Matthew 3: The Trailblazer (2)

Pray Psalm 38.1-4.
O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your wrath,
Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure!
For Your arrows pierce me deeply,
And Your hand presses me down.
There is no soundness in my flesh
Because of Your anger,
Nor any health in my bones
Because of my sin.
For my iniquities have gone over my head;
Like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

Sing with conviction Psalm 38.1-4.
(Leoni: The God of Abraham Praise)
O Lord, rebuke me not, nor chasten me in wrath!
Your arrows pierce my sinful heart and fill my path.
Your heavy hand weighs down; my flesh and bones grow weak.
My sins oppress, confuse, confound – I cannot speak!

Read Matthew 3.1-6; meditate on verses 4-6.

Prepare.
1. How was John dressed? What did he eat?

2. Who came to hear John’s preaching?

Meditate.
John fits the descriptions of Elijah in 2 Kings 1.1-8; and we recall that among the last words of the Old Testament are those promising that Elijah will come to blaze a trail for the Messiah (Mal. 4.5, 6). Jesus identified John the Baptist with Elijah who was to come (Matt. 11.14). Matthew thus continues his efforts to bridge the Old and New Testaments, putting Jesus at the center of each.

John’s was an austere existence to say the least. He understood his calling (Jn. 1.19-23), and he needed nothing more than the bare essentials to fulfill it. We perhaps look on John as a rude and exceptional person, not one to be emulated. But Jesus said he was the greatest man born of women prior to the coming of the Kingdom (Matt. 11.11). We may not dress like John, and probably don’t fancy his diet; however, we should certainly strive to be like him in understanding and pursuing our calling in the Kingdom with as little distraction and as much zeal as possible.

People came to John from “Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan” to confess their sins, repent, and be baptized. John was not offering them prosperity or fun times. He was offering forgiveness and a heart ready for the coming of the Kingdom of God. We may not think the message of repentance, forgiveness, and making ready for the Kingdom to have much drawing power. Certainly we don’t hear much preaching about such topics in our day. But God uses such preaching to draw unto Himself those whose hearts He has prepared. Do we believe He does this still? Do we understand that we are continuously in need of His reviving grace and truth, to cleanse us of our sins and prepare us for life in His Kingdom?

John baptized people as an outward sign of their confession and repentance. Those who submitted to baptism were expected to live differently, to bring forth the kind of fruit in their lives which accompanies true repentance from sin (v. 8). Baptism was the starting-point, not the end game, for those who came to John.

Reflect.
1. All believers are called to the Kingdom and glory of God, like John (1 Thess. 2.12). How would you describe your calling in the Kingdom?

2. John’s message probably sounds a bit “hard” to us. But why do we need to hear him yet today?

3. What is the role of baptism in the life of a believer? How can you use each baptism that you witness to renew your commitment to the Lord?

See how great was the power of the coming of the prophet! He stirred up the people. He called them to consider the meaning of their own sins. It was indeed worthy of wonder to behold his remarkable human form, his great freedom of speech, the strength of his reproof of all as if they were children and the abundant grace beaming out from his countenance. John Chrysostom (344-407), The Gospel of Matthew, Homily 10.5

Show me, today and every day, the sins I need to confess, O Lord; and lead me to repentance so that I…

Pray Psalm 38.9-22.
We have to listen for the Lord to convict us of sin and lead us to repentance (cf. Ps. 139.23, 24). Listen now for the Spirit’s conviction. Confess and repent of your sins as He leads.

Sing Psalm 38.9-22.
Psalm 38.9-22  (Leoni: The God of Abraham Praise)
You know all my desire, my sighs You know full well.
My strength fails and light’s holy fire my eyes dispel.
My friends and loved ones fail; the wicked do me wrong.
My life they seek, my soul assail the whole day long.

Their threats I will not heed, nor speak to their reproof.
To hear or speak I have no need – I claim Your truth!
Lord, hear my fervent prayer! Let not my foes rejoice.
Redeem me from their traps and snares – Lord, hear my voice!

My sins I now confess; my anxious soul relieve!
Though foes are strong, Lord, heal and bless all who believe!
Forsake me not, O Lord! Repay my foes with wrath.
Stand by me with Your saving Word and guard my path!

T. M. Moore

The Gospel of Matthew will help us grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Two companion books can supplement our study of Matthew. To Know Him examines what it means to belong to Jesus and to love and serve Him (click here), while Be Thou My Vision enables us to gain an even larger perspective on Jesus (click here).

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).