Matthew 3

Answ. 1. We please God when we comport with his Will. It was Christ's meat and drink to do his Father's will (John 4:34). and so he pleased him (Matthew 3:17). A voice came from heaven, saying, this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.

Then what is Christ's prayer? He is the Son of God, the Son in whom he is well pleased (Matthew 3:17). What will not a Father grant his Son?

Resp. Christ's priestly office has two parts, his satisfaction and intercession. 1. His satisfaction, and this consists of two branches: 1. His active obedience, (Matthew 3:15) He fulfilled all righteousness. Christ did everything which the law required; his holy life was a perf…

2. The second thing I am to speak of is the dove; be harmless as doves. The dove is an excellent creature; it was so acceptable, that in the old law God would have the dove offered in sacrifice: the Holy Ghost, when he would appear in a visible shape, assumed the likeness of a d…

Thus I have spoken of all the three persons. The Trinity of persons may be proved out of Matthew 3:16. Jesus when he was baptized went up immediately out of the water, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him, and lo a voice from heaven, saying,…

2. Christ himself could not procure a pardon but by dying; every pardon is the price of blood. Christ's life was a rule of holiness, and a pattern of obedience (Matthew 3:15). He fulfilled all righteousness.

First, in case he has already had an abundance of revelations from God. As after that glorious testimony given to Christ at his baptism — 'This is my beloved Son' (Matthew 3) — then Jesus was led aside to be tempted (Matthew 4:1). The text points out this timing to this very pur…

Hence, we learn this notable lesson: That those people in God's Church, which receive from God more graces than others, must look for more temptations. This we shall see to be true in Christ Jesus the head of the Church: for, when he was Baptized, and had received the holy Ghost…

The like may be observed, in other famous Prophets, and servants of God: Elijah wore a garment of hair, and thereby was known, 2 Kings 1:8. And so did John Baptist, Matthew 3:4. Yea, the false Prophets went so arrayed, that they might the rather be respected of the people, Zecha…

Which flatly overthrows the opinion and practice of the Romish Church, who resemble the true God, even God the Father, and the holy Trinity, in images: what else do they herein, but make a lie of God? But the Papists say, they devise no image to resemble God in, but only such wh…

The second point to be considered is, that though these three have but one Godhead, and all make but one God: yet they are distinguished one from another: for the Father is the Father, and not the Son, or the Holy Ghost: the Son is the Son, and not the Father, nor the Holy Ghost…

Nec propter vitam vivendi perdere causam. The lives of the wicked are unprofitable, therefore compared to chaff (Matthew 3:11) and hurtful, therefore compared to thorns (Micah 7:4). But a righteous man is like the bee or silkworm, working for the good of others: It comforts me (…

Reason 2. Matthew 3:11: I baptize you with water to repentance, but he that comes after me is stronger than I — he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Hence it is manifest that grace in the sacrament proceeds not from any action in the sacrament.

And the commandment of the Holy Spirit — confess one to another and pray one for another, James 5:17 — binds as well the priest to make confession unto us as any of us to the priest. And whereas it is said in Matthew 3 that many were baptized confessing their sins, and in Acts 1…

Objection 6. Matthew 3:2: Do penance, and bring forth fruits worthy of penance, which (say they) are works of satisfaction enjoined by the priest. Answer: This text is absurd — for the word signifies this much: change your minds from sin to God, and testify it by good works, tha…

The second in these words, "Mine ears you hast opened, then said I, Lo I come in the volume of your book, it's written of me, I delight to do your will"; which implies the Father's acceptation as well as Christ's undertaking; and it also points at the way how the satisfaction is…

You shall only take two or three testimonies for this. The first is (Matthew 3:14 and 17:5): This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased; He undertook to satisfy for the elect's debt, and has accordingly performed it, so that the Father is well pleased. A second is (John 17…

The multitude heard this voice, though they understood it not. We read not often of an audible voice from heaven to Christ; only at his Baptism, there was a testimony given of him from heaven (Matthew 3:16-17) and at his Transfiguration (Matthew 17) of which Peter speaks (2 Pete…

Master Moore's universal atonement pages 4-5 tells us of a twofold reconciliation or redemption, on which Christ effected in his own body with God for men. This is perfect and accomplished fully, so as the Father is well pleased with his Son (Matthew 3:17). And this is done by s…

First, wherever there is life, there is some warmth (2 Kings 9:34). When the Prophet had lain upon the child, and had done so seven times, at length the breath of the child began to wax warm, a sign that life was a restoring, and thereby the Prophet discerned that life began to…

3. The next thing is [in non-Latin alphabet], in whom I am well pleased. This is to be interpreted of Christ as Mediator, or God Incarnate; for this was twice spoken at Christ's Baptism, Matthew 3:17, and now at his Transfiguration, both imply his Mediatorship. For his Baptism h…

Ioh. 8. 33. which vaine glorying of other mens vertues, John Baptist reproous, when he says, Thinke not to say with your selues, we have Abraham for our father&c. Mat. 3. 9. Fourthly, such as reioyce & thinke themselues in a good case, because they see others worse then themselu…

Also that he went through Egypt, and led them in the wilderness like a flock (Exodus 11:4; Psalm 78:52). Now this place is alleged by (Matthew 3:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4; John 1:23) and applied to John Baptist, as if these things were foretold of him, and very rightly: for he was t…

In whom my soul delights.] By this testimony we may conceive that Jesus Christ is not only well pleasing to God his Father, but is also that his only beloved Son: so as there is no obtaining of any grace, but by the means of his intercession. In this sense it is alleged by the E…

We have also told you that the kingdom of Christ is here depicted; not such a one as it shall be in every particular moment of time, but in its perfection. Christ at his first coming, began to accomplish that which is here said, when he purged his Church: in which regard, he cal…

Matthew 3:1-6 1. Now in those days John the Baptist comes, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2. And saying, Repent:

Matthew 3:11-12 11. I indeed baptize you with water to repentance: but he who comes after me is stronger than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.

Matthew 3:13-17 13. Then comes Jesus from Galilee to Jordan to John, that he might be baptized by him.

Matthew 3:7-10 7. And when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, Offspring of vipers, who warned you that you might flee from the wrath to come?

Nor is this inconsistent with what is said elsewhere, that Christ, as soon as he comes forth with his Gospel, has a winnowing-fan in his hand, and will thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor, (Matthew 3:12.) These words describe the commencement of that cleansing, which, this pa…

That he may sift you as wheat. The metaphor of sifting is not in every respect applicable; for we have elsewhere seen that the Gospel is compared to a winnowing-fan or sieve, by which the wheat is purified from the chaff (Matthew 3:12;) but here it simply means to toss up and do…

It is, therefore, contrary to the nature of faith, that the word now should be insisted on by those whom God is training by the cross and by adversity to obedience, and whom he entreats to pray and to call on his name; for these are rather the testimonies of his fatherly love, a…

Created unto good Works; which God hath fore-ordained that we should walk in them. Holy Practice is as much the End of all that God does about his Saints, as Fruit is the End of all the Husbandman does about the Growth of his Field or Vineyard: As the Matter is often represented…

When John preached there was an extraordinary pouring out of the Spirit of God, that attended his preaching; and an uncommon awakening, and concern for salvation, appeared on the minds of all sorts of persons; and even in the most unlikely persons, and those from whom such a thi…

For they hear not what is said, indeed they reckon it not to be spoken to them, but to the wretched sinner, who has need of it, they need it not. John the Baptist does call them the generation of vipers (Matthew 3 and Luke 3), and even so does Christ also (Matthew 12 and 16). Th…

But this belonged unto the obedience which God required of him, as for our sakes, he was made under the law. He was to observe all ordinances and Institutions of the worship of God; not for any need he had in his own person of the especial ends and significations of some of them…

Now, it were against the command of not avenging ourselves, if literally and properly understood: it must therefore signify some other thing. 5. When a literal sense answers not the present scope of the speaker, and the speaker would be thought impertinent, if his words were pro…

verse 8: But what went you out to see, a man clothed in soft clothing? John did not indulge his senses; he wore not silks, but camel's hair; nor did he choose to live at court, but in a wilderness (Matthew 3:3-4). Again, Christ commends John as being his forerunner, who prepared…

2. The next thing to be taken notice of is Christ's entrance on his public ministry, which was by baptism, followed with the temptation in the wilderness. His baptism was as it were his solemn inauguration, by which he entered on his ministry; and was attended with his being ano…

John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him that should come after him, that is, on CHRIST JESUS: When they heard this [John's preaching] they were baptized in the name of the Lord JESUS. If it be objected here, th…

APPLICATION. MEn have their winnowing dayes, and God has his; a day to separate the chaff from the wheat, the godly from the ungodly, who shall both be held up to the wind, but only the wicked shall be driven away by it. Such a day God has in this world, wherein he winnows his w…

APPLICATION. THus deals the Lord by useless and barren Professors who do but cumber his ground, Mat. 3. 10. And now also, the ax is laid to the root of the trees; therefore every tree that brings not forth good fruit, is hewn down and cast into the fire. And Luke 13. 7. Then sai…

He was made of a woman (Galatians 4:4), but that portion whereof he was made, was sanctified by the Holy Ghost, that, what was born thereof, should be a holy thing; Not only the conjunction and union of soul and body, whereby a man becomes partaker of his whole nature, and there…

Some say to love is perfectly to acquiesce in the thing loved. And when God calls his Son, beloved (Matthew 3:17), he adds as an exposition of it, in whom I rest well pleased. 2. The return that the saints make unto him to complete communion with him herein, holds some analogy w…

He might have been perfectly holy by obedience to the law of creation, the moral law, as the angels were: neither could any more as a man walking with God be required of him. But he submitted himself also to every law or ordinance that was introduced upon the occasion of sin, wh…

From eternity he had thoughts of what he would do for us, and delighted himself therein. When he went to be baptized, John said: I have need to come to you, and do you come to me? Matthew 3:14-15. But Christ replied: permit it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all ri…

§. 43. What kind of means of grace Baptism is. 2. Baptism is no physical or natural means of working grace, as if the grace which is sealed up thereby were inherent in the water, or in the minister's act of sprinkling it (as in medicines, salves, herbs, meats, and the like, ther…

Let the soul be first thoroughly converted, and then looking on him whom they had pierced, humiliation and mortification will ensue. Thus when John came to preach repentance and conversion, he said, The axe is now laid to the root of the tree (Matthew 3:10). The Pharisees had be…

Aspergio, a bold Talker, is as confident that sprinkling, or pouring Water on the Head, is a true Method of Baptism, and is ready to say severe things against the Practice of Immersion, as if it were not only needless, but, as they are ready to call it, foolish and sinful. It is…

This was Christ's own title and honor. When God had a mind to honor Christ, he proclaims it from heaven, (Matthew 3:17) This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased. Surely, if our hearts were as apprehensive of heavenly privileges, as they are of earthly, we would admire i…