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Baptism in The Bible - Putting Baptism into Context through Matthew Chapter 3

By: Mark J Anderson

This present verse is the initial direct reference to baptism within the whole Scriptures. Through using the turn of phrase “In those days”, the writer Matthew is locating his account into it’s chronological perspective. He is also informing us about days that had recently gone bye, and was most probably writing to his audience a long spell after the actions that he reports. In order to discover which days Matthew is informing his audience concerning, we are required to consider the previous chapters.

In the beginning of his gospel, the Aposple Matthew names it “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ” (Matthew 1v1). At this time Matthew states his ambition - to exhibit Jesus Christ as a real person that lived at a precise time, was born to particular mother and father, and had the office and position of “Christ”, the anointed Messiah or Saviour. The rest of the first chapter talks of the family tree of Jesus, and furthermore a brief report of how Mary got pregnant: “she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.” (Matthew 1v18)

It is within chapter 2 that we commence to perceive the specific events that Matthew uses to place his gospel into a chronological period. The historical events here include:
· Jesus was born in Bethlehem (King David’s historical home) “in the days of Herod the king” (Matthew 2v1)
· Wise men came out of the east toward Jerusalem, wanting to know “Where is he that is born King of the Jews?” (Matthew 2v1-2)
· The wise men travelled because, in their words, “we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him” (Matthew 2v2)
· Herod asked the wise men at what instant the star had appeared (Matthew 2v7) and discovered that it had been approximately two years previously (Matthew 2v16). It is feasible nonetheless that he overcompensated in an attempt to make certain that the newborn child was killed, thinking that the heavenly body had in fact appeared on His conception roughly nine months earlier.
· Herod sent out the order that every single one of the babies under the age of 2 within Bethlehem in addition to all of the adjoining country should be murdered. This was his effort in order to make certain that exactly a single baby, Jesus, was also murdered. (Matthew 2v16)
· Following the call of the wise men, Joseph took Mary along with the newborn child in the direction of Egypt in a hurry, because he had been warned about Herod the king's strategy by means of an angel. (Matthew 2v13-14)
· Whilst they had been in Egypt, Herod died and Joseph was advised to go back to Israel along with “the young child”. (Matthew 2v19-20)
· When King Herod died, his son Archelaus ruled Judaea instead. (Matthew 2v22)

Plainly, Matthew places the events during the days of the Lord Jesus Christ within the framework of who was king of Judaea, and certain of the things that they had ordered. This would most probably put the birth of the baby Jesus to within a handful of days or weeks of the command that king Herod had given in order to ensure him in addition to all further babies living in and around Bethlehem killed. It is likely that a number of Matthew’s audience had lost a newborn, brother or sister throughout this instant and may possibly correlate the report of Matthew immediately to events in their own household. It was into these times in their past that John the Baptist had appeared, preaching in addition to baptising.

John the Baptist was not teaching in the temple or synagogues, but in the backwoods. Conceivably he was unwelcome inside the temple for specific crimes - the most likely reason was the teaching that he contributed. To see added confirmation of this, see moreover v7 3.

Let’s take a look at the message that he preached, which is set up in a few verses that go after the current one:

· Repentance was commanded to everyone (v2)
· The “kingdom of heaven” was at hand - just about to be revealed (v2)
· John the Baptist saw his particular office having the function of laying the groundwork intended for the ministry of the Lord, sowing the land, getting everything geared up, and making His way a little quicker. (v3)

Undoubtedly, right from the beginning of the biblical writings about baptism, repentance from sinful behavior was caught up inside the significance of baptism. This teaching of repentance and baptism was laying the groundwork for every individual that received the preaching for the imminent ministry of the Lord Jesus.

Article Source: http://www.knowaboutyourself.com

MJ Anderson All quotations from the Good News Bible unless otherwise indicated. MJ Anderson writes on Baptism, and has also written a book studying each of the 91 verses of scripture about baptism. The book is called "Baptism's 91 Witnesses", and further information can be found at www.91witnesses.com MJ Anderson also writes on Natural Health Treatments and Nutritional Supplements. Thyroid websites include NaturalThyroidTreatment.org/ and ThyroidBooster.net/


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