This current scripture is the opening direct reference to baptism within the whole Word of God. By utilising the phrase “In those days”, the author Matthew is placing his account into it’s chronological background. He is furthermore recounting to his contemporaries about years that had since passed, and was most likely giving his account to his readers a prolonged stretch after the dealings that he reports. In order to discover which days Matthew is writing to us concerning, we are required to study the preceding chapters.

In the introduction of his gospel, the author Matthew names it “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ” (Matthew 1v1). Here Matthew states his ambition - to put on view The Lord Jesus Christ as a real human being who lived at a given time, was born to particular parents, and had the office and status of “Christ”, the anointed Messiah or Saviour. The remainder of the first chapter talks of the lineage of Jesus, and moreover a brief picture of how Mary became pregnant: “she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.” (Matthew 1v18)

It is in chapter two that we begin to make out the detailed events that Matthew makes use of so that we can place his writings into it's chronological timeframe. 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 from the east to Jerusalem, wanting to know “Where is he that is born King of the Jews?” (Matthew 2v1-2)
· The wise men came since, in their words, “we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him” (Matthew 2v2)
· Herod the king asked the wise men at what point in time the heavenly body had appeared (Matthew 2v7) and discovered that it was nearly 2 years earlier (Matthew 2v16). It is possible however that he overestimated in an attempt to make certain that the baby Jesus was killed, thinking that the star had in actual fact appeared at His conception roughly 9 months earlier.
· King Herod sent out the command with the purpose of every single one of the children below the age of 2 in Bethlehem along with all of the adjoining rural area must be slaughtered. This was his endeavor to make sure that precisely one child, the baby Jesus, was additionally slaughtered. (Matthew 2v16)
· After the call of the wise men, Joseph transported Mary as well as Jesus to Egypt in a rush, because he had been warned about King Herod's plans by means of an angel. (Matthew 2v13-14)
· Whilst the family were living in Egypt, Herod the king died and Joseph was told to go back in the direction of Israel along with “the young child”. (Matthew 2v19-20)
· When Herod was dead, his son Archelaus ruled Judaea instead. (Matthew 2v22)

Unmistakably, the aposple Matthew places the events within the time of Jesus within the situation of who was ruling Judaea, along with a number of of their achievements. This would almost certainly place the birth of the newborn child within a handful of days or weeks of the order that Herod the king had given to have him and all other children in and around Bethlehem killed. It is likely that a number of Matthew’s readers had lost a infant, brother or sister in this moment in time and could associate the writing of Matthew quickly to situations within their particular household. It was into these times in their past that John the Baptist had appeared, preaching and baptising.

John the Baptist was not ministering in the temple or synagogues, but in the rough country. Perhaps he was not wanted in the temple for some reason - the most likely cause was the teaching that he brought. To get more evidence of this, see in addition v7 3.

Let’s examine the message that he taught, as found in the small number of verses that follow the present one:

· Repentance was commanded to all (v2)
· The “kingdom of heaven” was at hand - almost to be revealed (v2)
· John the Baptist saw his peculiar ministry as laying the groundwork intended for the ministry of the Jesus, sowing the land, getting everything prepared, and making His course a little simpler. (v3)

Undoubtedly, well from the outset of the biblical writings of baptism, repentance from sinful conduct was trapped in the significance of baptism. This idea of repentance and baptism was laying the groundwork for each person that heard the message for the pending ministry of the Lord Jesus.

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 http://www.91witnesses.com MJ Anderson also writes on Natural Health Treatments and Nutritional Supplements. Thyroid websites include http://www.NaturalThyroidTreatment.org/ and http://www.ThyroidBooster.net/

About The Author

Related Pages

Connect With Ubscure

Print This Article