Matthew 3 Our Calling - Pride vs. Humility & Repentance Read Matthew 3

Our Calling – Pride vs. Humility & Repentance

Text: Read Matthew 3 – See the AMP Version on This

April 29, 2020

John the Baptist’s Ministry & Calling Vs. 1-3

In this passage, John is out there in the wilderness crying out to people who will listen. He is calling them to repent and come to God.  Four things stand out in this passage.

Ø  The wilderness

Ø  Repentance

Ø  Jesus was about to arrive on the scene

Ø  John’s ministry was the fulfillment of prophecy

John was calling people to get ready for the Lord’s coming – to get their lives on the level, and be direct as the AMP Bible states. He had a specific time that he would be alive to be used by God to get people ready for Jesus’ coming. God is always trying to help us come back to Him.

In the place of sin and walking apart from God, it can seem like a wilderness. Nothing feels right or satisfying when we are not in right standing with the Lord. John was sent right out to a place where many would be found and could hear the call to repentance. He was letting them know they had to get their lives right because Jesus was about to come. It’s a lot like today. We have to do our part to repent and get right with Jesus, because His second return is not far off according to the scriptures and signs we are seeing.

Repentance, according to the AMP Bible is a change of heart. It is a shift away from our old way of thinking that produced sin in our lives. True repentance shows when we sincerely regret the sins we have committed and show a genuine desire to get right with God. All He wants to see is a sincere desire to change. He will help us make those changes, but we must do our part. Obedience is key in this process.

Like the timing of John’s ministry, we find ourselves in a similar time right now. With all that’s happening in the world, we are hearing the cries of the prophets far and wide. They are speaking as the oracles of God to warn people; from national and church leaders to each and every person within the sound of their voices. According to the word of God and the signs of the times, our Lord’s return is certainly not far off. We must seek His help while there is still time. John’s ministry was indeed the fulfillment of prophecy, and look at what the scriptures says about the times we live in now.

‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams.  And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy. I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.

And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ Acts 2:17-21

John’s Diet & Wardrobe Vs. 4

Here we see John wearing camel’s hair and eating locust beans and honey. His wardrobe was anything but ‘high fashion’ for those days. His diet was not one filled with this world’s tasty delicacies. No, he was called to do a special work, and while he did it, he had a special diet. In thinking about this today, I sincerely doubt that he had any problem with the fact that he wasn’t dressed in the finest clothes available in those days, and he certainly didn’t fret over what he had to eat.

I believe this section speaks to us today regarding priorities. Not that there is anything wrong with nice clothes or good food, because there isn’t. That’s why God created so much variety for us and gave people skills to make nice clothing. That said, those things can become a problem if they hold an inappropriate place in our hearts. Some of us have struggled with these things. But when we compare it to loving Jesus, does it really matter that much?

Humility Brings Repentance Vs. 5-6

In this set of verses, we see many people coming to seek forgiveness for their sins and get cleansed. This is what baptism is symbolic of – cleansing from sin; the old way of doing things, and coming up from the cleansing to a new, holy life with Jesus. There must have been great joy when they were doing that. Getting rid of sin would feel like a thousand pound weight had been lifted off of one’s shoulders. The people we see in this passage were coming from Jerusalem, all of Judea and round about the Jordan. These were the humble crowd. They knew they needed to change and were willing. How that blesses God’s heart.

Pride Brings Judgement Vs. 7-12

When John saw the Pharisees and Sadducees, he knew what he was looking at. He saw them as a brood of vipers, aka, devils. Their hearts were hard, and it was obvious. This group came out with excuses. Claiming to be children of God as children of Abraham, they really didn’t have a heart for repentance in the first place.

John warned them that unless they (trees = people) would show the proof of (fruit) a changed life, they would be cut down and thrown into the fire. John let them know that though He baptized with water, one was coming who would baptize in fire if they didn’t repent. He let them know that it was a choice to get right with God or be destroyed. Jesus was going to come and collect His believers and burn up those that were unrepentant.

In the two sections above, we see the example of humility verses pride. The time of judgment was coming, and the people needed to decide what they were going to do. God always leaves the choice up to us. We can see a similar example in the following section of scripture where Jesus was hanging on the cross between two thieves:

Luke 23:39-43

Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”  But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.”  Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

This is a perfect example of one who was hard hearted (proud, arrogant) and not interested in repentance even though he was facing imminent judgment, while the other man humbled himself right then and there. He knew he was a sinner and that the man he hung beside was an innocent man. His humility earned him an eternity in the presence of Jesus. He had certainly made the right choice – why? Because his heart was right, even though he had committed sin. With Jesus, it’s really all about the heart.

The Baptism and Introduction of Jesus Vs. 13-17

John was introduced to Jesus by a request to baptize Him. How surprised he must have been. But he did what was asked. He was an obedient servant. How glorious that day must have been. It would be the day that Jesus would begin His public ministry. What he saw was amazing. Jesus received the power of the Holy Spirit – yet He came so gently, just as a dove. Isn’t it amazing how much power God must have, yet how gentle He moves on and in His people?

That day, a public announcement came straight from the Father God in heaven, saying this was His Son and that He was pleased with Him. We see the same type of thing happen back in Luke 23 when Jesus hung on that cross. Look at this:

Luke 23:36-38

The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.”

And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew:

THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Although they didn’t realize it that day, they were making a public announcement of who Jesus was and is – the King of the Jews, and in fact, the King of Kings!

What an exciting and terrible time it was back then for people – just like now. It’s exciting for those who are humbling themselves and turning to God, but a terrible time for those who remain hard hearted. Look at this from the book of Proverbs:

Proverbs 29:1, 23

He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. A man’s pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor.

These verses say it all. Pride and stubbornness have never been acceptable to God, and never will be. He expects us to make changes and to be obedient. Look at the next verse from the AMP Bible in the same chapter:

Proverbs 29:18 AMP

Where there is no vision [no revelation of God and His word], the people are unrestrained; but happy and blessed is he who keeps the law [of God].

When we know what God’s will is, then we will know what we should do. After that, it’s just a matter of doing it. Being unrestrained is akin to being out of control. This is not of God. When the Holy Spirit lands in our hearts, He brings the fruit of self-control. Therefore, this fruit should be evident in our lives each day.

My Experience

In my life, I have had a calling to dress a certain way and eat a certain way. My past life carried a lot of bondage where food was concerned, and God has been so gracious to help me to learn a healthier way of eating. I have been spared from so much by following His way of eating. I  used to enjoy being all dressed up, but of late, I feel much more comfortable in everyday, stretchy, easy to wash and wear types of garments.

These days I am not so concerned with the fancy hairdo or the makeup. I really don’t mind the changes God has made in me. It seems to make it simpler, less time consuming and certainly less expensive. What I see more and more is what is most important now. To that there is only one answer – loving Jesus with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind and all our strength. It will mean making some sacrifices. I have learned that to be a Christian means giving up the world’s way of doing things. The way we talk, how we spend our time, the way we dress, work, play, and yes, even the way we eat among many other things.

I have certainly had to humble myself before the Lord and admit that I haven’t always done what He has asked me to do. I don’t want to be like the person He talks about in Proverbs and be stubborn or prideful – insisting on my own way. He always knows what’s best for us, personally as well as spiritually. A surrendered life is a life of trusting Him and walking in faith – one that He is well pleased with. And I learned we do not have to perform to earn His love. We can try to do all the right things, and at times we will miss it. But one thing is certain, because of Jesus, He is well pleased with us as His sons (that means ladies too). Jesus’ work at the cross did it all for us. Hallelujah!

How About You?

1.    Are you willing to seek the Lord and find out where you might need to change your way of thinking and doing things?

2.    Is your heart soft toward God, or do you need a bit more prodding to break it up?

3.    What has the Lord asked you to do that may need to be revisited?

4.    When Holy Spirit comes in, we can do what we are called to do in His power, not our own. Do you depend on His strength or your own?

Song: Unto You By: One Worship

Unto You be the glory. Unto You be the praise. Unto You let every heart bow down;
Let every hand be raised. Unto You let all worship rise, a fragrant sacrifice…
Until every deed and word on earth be unto You.