, Jesus, could not be seduced by the devil as Adam had been!

What can we learn?

1.) We see the "boldness" of Satan. If he would attack Jesus, God in the flesh, then we should know he would not hesitate to attack the Christian believer.

2.) We can witness the example of how to stand up to and defeat the devil.

Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

3.) To show Satan, the Devil, that mankind can stand up to his evilness if they return to God.

Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Christ went up against Satan as a lowly servant and defeated him:

Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and [took upon him the form of a servant], and was made in the likeness of men:

Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Joh 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

Joh 6:57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

Joh 8:28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

Joh 8:54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:

Jesus had to show the world that He was "morally right" to be King:

1Co 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

1Co 15:46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

1Co 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

Jesus exposed Satan and his tactics and defeated him. Because Jesus was victorious, we can also have the victory over the Devil.

Our Lord's experience of "temptation" prepared Him to be our sympathetic High Priest:

Heb 2:16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

Heb 2:18 [For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted].

Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; [but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin].

Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

It will be very important to make note that Jesus faced the "enemy" as a man. We must not think that Jesus used His divine powers to overcome the Devil because that is just what Satan wanted Him to do.

What was Satan's objective?

He wanted Christ to act on His own independent of His Father. He wanted Jesus to use godly power:

1.) To prove He was the Son of God.

2.) To take the easy way out to obtain the throne of David.

BUT Christ used a way that even a "babe in Christ" could use:

1Co 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, [even as unto babes in Christ].

1Co 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

1Co 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

Christ gives us the weapons of warfare the very first day of our salvation:

It takes faith in the Word of God to be saved and that very same Word of God will defeat the Devil every time:

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Jesus had no past to give Satan a foothold but this temptation was real just the same. Jesus came to do the will of His Father in Heaven and nothing was going to change that!

This is our task once we are saved. To do the Will of God for our lives:

Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

*****Our Text:

Mat 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

Mat 4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

Mat 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

The first word we see is the word "then". You see only after Christ was recognized by John the Baptist as the Lamb of God, Only after that Voice of God from Heaven giving His approval, Only after the anointing of the Holy Ghost(the Dove) and Only after Christ gave witness of Himself by baptism, was Jesus Christ led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted of the Devil(Satan).

We cannot battle Satan without the armour of God.

2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

2Ti 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

2Ti 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

2Ti 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

2Ti 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

2Ti 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, [who are taken captive by him at his will].

Notice the Holy Spirit led Christ, the Messiah, Jesus straight into the battle with Satan.

Once we are saved we need to join in the battle against the evils of this world. We can only do this in one way. We go out armed with the Word of God to teach others the truth of the Gospel and to lead others to Christ.

The Apostle Paul said:

2Co 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

2Co 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

1Ti 1:18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, [that thou by them mightest war a good warfare];

1Ti 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

2Ti 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

2Ti 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

2Ti 4:7 [I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith]:

We never hear of the Apostle Paul taking up arms of any kind in the battle against evil. As we go through this Book of Matthew we will not ever see Jesus Christ take up carnal weapons nor authorize the use of them. It is the Word of God that is our weapon and our armour.

Saying all that, God never said we could not defend ourselves against those that would harm us.

Luk 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Luk 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; [but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven].

Notice in verse two that though Jesus went straight to meet Satan(the tempter), Satan himself was in no hurry to get there.

We know that:

1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

1Pe 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

We know that Satan had already tried to use Herod to kill Jesus:

Mat 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

We can be sure that Satan was observing Christ Jesus to see any weakness and if He would use His Godly power.

Satan waited forty days.

The number forty occurs many times in the Bible and is always in connection with "temptation" or "retribution". The number 40 is always a time of testing. It is clearly a sacred thing. Moses and Elijah also fasted for forty days at the will of God. We also should have our own season of fasting for the right reasons.

Because the child of God is endowed with the Holy Ghost, he will almost never attack when God's children are their strongest. He waits on a sign of weakness.

Jesus could have eaten of His own power at anytime but He chose to come in the flesh to save mankind:

Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Heb 2:16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Satan knew all these things so what was Satan's objective?

Satan would try to induce Jesus Christ to act on His own independent of His Father in Heaven!

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Joh 3:17 [For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved].

You see Jesus Christ did not exist for Himself but He existed for all those (whosoever will) that He came to save. The very moment He used His power to save Himself, He would disqualify Himself to be our Savior.

Satan knew this so he immediately brought up the fact that Jesus, God in the flesh, would have to be very hungry.

Where does Satan begin his attack? The word "IF".

Casting doubt into our minds. Satan and all his demon know full well that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. This he says to try to get Jesus to prove it.

God tells us to wear a helmet because Satan will do his very best to cast doubt in our minds. You see Satan will never admit that He is a "loser" until he has to bow the knee to Christ.

Jesus could have eaten at any time of those forty days but it would have taken His power because He was in a wilderness, a desert, there was no food there other than the wild beast which would have been unclean animals.

You know when the serpent went after Eve, she had access to all kinds of food. She was in a garden and if she were hungry she could have eaten at any time but Satan also cast doubt in the Word of God.

This is the weapon that Christ Jesus chose to overcome the Devil, God's Holy Word.

Deu 8:3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; [that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live].

God knows we need physical nourishment but more important we need the "spiritual food" that can come only from God's Word.

There is a pledge that we use in our children's classes but we all should use it every day for ourselves:

It goes like this:

I pledge to the Bible, God's Holy word, and will take it as a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path, and hide it's words in my heart that I may not sin against God. (Psa 119:105)

*****Our Text:

Mat 4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

Mat 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Mat 4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

What we notice is that Jesus allows Satan to transport Him to the Temple in Jerusalem. Satan still possesses his angelic powers. Not only did he carry Jesus to the Temple but to the pinnacle, the highest point of the Temple.

Even though it does not say, there had to be witnesses at the Temple. Satan would not do anything without witnesses. It would have been so easy for Jesus to jump down from that high point and have the priest see that only God had such power when He landed safely or that angels caught Him safely.

Jesus had used the Scriptures to defeat Satan at his first attempt so now Satan uses scripture in his evil test of Jesus:

Psa 91:11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, [to keep thee in all thy ways].

Psa 91:12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

But notice what Satan does, he leaves out the most important part of the scripture. God had said "to keep thee in "all" thy ways".

The angles cannot only catch us if we fall but "they can give us enough sense to not jump to begin with"!

Jesus had nothing to prove to Satan and this is our example that we also do not have anything to prove to the Devil when he comes around with his twisted words and his undermining of God's truth.

We should be wary of all those that say they have a new translation of God's Bible.

We should never accept any challenge from the Devil and his followers to prove who we are!

God will always protect those in His Will but we should never test God by putting ourselves in harm's way.

Jesus answers again by God's Word:

Deu 6:16 [Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God], as ye tempted him in Massah.

The angels of God stood by to see what their and our Lord would do. To the humans everywhere Jesus, God in the flesh, proves His manhood by standing and asserting His rights. But Christ declared through His temptation that the "strength of man" lies in the "abandoning of his own will" and "yielding absolutely to the will of God".

When we come to the Lord, we must come to die in our selves!

This is the only right that the free men of God possess!

Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

It is by being in the Will of God that man can endure all the evil of Satan.

1.) The first temptation required Jesus to be independent of His hunger for food.

2.) The second temptation required Jesus to be dependent on every word of the Father.

It will be a fact that the Anti-Christ will use these same tactics but he will cause a miracle to obtain his food and he will cause his angels to protect him from all danger.

The Anti-Christ could never be the Messiah, He hates mankind almost as much as he hates God.

If we step outside the known will of God we cannot expect God to fulfill His will for us. Neither could Jesus Christ our Lord!

If Christ Jesus had acted in obedience to Satan, (jumped when Satan ask Him to), He would have removed Himself from the promise of God.

*****Our Text:

Mat 4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

Mat 4:9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

Mat 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Mat 4:11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

We know that Christ Jesus allows Himself to be moved by the Devil to another location. [That word "exceeding" means to the highest of mountains or the chieftest of mountains.]

Jesus is shown "all" the kingdoms of the world and it says the glory of them.

Luke put it this way:

Luk 4:5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world [in a moment of time].

We can only imagine what was shown to Our Lord but the verse does say "all" the kingdoms. We can think of many of the great kingdoms of the past that we know about and yet this could include kingdoms of our own time or even in our future.

After this Christ Jesus was given an opportunity to possess these kingdoms for Satan said:

"All these things will I give thee",

We can see that Satan claimed some right to these kingdoms. His claim was that these kingdoms had only become so great under his control. That they were submissive to his ways, that they were obedient to his laws. Satan could have easily shown Jesus a vision of what the world looks like right now.

Remember:

Joh 16:11 Of judgment, [because the prince of this world is judged].

Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the [prince of the power of the air], the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

We know Satan was then as he is today, [having authority over all those that are in darkness to the word of God].

What we do know is that God has already decided to give all these things to Christ, yet to obtain them Jesus Christ would have to suffer "the cross".

Satan implied that Jesus could avoid the cross by just bowing to him at this time.

Psa 2:1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

Psa 2:2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,

Psa 2:3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

Psa 2:4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.

Psa 2:5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

Psa 2:6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

Psa 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

Psa 2:8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

Psa 2:9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

Psa 2:10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

Psa 2:11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

Psa 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Again Satan said:

"if thou wilt fall down and worship me."

To receive worship has been Satan's chief objective since shortly after his creation:

Isa 14:13 [For thou hast said in thine heart], I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

Isa 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

We know that Satan will try to do this again after the rapture of the Church:

2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

You see God knew what was in the heart of Satan before he sinned against God just shortly after his creation.

He is motivated by pride will try anything to dethrone God!

In the first two temptations Jesus recognized God's absolute authority and had submitted to Him. Satan was trying to allow Jesus to submit to this way to obtain what God said He would do, to set Him on the throne to rule this world.

Satan is willing to give to give up everything to gain worship from God.

But God is not willing that anyone perish.


2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, [not willing that any should perish], but that all should come to repentance.

You see it is God alone that has the right to receive worship and he demands our obedience.

Jesus answered:

Deu 6:13 Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.

Deu 10:20 Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.

Satan ask for worship. Christ Jesus tied worship to serving. To worship Satan would be to also serve him!

The lost of this world are serving Satan every day they reject Jesus Christ!

That is just a fact whether they believe it or even believe in his existance. They are serving Satan which means they are also worshipping him.

If you are serving Satan and it is he that placed you in authority then, it is he that has the final authority in your life!

In other words had Jesus accepted these things from Satan they would have still belonged to Satan.

The Apostle John tells that there are three ways Satan attacks:

1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, [the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life], is not of the Father, but is of the world.

1Jn 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Satan used all three:

1.) The first temptation was "the lust of the flesh" Jesus had fasted forty days.

2.) The second temptation was "the pride of life" an appeal to Jesus spiritual nature.

3.) The third temptation was "the lust of the eyes" as the carnal world was paraded before Christ.

Jesus Christ was victorious over all three.

Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Compared to Adam:

1.) The Devil challenged Adam but Christ challenged the Devil.

2.) The Devil ruined Adam but Christ spoiled the Devil.

3.) 1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

4.) 1Co 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

If we serve God we will be tempted of the Devil. Jesus Christ has given us all the tools and the weapons to defeat the Devil. The Devil will not quit. If we were as committed to our Lord as the Devil is committed to His failure, our lives would be much better.

Satan uses these same old tactics because they have worked for him all these years, because we simply do not have enough faith in the Word of God.

Satan has nothing of real value to offer us. All he has is temporary things!

The Bible says:

Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Paul said to put on our armour and stand steadfast on God's Word. There is no other way to make Satan flee from your presence and he will return the more if you become a willing servant of God.

There are still many that deny the existance of Satan but the truth is, if there is no Satan, then there is no reason for Christ to come and the Bible is all a lie.

To deny the Messiah is to serve Satan:

1Jn 2:21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

1Jn 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

1Jn 5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

1Jn 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

1Jn 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

1Jn 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

1Jn 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

You see to the Lost of this world who deny the Devil(Satan) then:

1.) Then there can be no sin.

2.) Then there can be no judgment.

3.) Then there can be no wrath.

4.) Then there can be no atonement.

5.) Then there can be no Savior.

6.) And there could be no God.

It is somewhat easy to see why there is a denial by the evolutionist and the atheist. They have to have denial to live their humanism lives, But for those that believe in a false religion to deny Christ is certainly a foolish thing.

Jesus Christ was obedient to His death on the cross:

Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

God has put all things under His feet:

Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

One day soon the kingdoms of this world will become the Kingdoms of the Lord Jesus:

Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Rev 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

I love you Jesus.

Let's Pray!

Baptizing The King

Baptizing The King

Text: Matthew 3

Focus: Matthew 3:1-9, 13-17.

We began with the generations of Jesus Christ our Lord and His birth of the "Virgin Mary". I did not cover that as good as I should have but we all need to study ourselves to be approved of God.

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

In this chapter of Matthew we are introduced to John the Baptist. He could also be called John the Preacher.

The salvation of souls depends entirely on the "death, burial and resurrection from the grave" by the Lord Jesus Christ. The "Church" is based on these facts. Without the Lord's "sacrifice" there can be no salvation of anyone that has ever lived or will live on this Earth. There could be no assurance of a home in Heaven. Those that say they have another way are only using religion as means to forward their own evil agenda.

Many religions teach of other ways to Heaven but there is only one way and to be honest if the death as a suicide bomber and by works is the way, then Heaven is not the Heaven that I have come to know as my future home.

God would not have allowed the death of His Own Son to be a meaningless gesture to pacify those that live in sin on Earth.

As we study the Gospels we can and will see that there is nothing that would have or could have prevented Jesus The Christ from fulfilling every prophesy written about Him and for Him. His day on the "cross" was His way of showing how much He loves the sinners of this world and He loves each one even more once they believe on Him.

If Christ Jesus had not fulfilled all prophesy of Him then He could not be the Jewish Messiah nor the Christian Savior. The first time He came was humbly in a manger. The next time He comes it will be in in Power.

The Bible says:

Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

John said "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:"

1.) John used water for the Jews.(calling of Israel to return to God)

2.) Jesus would use the Holy Spirit for salvation.(first coming of Christ)

3.) Jesus would use Fire for those that rejected Him.(second coming of Christ)

Sinful men are born under the curse of sin which is "death".

Rom 6:23 [For the wages of sin is death]; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Just as sure as you work to draw a paycheck that you expect to receive. The payment for sin is eternal death of the soul which you should also expect to receive.

Everyone will die a physical death:

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

We can see that there is a judgment that takes place after that physical death. This is the second death that will come on all that reject the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the "judgment" of Hebrews 9:27.

The second death is a separation of the soul from the presence of God into eternal damnation, the judgment.

For a person to avoid this second death he must experience the second birth by accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior in faith.

The Bible says:

Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Jesus Christ was born, that He might die to save us from all our sin, that we might live eternally! This is the only reason He came to God's creation was to save God's creation.

The Bible says:

Act 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

Act 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

Act 8:37 And Philip said, [If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest]. And he answered and said, [I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God].

Act 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, [even so we also should walk in newness of life].

We that know Jesus Christ as our Savior have accepted these facts of Jesus by "Faith"!

The Bible says:

1Pe 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, [yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

1Pe 1:9 [Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls].

If we are not baptized by the Holy Spirit we are not saved:

Tit 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

Tit 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

Tit 3:5 [Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost];

Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

Tit 3:7 [That being justified by his grace], we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

*****Our Text:

John the Preacher:

Mat 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

Mat 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Mat 3:3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Mat 3:4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

It is important to remember that the Book of Matthew was written to the Jewish nation, if we are to rightly divide the Word of God. Matthew was trying to convince these Jews that Jesus was indeed the Christ the Messiah. Matthew also refers to the "coming" Church that would not begin until Pentecost.

We should also observe that the ministry of John the Baptist was not in the Temple but outside the gates of the Temple and the city of Jerusalem.

John the Baptist "Preached" outside the established religious system. [In comparison the independent Church began by the Apostles of Jesus Christ at Pentecost have always been outside the established religious systems].

This was prophesied of John:

Isa 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, [make straight in the desert a highway for our God].

Isa 40:4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:

Isa 40:5 [And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it].

We know at one time God was in the Temple:

2Ch 5:13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;

2Ch 5:14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: [for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God].

We know that God left the Temple:

Eze 10:4 [Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house]; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD'S glory.

Eze 10:18 [Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims].

Eze 11:23 [And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city].

We can see that John was in the right place.

When God calls us to be in a certain place then that is where we need to be for our ministry to be blessed of God. You see God still speaks outside the temple and He will continue until the Rapture of the Church. Outside the Temple is where we can hear Him and meet Him.

The Bible says:

Rev 3:6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

John came in the Spirit of Elijah:

The Bible says:

Mar 1:2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Mar 1:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

We can see that Mark quoted from two different prophets:

Mal 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

Isa 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

We can see that the angel Gabriel told of John.

Luk 1:76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

We can see that Jesus told of John the Baptist:

Luk 7:24 And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

Luk 7:25 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts.

Luk 7:26 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.

Luk 7:27 This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Luk 7:28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

Again the words of Jesus:

Mat 11:13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

Mat 11:14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.

Mat 11:15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Mat 17:12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.

Mat 17:13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

Mar 9:13 But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.

I believe we can understand that Elijah will still come but it will not be in the Church age. The forerunner of Jesus Christ at His first coming was John the Baptist. Elijah will return before the second coming of Christ.

*****Our Text:

Mat 3:5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

Mat 3:6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

Mat 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?

Mat 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

Mat 3:9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

Matthew skips the boyhood years of Jesus and goes from His birth straight to the beginning of His ministry.

We know that Jesus was surrounded by family:

Mat 13:55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

And He also had sisters:

Mar 6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

Notice Jesus had achieved the reputation of a carpenter as taught by Joseph who had adopted Him.

This chapter of Matthew deals mainly with Baptism.

To get a better understanding of what this meant to these Jews let's take time to study. The Greek word "baptizo" comes from the root word "bapto".

"Bapto" means to dip or to dye. It was a common word in the "Fuller's trade. Undress cloth was prepared for use by first dipping it into bleach and then into dye. When the cloth emerged from the bleach it was clean and white. When it emerged from the dye it was altered again.

Even Jeremiah knew that this would not wash away sin:

Jer 2:22 For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.

Job also knew:

Job 9:30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;

Job 9:31 Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.

This the literal concept of Baptism. The word means to change identity, to change appearence, to change a relationship.

To the Jewish mind those that Matthew was writing to this gave the idea of cleansing and consecration to a new identity and a new relationship.

Jewish proselyte were baptized in such a manner. Water was extensively used in the Old Testament for ceremonial cleansing.

Lev 16:4 He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.

Lev 14:7 And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.

Lev 15:8 And if he that hath the issue spit upon him that is clean; then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.

A Jewish proselyte by his baptism signified that he was terminating his relationship in his old society and he was joining himself to Israel and to serve the God of Israel.

The message of John the Baptist was the preaching for the nation of Israel to return back to the God of Israel. Only then could they hear the message of "Grace" that Christ Jesus had.

Remember what Moses had said:

Deu 30:1 And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee,

Deu 30:2 [And shalt return unto the LORD thy God], and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;

Deu 30:3 That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.

The Lord told Solomon:

2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Israel is still seeking the Messiah and yet these are the conditions that will bring the Kingdom of Heaven to this Earth with the second coming of Christ.

John's message was that the Kingdom of Heaven is as near as the nation of Israel returning to the God of Heaven.

"Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand"

Repent or TURN BACK TO GOD.

For upon His coming it would be the Messiah that would provide forgiveness of "sin" and institute a Kingdom of peace and righteousness with His reign as King.

Baptism is but a "public confession of sin". It symbolizes a "Moral Cleansing".

Did Jesus have sin? No, the Bible is specific about that.

[What Jesus was saying at His Baptism is that He was associated with the sinner and not the established religions]!

Baptizing in the Church that Christ built associates us with Jesus Christ who came to be the Savior of the world!

Repentance means to change your mind and then act on that change!

When John told this to the Pharisees, Scribes, Sadducees and The Elders, he was just saying just because you are from Israel and you are the descendant of Abraham, it is not enough for salvation and just saying you are sorry will not help.

John was not satisfied with the remorse and the regret on the part of these people. These Jews would have to show evidence of change before John would baptize them.

Jesus explained it this way:

Mat 21:27 And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

Mat 21:28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.

Mat 21:29 [He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went]. (true repentance)

Mat 21:30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. (these represent all who say they are saved and are not)

Mat 21:31 [Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them], Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

Mat 21:32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

To the Christian the evidence of change it to be filled with the Holy Spirit! This can only happen after you have invited the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart!

This not some great physical showing such as speaking some unknown language but it is the knowing in your heart that you believe and have place your faith in Christ Jesus!

The evidence of change is then the changed life. "to be Born Again"!

Jesus said: "ye must be born again"

[Only after this is the need to be baptized] to show we are associated with Jesus Christ in His death, burial, and His resurrection. This is a public showing of faith in Jesus Christ.

The Pharisees were "traditionalist" not only holding to the laws of Moses but creating some of their own to make those laws impossible to be kept.

The Sadducees were liberals. They didn't believe in anything enough to endorse it but they did had control of the Temple and the Temple business.

The Apostle Paul wrote:

Act 23:3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?

Act 23:4 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?

Act 23:5 Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.

Act 23:6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.

Act 23:7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.

Act 23:8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

Act 23:9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

We know that the Lord Jesus cleaned these business's out on at least two occasions:

Joh 2:15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;

Joh 2:16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

Mat 21:12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,

Mat 21:13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Mar 11:15 And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;

Mar 11:16 And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.

Mar 11:17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.

These two groups fought each other until Jesus came, they then joined forces against Him. This is why John preached a message of judgment.

John fulfilled Isaiah 40:3. He was in a spiritual sense the Elijah that was to come.

Listen to what is said of Elijah:

2Ki 1:8 And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.

John was the last of the Old Testament prophets but he was the first Christian Prophet and he preached to the Jews first.

Luk 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

Mat 11:7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

Mat 11:8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.

Mat 11:9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.

Mat 11:10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Mat 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Mat 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

Mat 11:13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

Mat 11:14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.

Mat 11:15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

*****Our Text:

Mat 3:13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

Mat 3:14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

Mat 3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

The baptism of Jesus fulfilled at least two purposes:

1.) It prepared Israel to receive the Messiah.

2.) It presented Jesus Christ as that Messiah.

John had mentioned two more baptisms.

1.) A baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Whenever a sinner trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior, that sinner is immediately baptized with the Holy Spirit. and into the body of Christ.

1Co 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

2.) A baptism by Fire:

A baptism by fire will only happen at the second coming of Jesus Christ and by Jesus Christ Himself. All non-believers will be baptized by "fire".

Mat 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Why was Jesus baptized:

1.) This gave Jesus' approval of John's ministry.

2.) Jesus identified Himself with publicans and sinners.

3.) It painted a picture of His future baptism on the cross.

Mat 20:22 But Jesus answered and said, [Ye know not what ye ask]. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.

Luk 12:50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!

In the Old Testament:

Psa 42:6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.

Psa 42:7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

Psa 42:8 Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.

Psa 42:9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? [why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy]?

Psa 42:10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?

Psa 42:11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? [hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God].

Jesus associated Himself with Jonah:

Jon 2:3 For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.

Jon 2:4 Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.

Jon 2:5 The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.

Jon 2:6 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God.

John the Baptist bore witness to Jesus Christ as the "Son of God" but also as the "Lamb of God".

Because of John many sinners trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ:

Joh 10:39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,

Joh 10:40 And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.

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

Joh 10:42 And many believed on him there.

The coming of the Holy Spirit like a dove was a sign God to John:

Joh 1:31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

Joh 1:32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

Joh 1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

Joh 1:34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

But it also assured Jesus that the Holy Spirit would be with Him as he began His ministry:

Joh 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

The first dove in the Bible was when Noah sent out two birds:

1.) The Raven which found plenty of flesh to feed on in the world.(represent the flesh)

2.) The Dove which would not have any part of the corruption in the world.(represents the Holy Spirit)

But let's compare this:

The name Jonah means "Dove" and he also experienced a baptism. Jesus used Jonah as a "type" of Himself in His death, burial , and His resurrection:

Mat 12:38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

Mat 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

Mat 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Jonah was sent to the Gentiles. Jesus would also minister to the Gentiles.

Don't you just love the Word of God? He makes understanding His Word so easy.

There are three special occassions where God the Father spoke to His Son from Heaven.

1.) Verse 3:17 of our text.

2.) At His transfiguration:

Mat 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

3.) As Christ approached the cross:

Joh 12:27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

Joh 12:28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

Joh 12:29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.

Joh 12:30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.

Joh 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

In the past God spoke "to His Son".

Now God speaks "through His Son".

In the Old Testament:

Psa 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; [this day have I begotten thee].

In the New testament:

Act 13:32 And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,

Act 13:33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

What we can see that this "begetting" refers to Christ's resurrection and not the birth of Jesus Christ. We can see how these words are tied to the baptism of Jesus Christ.

That Jesus would also be a suffering prophet also stands out:

Isa 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

Isa 42:2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.

Isa 42:3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.

compare:

Mat 12:18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

God approved everything His Son had done up to this point in His life and His beginning of His ministry. His hidden years in Nazareth had been a pleasing thing to God. God was proud of His "carpenter Son" and all this together encouraged our Savior to begin to Preach and begin His Ministry.

Let's Pray!

The Birth Of The King

Book Of Matthew

The Birth of the King

Text: Matthew 1,2

Our Focus: Matthew 1:1, 18-25; 2:1-6

About 30 years after Christ Jesus had ascended back to Heaven, Matthew was inspired, by the Holy Ghost to write this "Gospel", the "Good News" of Jesus Christ Our Lord.

The Bible says:

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

You can look but you will not find in any of the "Gospels" [Matthew, Mark, Luke, John] any words where it says Matthew spoke at any time.

Matthew states from the beginning that these are the words of Jesus Christ, Son of David, and Son of Abraham.

Matthew did not write to tell us about himself. Matthew wanted us to know about Jesus.

The Bible says:

Act 13:49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.

You see, we need to have our own copy of the Word of God.

We need to have access to what Jesus said and to what Jesus did. Jesus

Christ is our example to follow. If we know the truth of Him we will love Him. If we love Him we will be saved, because we will obey Him.

Jesus says:

Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.

Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

The Holy Ghost used Matthew for three important things in this "Gospel".

1.) To introduce a New Testament,[a New Covenant]:

It had been over 400 years since God had spoken to his children through the prophets. We know God had still worked in the lives of all His creation but no one person stood out during this time.

Jesus said:

Joh 5:17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

Joh 5:36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

Joh 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

You see Matthew was a bridge between the Old Testament and the New Testament.

The theme of the Old Testament is this:

Gen 5:1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;

The Old Testament gives us the "History" of the Family of Adam.

God created man in His own image. God is a spirit so this does not mean the way we look as individuals. It is the soul and spirit of man where sin defiles God's creation.

The Apostle Paul best describes man's image:

1Th 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God [your whole spirit and soul and body] be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

When God said His image part of this means we have a:

a.) Soul

b.) Spirit

c.) Body

A tree cannot sin against God. An animal can be used of Satan but the animal itself is sin free but can be punished such as the serpent used of Satan in Genesis:

Gen 3:14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

We are not sinners because we sin. [We sin because we are sinners!] The sin of Adam was passed down through all his generations:

Gen 5:3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and [begat a son in his own likeness, after his image]; and called his name Seth:

The New Testament is about the "Generations of Jesus":

Mat 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Jesus is the last Adam:

1Co 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; [the last Adam was made a quickening spirit].

Jesus Christ came to this Earth to save all the "generations of the first Adam".

We can be born (born again) into the generation of Jesus Christ and become the children of God.

When we read of the generations of Adam we see the phrase "and he died".

The Bible tells us:

Rom 6:23 [For the wages of sin is death]; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

But in the Gospel of Matthew we read and "he begat" [where birth] not death is the message.

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; [but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord].

The Old Testament is a "Book of Promise". The New Testament is a "Book of Fulfillment"!

The Redeemer is "Promised" in the Old Testament.

Matthew uses the word "fulfilled" 16 times.

Matthew refers back to the Old Testament at least 129 times to show us that Jesus Christ was indeed the promised Messiah, to the Jews and to the Christians.

2.) Matthew introduced us to the New King.

a.) Matthew writes the Gospel of the King.

b.) Mark writes the Gospel of the Servant.

c.) Luke writes the Gospel of the Son of Man.

d.) John writes the Gospel of the Son of God.

3.) Matthew introduced the New People.

Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, [That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church]; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Mat 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

Mat 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

Mat 18:17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, [tell it unto (the church)]: [but if he neglect to hear (the church)], let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

The "Church", the ones called out: It denotes the whole body of the redeemed, all those whom the Father has given to Christ, the invisible church. The sum total every person that has accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior in any denomination.(The Body of Christ)

Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

Heb 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Matthew had an experience with the Lord:

Mat 9:9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

Mat 9:10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

Mat 9:11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

Mat 9:12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

Mat 9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Mat 9:14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

Mat 9:15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

Mat 9:16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.

Mat 9:17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

It changed him for the rest of his life:

Mar 2:14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.

His old name was Levi (joined to the world) his new name was Matthew (the gift of Jehovah).

Matthew opened his heart to Jesus and became a new person.

According to tradition, Matthew's ministry was in Palestine for many years and then he made mission journeys to anywhere the Jews had been dispersed. Possibly Persia, Ethiopia, Syria and Greece.

The New Testament may be silent about the life of Matthew but the Holy Ghost made sure the writings of Matthew were to be contained in the 66 books we call the Bible.

*****Our Text:

Mat 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Matthew's audience was to the Jews. Jesus had claimed to be the Messiah and King of the Jew and it was important to show His lineage. It was important for the world to see that indeed Jesus was without doubt the legal heir to the throne of David. Anyone claiming to be "the Son of David" had to be able to prove it. David was a national hero then and he is still now.

In all the New Testament you will not find that anyone questioned this fact about Jesus!

The documents were easily available up to the time of 70AD for anyone to prove different and they could not but to agree.

There is no one else that could prove such a thing now in our day.

It is easy to skip over these long list of names when we read but we miss some important lessons when we do.

This long list of names connect Jesus with the true history of this world.

THAT THE JESUS OF THE BIBLE WAS A REAL PERSON IS AN UNDENIABLE FACT!

It is most unusual to find the names of women in Jewish genealogies since names and inheritance came through the father but the Holy Ghost provides further proof of true history of the Jewish nation.

In this lesson we would miss the Doctrine of Salvation in typology and actual lessons in the Doctrine of Salvation.

Jesus Christ is not of an earthly nature but He was born of the "Virgin Mary" in the earthly fashion. Because of this there are some shady charactery in His family tree. We could find some of the same in our own family tree. Because of forgiveness God accepts the past as if it did not exist.

I.) Grandma Tamar:

[Mat 1:3 And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar];

The story in the Book of Genesis:

Gen 38:11 Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.

Gen 38:12 And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah's wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.

Gen 38:13 And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.

Gen 38:14 And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife.

Gen 38:15 When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face.

Gen 38:16 And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; (for he knew not that she was his daughter in law.) And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me?

Gen 38:17 And he said, I will send thee a kid from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou send it?

Gen 38:18 And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that is in thine hand. And he gave it her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.

Gen 38:19 And she arose, and went away, and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.

The Results:

Gen 38:27 And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.

Gen 38:28 And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.

Gen 38:29 And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez.

Gen 38:30 And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.

We can see just how wicked this woman was. A "daughter in law" changed into a deceitful "harlot". Judah said that even through all this that [he was the one more deceitful].

a.) Tamar represents the DOCTRINE OF SIN.(In Typology)

b.) She "seduced" and "blackmailed" Judah her father in law.

Lev 18:15 says Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she is thy son's wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.

We know Judah was deceived though he was still wrong. Tamar knew that she was doing evil.

Lev 20:12 says And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought confusion; their blood shall be upon them.

A sin worthy of death by God's own words. But before we pass judgement!

The Bible says:

c.) Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

d.) INSPITE OF THE FACT SHE WAS SO WICKED, SHE WAS STILL ALLOWED TO BE IN THE FAMILY OF GOD.

BECAUSE GOD NEVER CHANGES!

Mal 3:6 says [For I am the LORD, I change not]; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

NOW THEN (I) ALSO CAN BECOME A MEMBER OF GOD'S FAMILY.(God never changes)

Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

II.) Grandma Rahab:

Mat 1:5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab;

a.) Rahab represents the DOCTRINE OF FAITH.(In Typology)

Jos 2:1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.

Jos 2:2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country.

Jos 2:3 And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.

Jos 2:4 And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:

Jos 2:5 And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.

Jos 2:6 But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.

Jos 2:7 And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.

Jos 2:8 And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;

Jos 2:9 And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.

Jos 2:10 For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.

Jos 2:11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.

Jos 2:12 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token:

Jos 2:13 And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.

Jos 2:14 And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.

Jos 2:15 Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.

Jos 2:16 And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.

Jos 2:17 And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear.

Jos 2:18 Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt [bind this line of scarlet thread] in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee.

Jos 2:19 And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.

Jos 2:20 And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.

Jos 2:21 And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and [she bound the scarlet line in the window].

Rahab came straight from the "Red Light District" into the family tree of Jesus Christ.

(Through the blood of Jesus)=The Scarlet line.

b.) Rahab had hid the spies and because she obeyed and bound the red cord(scarlet thread), she and her family would be protected and saved. DOES THIS NOT SOUND LIKE THE RED BLOOD OF JESUS THAT WE ARE WASHED IN.

Act 20:28 says Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, [which he hath purchased with his own blood].

c.) Rahab was changed from a "Harlot" to a "Hero").

Eph 2:12 says That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, [having no hope], and without God in the world:

Eph 2:13 [But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ].

d.) She was also allowed into the family of God BY FAITH.

Luk 7:50 says And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

Eph 2:8 says For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Heb 11:31 says By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

Jas 2:25 says Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? (Rahab's works came after she believed just as every child of God) She did not work to get her faith.

III.) Grandma Ruth: (Book Of Ruth)

Mat 1:5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and [Booz begat Obed of Ruth]; and Obed begat Jesse;

a.) Ruth represents the DOCTRINE OF GRACE. (In Typology)

Rth 1:16 says And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

Rth 1:17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

b.) She moved to Bethlehem(House of Bread) from Moab(The Trashcan).

Mic 5:2 says But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

Mic 5:3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.

Joh 6:33 says For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

Joh 6:34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

Joh 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

c.) Boaz(Type of God) gave her everything she could ever want.

Eph 2:7 says That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

d.) She went from poverty to riches because of God's amazing "Grace".

1Pe 2:3 says If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

1Pe 2:4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

{GRACE IS THE UNDESERVED FAVOR OF GOD}.

Eph 2:4 says But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

By that same "Grace" am I saved! By that same "Grace" are we all saved that call upon Jesus!

IV.) Grandma Bathsheba:

Mat 1:6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king [begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;]

2Sa 11:3 And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?

2Sa 12:24 And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him.

a.) Bathsheba represents the DOCTRINE OF FORGIVENESS.(In Typology)

b.) She conceived with King David while her husband was in the war.

2Sa 11:4 says And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.

2Sa 11:5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.

c.) She became an honorable woman as her son Solomon wrote.

Pro 31:10 says Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

d.) She is the perfect picture of forgiveness.

Act 5:30 says The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

Act 5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Col 1:14 says In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Eph 1:7 says In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Mic 7:18 says Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

**********WE WOULD HAVE TO BE BLIND TO NOT SEE THAT EVEN IN THE "BEGATS" GOD HAS REVEALED TO US HIS MESSAGE OF SALVATION.

1.) We are all sinners! [Tamar]

2.) We must all have faith! [Rahab]

3.) Only through God's "Grace" can we be saved! [Ruth]

4.) When we repent, we will be forgiven! [Bathsheba]

Matthew clearly omitted some of the male names in his list. We can see it was intentional and not because of his ignorance.

*****Our Text:

Mat 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Mat 1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

Mat 1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

Mat 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Mat 1:22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

Mat 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Mat 1:24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

Mat 1:25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Matthew 1:16-18 make it very clear that the birth of Jesus was different than that of any other Jewish boy that had ever lived. Matthew points out that Joseph did not begat Jesus but that he was only the husband of Mary of whom Jesus was born.

Here Matthew adds, "who is called Christ".

Christ is the Greek word for "The Anointed" which in Hebrew would be intended the "Jewish Messiah".

The Doctrine of the Virgin Birth states that Jesus was born of an earthly mother without the need of an earthly father.

The Bible says:

Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; [Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son], and shall call his name Immanuel.

and:

Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and [between thy seed and her seed]; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

and:

Jer 31:22 How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? [for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man].

It is in Jesus that these things were fulfilled.

Every child that is born into the world is a new creature but Jesus being the eternal God existed before Mary and Joseph or any other of His ancestors:

The Apostle John added these words:

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.

Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

*****Our Text:

Mat 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

Mat 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

Mat 2:3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

Mat 2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

Mat 2:5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

Mat 2:6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

The Days of Herod:

This was Herod the Great. Herod was not a Jew at least not a full blooded Jew. Herod was an Idumaean a descendant of Esau.

The Bible says:

Gen 27:39 And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above;

Gen 27:40 And by thy sword shalt thou live, and [shalt serve thy brother]; and [it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck].

Gen 27:41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.

I believe we can see that the prophesy of Isaac was fulfilled in this time of the Herods. Herod was a cruel and crafty man. He did not permit anyone, even his own family, to interfere with his rule. We can be sure he was influenced by Satan and nothing would permit him in the satisfying of his evil desires. He was a ruthless murderer who had slain a wife and two brothers because he suspected them of treason. He truly broke the rule of the Jews over Edom during his rule. He hated the Jews, the very people he ruled. It is no surprise for him to try to kill Jesus.

These wise men, Magi, were pagan astrologers from far to the East. We get our word "Magic" from this word "Magi". We must remember why these men had come to Israel and Jerusalem. "Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews?"

It is probable that there were more than just three of them.

They came to Worship the Christ Child!

It is assumed by most people that there were only three of these men because of the three gifts that are mentioned. The Bible does not say. We can be sure of one thing, when this caravan arrived in Jerusalem it did cause a great commotion. We should believe that it would take more than three wise men to cause such a commotion in Israel. Herod was troubled and all of Jerusalem. Herod would not be so troubled by a small group of foreigners.

These men were Gentiles. From the beginning Jesus came to be savior to all the world!

The Bible says:

Joh 4:42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: [for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world].

It seems that most Jew have never agreed with that.

If you follow the light of God, God's Creation, you will find yourself at the feet of Jesus either being a volunteer or against your own will, but all knees will bow to Christ Jesus in time!

Rom 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Because it is in Christ Jesus that:

Col 2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

and:

Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

That's Father, Son and Holy Ghost!

1.) These wise men were seeking a King.

2.) Herod was opposing the King.

3.) The children of Israel were ignoring the King.

We can see from verse 3 and 4 that these chief priests and scribes were well aware of the prophesies of the Messiah. They did not have to research for the answers. They had them memorized.

The Bible says:

Mic 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

The wise men did not know this and God sent a star to guide them to the very home of Jesus.

The High Priests and Scholars of Israel were five miles or less from the Messiah and would not even go and see Him.

We can see that Herod took notice immediately at the mention of another King..

By now Joseph had moved Mary from the stable where Jesus was born to a house:

Luk 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Mat 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

Baby Jesus was at least one year old at this time but no more than two.

Bethlehem means "House of Bread". At this very place we are witness to the "Bread of Life".

The Bible says:

Joh 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

Joh 6:46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.

Joh 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

Joh 6:48 I am that bread of life.

This Herod died in 4BC according to history. That would make baby Jesus to be born sometime between 6BC and 5BC.

As we begin our study into the Book of Matthew we will see that the fulness of time had come and the Savior of the World was born that He might die for all our sin.

Let's Pray!