Lesson Three (Chapter 3)
The Kingdom Message
“But those things which G-d foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Messiah would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Repent therefore and be converted [literally, “turned around”], that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of HaShem, and that He may send Yeshua HaMachiach [Yeshua, the Messiah], who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which G-d has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.”
Acts 3:18-21
Introduction
- Last week we more detail on Who Yeshua is. Matthew has been making the case up front about Yeshua being:
- The Promised Seed of Abraham
- The Promised Son of David
- The Promised Prophet “like Moses”
- The Priest of Israel
- The Promised Messiah
- This week we have been studying about how the stage was being set in the First Century for the arrival of the King Messiah. This preparation should shape the way we view our roles as followers of Yeshua the King.
The ‘Voice Crying Out’
- Matt 3:1-4: Quote from Isaiah 40:3, John is the “voice crying out”. This “voice” is sent to prepare the way of HaShem.
- Isaiah 40:1-10: the voice is to bring comfort (vs 1), preparation (vs 3), good news (vs 9), and to herald the coming of the King (vs 10)
- Isaiah 62:11; Rev 22:12-13; 16: The One coming is the King.
- The “Kingdom message”, the “Good News”, the announcement of the arrival of the King:
- Brings comfort
- Prepares
- Is pleasing to those who respond
- Promises reward to those who hear
The Kingdom Message
- Matt 3:2: “Repent, for the Kingdom of G-d is at hand!” Throughout the book of Matthew the word “heaven” is used as circumlocution (a filler for the Name of G-d).
- metanoeo[repent, literally “with the mind”]. Greek does not correctly capture the Biblical use of this word. The Hebrew used in Hebrew translations is shuv – which means to literally “turn around – to restore”.
- Isaiah 40:1-10: “Comfort ye” (vs 1) = nachamu. Nacham is another Hebrew word for repent – and often speaks of the result of true repenting: comfort. The message of John (“repent”) is a word of comfort to those who respond by repenting.
- Lamentations 5:21: G-d brings repentance that we should walk in it. “Turn” = shuv. To repent is to “renew our days as of old”.
The Kingdom Message (cont’)
- Matt 3:6; Isaiah 40:2: True repenting deals with sin. Sin = “missing the mark” of G-d’s righteous standard.
- Matt 3:6-10; Luke 3:7-14: True repenting is shown by actions - actions consistent with G-d’s Word. John’s call for repenting was a call to return to what G-d revealed as His standard of holiness: His Word. (xref Mal 4:4-6, which prophetically speaks of Eliyahu and by extension, of John).
- Matt 3:10-12; Isaiah 40:6-8: All flesh is grass – the threshing floor. Message? Now is the time to respond!
- Is 40:3-10: A path, a highway for HaShem – a way straight – a way for the coming of the King.
- The Gospel message? “Return to G-d’s ways now, because the King is here!”
Immersion: Change of Status
- Matt 3:6: The response of those who repented was to be immersed.
- Immersion [batizo = “immersion”] was not new. It signified a change in status. The responders were showing a change from walking in disobedience to G-d’s commands – to walking according to them. Taval (verb), t’vilah (noun) was done in a Mikveh [gathering of waters].
- Washings [rachatz] and immersion was a part of Torah. Lev 14:1-9 deals with “lepers” and the change of status from tamei [bad translation: unclean] and tahor [bad translation: clean]. 2Kings 5:1-17 deals with how Na’aman was healed and how immersion pictured repentance (vs. 17). Note: immersion always FOLLOWS the actual change of status – it does NOT create the change.
- 2Peter 3:2-21 shows that immersion is connected to repentance, a “turning” of actions – and a change of status.
Immersion: Change of Status (cont’)
- Matt 3:15-17: Yeshua immersed to show a change of status – to show Himself as the Righteous One, fully prepared and on mission (i.e. as a priest goes to mikveh).
- Matt 3:17: bat kol [“daughter of a voice”] and the dove alighting. This is a significant sign of G-d’s anointing by the Sages of Israel. Isaiah 40:9.
- The mikveh provides the visible representation of a “new beginning” – a change of status – from actively disobedient, to actively obedient.
- John 1:28: Bet Abara = “house of passing over” abara “cross over” – same root as “Hebrew” = “one who has crossed over”. John had people cross OUT of the Land – and then re-enter it as a mikveh.
Summary
- The “Gospel” that John preached, is the same good news that Yeshua preached in Matt 4:17 – it is the message of T’shuvah [Repentance].
- The correct response to that “Kingdom message” was for the hearer to return to G-d’s ways (i.e. repent), and it was marked by that person voluntarily denoting a change in status by immersion.
- All flesh is grass – G-d’s Word however stands forever. Do you live a life of repenting – of returning to His Word, to His ways?
- Are you prepared to meet the King?