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.

For though it be a truth, that God in his absolute sovereignty might have dispensed with and given a pardon to sin freely, and without any satisfaction, upon man's submission and repentance, the punishing or pardoning sin belonging to his efficiency, and flowing therefore from h…

Q. How many are the persons in the Godhead? A. They are three, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost (Matthew 3:16-17 & 28:19; John 14:16-17 & 15:26; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Galatians 4:6; 1 John 5:7). Q. Whether are these three, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost several, a…

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…

But the Apostles after the resurrection of Christ, he having opened their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures, said to them, that it behoveth Christ to suffer, and rise again the third day, that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name…

1. His love and good-will he testifies in his Compellation, [in non-Latin alphabet], Beloved. It is an expression of most entire affection, and is never used in the Gospel but to express the love of God the Father to his Son Jesus Christ (Matthew 3:17; chap. 12:18; chap. 17:5; M…

(2.) He was not called or set apart to his office by any outward unction, solemn consecration, or ceremonious investiture. For the Lord Christ Jesus had none of these, who was made a Priest after the manner that he was; only there was an outward sign of his call to all his offic…

And those by whom his Ministry was despised, did reject the counsel of God against themselves, that is to their ruin; and made themselves liable to that utter excision, with the threatenings whereof the Writings of the Old Testament are closed (Malachi 4:6). He therefore called…

On the part of God, he reposed the whole trust of all the concernments of the covenant in him, and absolutely rested therein. Behold, says he of him, my servant whom I uphold, mine Elect in whom my Soul delights, or is well pleased, [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩] (Matthew 3:17). When…

Repent and believe the Gospel (Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15). And almost all the sermons that we find, not only of John the Baptist in a way of preparation for the declaration of the Gospel, as (Matthew 3:2), but of the Apostles also in pressing the actual reception of it on the Jews…

The promise of him was, that he should be sent from Heaven, or from above, as God is said to be above, which is the same with heavenly (Deuteronomy 4:39; 2 Chronicles 5:23; Job 31:2, 8; Isaiah 2:2, 15; and chap. 45:8). When he came upon the Lord Christ to anoint him for his work…

[⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩], is to rest in, to approve, to delight in, to be pleased with: so is it always used in the New Testament, whether spoken of God or men. See (Matthew 3:17), Chap. 12:18, Chap. 17:5, (Luke 3:22), Chap. 12:32, (Romans 15:26, 27), (1 Corinthians 1:21), Ch…

Concerning all these Sacrifices it is added, [⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩], you had no pleasure. In opposition hereunto, God gives Testimony from Heaven concerning the Lord Christ and his undertaking; This is my Beloved Son, [⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩], In whom I am well pleased (…

Fire is the great trier and discoverer of metals, of what sort they are (1 Corinthians 3:13, 14, 15). And hence the Lord Christ in the trial of his Church, is compared to a refiner with fire (Matthew 3:2), so faith is tried (1 Peter 1:7). And it is the word which our Apostle use…

If we are destitute of good works, we have none but a dead faith, and a dead faith will very little befriend a dead soul. To have no good works then, is a woful thing: and, the admonition is (Matthew 3:10), every tree which brings not forth good fruit, is [illegible] down, and c…

See Isaiah 1:18. & 55:7, 8, 9. The number and greatness of your sins, should not in the least hinder you from coming to Christ: his Blood cleaneth from all sin (1 John 1:7). All manner of sin (Matthew 3:1). You dishonor him, if you think otherwise; and submit not to the way of t…

But at the transition from Old to New, or at the first setting up of the Gospel administration (or kingdom of Heaven, as 'tis called) and of Baptism, the entering seal thereof in John Baptist's and Christ's time, well might more be required than bare membership in the Jewish Chu…

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 (…

Again, he is a Savior by merit, and by power; for he has not only to do with God but with Satan; God is to be satisfied, and Satan overcome, and therefore he rescues us out of the hands of Satan, and redeems us out of the hands of God's justice. To rescue a condemned malefactor,…

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…

And so much of tribulation. The third thing held forth in this text (of which I must be very short) is mortification: this also is a refining fire (Matthew 3:11): He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire. (Mark 9:49) For every one shall be salted with fire; and eve…

They believe that Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of men — see the confession of their faith in the possessed Gergesene (Matthew 8:29): "What have we to do with you, Jesus, you Son of God? Are you come to torment us before our time?" The devils believe and tremble, but h…

This argument was alleged to one in [illegible], to which the man confessed, he thought they did not, but his reason was, because the Church had not then appointed them, to which the other replied, I will have as good an answer as this from a [illegible], to believe as the Churc…

In this second clause of arguments there is only one behind, and that is, that by the titles given to all particular congregations, namely a kingdom, a family, a body, a Queen etc., it appears that all ecclesiastical authority, ought to be in every one of them distinctly, wholly…

So when as the light of the Gospel shines, then men are tried: in times of ignorance, God regards not men so much, but now in time of the Gospel, see if it be powerful, and whether you set yourselves about holy duties. Matthew 3:10, Now is the axe laid to the root of the tree: t…

2. That the author of that Epistle whoever he was, does not make Lent to stand by any law, or institution of the Apostles, but only as an act of imitation of Christ, who fasted forty days in the wilderness. 9. No, when the Book of Constitutions, which is thought to bear such ana…

Moreover, Smalcius denies far too shamelessly that any mention of this promise is made in the New Testament. The serpent is the devil (2 Corinthians 11:3; Revelation 12:9, 14; 20:2); the wicked are a brood of vipers (Matthew 3:7); they are of their father the devil (John 8:44);…

By this vain boasting they fortified themselves against all conviction of natural misery. Hence, at the beginning of his preparatory ministry, John the Baptist found it necessary to confront this prejudice (Matthew 3:9). "Do not presume," he says, "to say among yourselves, We ha…

See Psalms 2:6, 24:3, 4, 45:18, 68:18; Isaiah 11:8-10, 35:8, 54:11-14, 60:21; Ezekiel 47:9; Zechariah 14:20, 21; Malachi 3. III. Now, when the kingdom of heaven had drawn near, John, who was sent to prepare the way of the Lord, expressly declared that true repentance — that is,…

By feeling of the heart, we choose, love, desire, delight, are zealous in the good thing itself, that it may be done; to refuse, hate, abhor, and are zealous against the known evil (Amos 5:14; Philippians 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 2:1). Among these, zeal is an earnest affection of th…

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…