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The Prophecy Revealed In Matthew

Lesson Three: by turtle

Prophecy is one of them things that people either believe or do not believe. Some things prophesied is very hard to understand.
Prophesy is meant to be coded. It is meant for many to understand who are willing to believe and listen to God. Some things are
prophetic that seem no big deal. It is a big deal if you were Jewish at the time. They wanted that confirmation from the prophets
of old that Jesus was the Messiah. However if you never read the Old Testament you still can understand Matthew. However to
here the words “this is prophesied” means little to you. One only needs the four Gospels to understand Jesus came and died for
you, however repentance is taught before, during and after Christ ascension. What is taught is the Kingdom of Heaven and
repentance. What John the Baptist preached was no different then what Jesus, what Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Joel and
many other prophets preached.

Matthew 3:1-3 KJV
(1) In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
(2) And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
(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.

Now what makes verse three unique is that John the Baptist a forerunner of Christ was prophesied about. John the Baptist
would of been one sign to Israel that Christ was here.

Isaiah 40:3 KJV
(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.

This is also spoken of in Malachi that Elijah would come before the Lord. This is actually saying that a prophet would be before
Christ coming. There is a gap in the Old and New Testament. There is a period of time that no prophet was given to Israel.

Malachi 3:1 KJV
(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.

Everyone of the Gospel mention John the Baptist. Mark 1, Luke 3 and John 1. Now a description of John is given and can be
compared with Elijah description. This is how they would know who the forerunner of Jesus was.

Matthew 3:4 KJV
(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.

2 Kings 1:7-8 KJV
(7) And he said unto them, What manner of man was he which came up to meet you, and told you these words?
(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.

The next part of Matthew 3 is about baptism. Baptism by water that John the Baptist taught. Is there any Old Testament
scripture to give reference to this change. First look at the passage in Matthew.

Matthew 3:5-9 KJV
(5) Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
(6) And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
(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?
(8) Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
(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.

Baptism can mean to be sprinkled or to be immersed. Priest would bath before entering the temple. People were sprinkled once
a year with blood as a symbol of shed blood of sacrifices. Because this part is not spoken of directly in old testament any other
way. I am not dealing with it, but those who want to search, do a search on sprinkling. Baptism is a symbol of washing away
one’s sin. Naaman dunked himself seven times in the Jordan for God to heal Him and it was not until the seventh dunking that
he realized he was made whole by the hand of God. No prophet touched him only gave instructions. That all anyone needs is
instruction on how to believe and receive Christ.

Verse nine speaks of the raising up children of Abraham. It is by faith that children of Abraham are raised up. Faith must be
taught but one only needs God to teach faith. Abraham was taught by God about faith so was Naaman. So even if no one
teaches God will teach you what you need to know.

Matthew 3:10-13 KJV
(10) And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn
down, and cast into the fire.
(11) 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:
(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.
(13) Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
John is speaking to a crowd of people. He is speaking of the coming Messiah as He approaches. Matthew record indicates that
John began to prophesy of the Messiah as He approached John. John felt he needed to be baptized and Jesus refused to be
baptized. Why did Jesus need to be baptized? Jesus was living example for us to what we should do when we repent of our sins.

Matthew 3:14-17 KJV
(14) But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
(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.
(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:
(17) And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

John was spiritually baptized by God. He needed nothing more. Baptism is a symbol of faith in Christ Jesus. Many believe
baptism by water is necessary for salvation. The story of the thief on the cross tells a person that baptism of the heart is more
important. Anyone can be dunked in water and it does not make them any cleaner. The work God does is in the heart. And that
is seen in Naaman and Abraham both. Christ however is the atonement or sacrifice for sin. He put away the sacrificial law for
sin by paying the price for our sins.