Notes on the Gospel readings from Matthew
Notes on the Gospel readings from Matthew
Notes on Matthew 3.1-12 Second Sunday in Advent 8 December 2013
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Notes on Matthew 3.1-12 Second Sunday in Advent 8 December 2013
There are at least three important things in this passage.
1. John’s ministry: John the Baptist says that he is preparing the way for the Lord. He is doing what the famous passage in Isaiah 40 said would happen. He is dressed like Elijah (2 Kings 1.8). This is significant because the Old Testament said that Elijah would come before the great day of the Lord (Malachi 4.5). John is preparing God’s people for the coming of the Lord. He does this by calling them to repentance. This is the same message that Jesus preached (Matthew 4.17).
2. The leaders of Israel are warned: Some of the Pharisees and Sadducees came to listen to John. John is not impressed. He gives them two warnings. They also must repent. And they must show they have repented by behaving differently. The second warning is that they must not rely on the fact that they are descendants of Abraham. They have to behave like descendants of Abraham John gives them a strong warning of coming judgement.
3. He tells about the ministry of Jesus: John is baptising people who repent with water. Jesus will baptise with the Holy Spirit. The Old Testament made two big promises about the Holy Spirit. One set of promises said that God would send a leader who was filled with the Holy Spirit. Another set of promises said that the Holy Spirit would be poured out on all God’s people. Jesus comes as the one who is filled with the Spirit. He is also the one who will baptise all of God’s people with the Holy Spirit. Jesus will also bring the fire of judgement. He will clean up God’s people, and get rid of all that is bad.
The meaning for us seems clear: make sure we have repented. That we serve the Lord Jesus with the Holy Spirit he has given us. That we show by our lives that we have repented.
Notes on Matthew 24.36-44 Advent Sunday 1 December 2013
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Notes on Matthew 24.36-44 Advent Sunday 1 December 2013
One of the themes of Advent is the return of Christ. In the New Testament this is linked with the great Day of the Lord that the Old Testament looked forward to. This Day will be a day of judgement and a day of salvation.
But when will it happen? That has been a big question for long time. Jesus gives a very clear answer to the question. He says no one knows when it will be.
In this passage he tells us three important things:
1. No one knows when the great Judgement Day will be (24.36). So this means we should not try to calculate when it will be. And we should be very careful about listening to anyone who tells us that they know. Or anyone who tells us that they have worked out how to tell if it is getting near.
2. The Day will come as a surprise (24.36-41). People will not be ready for it. People will not be able to predict when it will happen. Jesus will come when we do not expect him (24.44).
3. Therefore we must be ready (24.42-44). We must keep watch. Be alert. Be ready. What does this mean? Jesus explains it in the next two passages. We should be doing what we are meant to be doing. We should be serving the Lord in the way he has called us to serve him. We should not be lazy or spending our time doing something else (24.45-51). We should remember the warning of Matthew 7.21-23. We should be praying and looking for him to come. The story of the ten girls warns us to be ready (25.1-13).