Matthew the apostle shared how Jesus, “began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went you out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went you out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. But what went you out for to see? A prophet? yes, I say unto you, and more than a prophet”, and in chapter eleven and verse ten of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus referred to scripture where it reads, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face” where we read:
For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
which shall prepare your way before you.
The verse reads, “For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before your face, ...” Matthew began with the word, “for” which means “because, since and on account of” “this is he” or “John the Baptist is the male person” “of whom” which means “belonging to the one that” “it is written” which refers to “it is delineated or formed with letters on a tablet, parchment, paper or other material”, “Behold” or “lo and see”, “I send” which means “God dismissed and sent off” “my messenger” or “God's envoy and one who is sent” “before your face” which means “in the presence of and in front of people's countenances and appearances”. Matthew shared how Jesus referred to the book of Malachi chapter three and verse one where it says, “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom you seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom you delight in: behold, he shall come, says the LORD of hosts”, and He therein confirmed John the Baptist as this “messenger”.
The verse goes on to say, “... which shall prepare your way before you.” Matthew continued with the words, “which shall prepare” which means “who will furnish, equip and make ready” “your way” or “the Messiah's path, journey and traveling” “before you” which means “in advance and in front of the Messiah”. Matthew shared how Jesus continued Malachi's idea about the mission of the forerunner to the Messiah.
When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus employed the scripture to validate John the Baptist as His prophesied “fore-runner”. Though He asked the multitude who they “went out to see”, Jesus knew John's purpose was to clear the way for Him to come. God had a plan for the redemption of man, and when He sent John the Baptist to announce Jesus as the Messiah, John fulfilled the prophesy given by Malachi four hundred years in advance of his appearing, and those who are wise shall yield to the only One and true Messiah – Jesus.
Next time Matthew shares how Jesus shares, “among them that are born of women there has not risen a greater than John the Baptist”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
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www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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