January 7, 2010
Losing the CheckList
Matthew 3
Elisabeth Rain
Central Truth
We are not saved because of our performance, but because of who Jesus is.
Key Verse | Matthew 3:11
As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Matthew 3:11)
Matthew 3
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 1 3:2 Or the kingdom of heaven has come near 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare
2
3:3
Or crying: Prepare in the wilderness
the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.’”
4 Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
The Baptism of Jesus
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, 3 3:16 Some manuscripts omit to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, 4 3:17 Or my Son, my (or the) Beloved with whom I am well pleased.”
Dive Deeper | Matthew 3
Each November, recent law school graduates waste an afternoon clicking on the Texas Bar website, hoping that their agonizing summer of study paid off in their name appearing on the bar exam pass list. I remember how hard my heart pounded as I scanned the list for my name. That tension made the moment a few weeks later even more exciting as I stood before a judge and was sworn into the bar. After three years of school, lots of study, and a public statement, I was finally a lawyer!
At first, I was a little intimidated by this passage. John is so angry and, well, nasty to the religious leaders who come to hear him. I wanted to skip over the “brood of vipers” and focus on Jesus' baptism. I realized, however, that the first part of the story is as important as the second. I was uncomfortable with the first part because, in many ways, John was also talking to me.
So often, I try to earn God’s approval and love in the same way I became a lawyer. I work really hard, learn all the right theology answers, and check off every box. The Pharisees who came to hear John were the same: they could answer any question about the Torah, lived a blameless life, and, according to verse 7, were even getting baptized.
But all that effort is not enough to make me God’s beloved child. Thankfully, because of God's grace, I don’t need to perform perfectly for that to happen. God, who sent His only Son to die in my place, is not only powerful enough to raise up children out of stones, but has done something more amazing: He has taken out my heart of stone (Ezekiel 11:19) and given me His Holy Spirit and eternal life by belief in His Son. He now looks at me with the same eyes of love with which He looked at Jesus and says, as He views me through His Son's work on the cross, “This is my beloved child, with whom I am well pleased.”
Discussion Questions
1. What are some boxes you feel you need to check to please God?
2. Do you struggle with accepting the idea that God has freely given grace to you? If so, why?
3. Does your successful performance and people's perception of you sometimes become more important to you than your relationship with Jesus?
FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What is the difference between “I’m sorry” and true repentance?
2. Do your actions back up your words?
3. Who is speaking in verse 17 and what is He saying?