{"id":11552,"date":"2026-04-09T10:56:29","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T15:56:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/truthrightlydivided.ca\/?page_id=11552"},"modified":"2026-06-12T07:16:28","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T12:16:28","slug":"matthew-3-4","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/truthrightlydivided.ca\/wp2\/matthew-3-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Matthew 3 & 4"},"content":{"rendered":"\n


Bible Class – Matthew Study #2 (Mt 3-4)<\/u><\/strong>
Notes and Discussion questions<\/u>
<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matthew Study #2: The pathway of the King<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Main passage of study: Mt 3:1-4:25<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related passages:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pt A<\/u>: Ps 1:4-6; 140:3; Is 40:3; Mal 4:5-6; Mt 7:16-17; 16:1,6;
Lu 3:1-3; Jn 8:39; Ac 19:4; 1Co 12:13; Re 14:10<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pt B<\/u>: Is 42:21; 61:1; Mt 17:5; Mk 1:9; Lu 3:21; Jn 1:31-34; 12:28;
Ac 10:37-38; 2Pe 1:17<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pt C<\/u>: Ge 3:1-6; Ex 34:28; Dt 6:13, 16; 8:3; Ps 91:11-12; Mk 1:12-13;
Lu 4:1-13; Jn 14:30; 1Th 3:5; He 2:18; 4:15; 1Jn 2:16; 5:19<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pt D<\/u>: Is 9:1-2; Mt 8:16-17; 9:1; Jn 1:40-42; 3:30; 4:43-45;
Mk 1:14-20; Lu 1:78-79; 4:14; 5:10-11<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outline & Notes<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outline:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. John\u2019s baptism of repentance<\/strong>– Mt 3:1-12\n
      \n
    1. John\u2019s prophesied role – Mt 3:1-2,3,4<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. The proper response of the repentant – Mt 3:5-6<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. John\u2019s pointed rebuke to the religious – Mt 3:7-8,9,10<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. John\u2019s preferred reference to the Redeemer – Mt 3:11,12<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. Jesus\u2019 baptism of recognition<\/strong>– Mt 3:13-14,15,16,17\n
        \n
      1. Jesus\u2019 arrival to be baptized – Mt 3:13<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. John\u2019s aversion to baptize Jesus – Mt 3:14<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. Jesus\u2019 answer to John – Mt 3:15<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      4. Jesus\u2019 anointing by the Spirit -Mt 3:16<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      5. Jesus\u2019 acknowledgement by the Father – Mt 3:17<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
          \n
        1. The proving of the King<\/strong> – Mt 4:1-11\n
            \n
          1. The King led by the Spirit – Mt 4:1<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          2. The temptation to spurn God\u2019s provision – Mt 4:2-3,4<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          3. The temptation to spurn God\u2019s protection – Mt 4:5,6,7<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          4. The temptation to spurn God\u2019s plan – Mt 4:8-9,10<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          5. The King left by the Devil – Mt 4:11<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          6. The public ministry of the King –<\/strong> Mt 4:12-25\n
              \n
            1. The initial focus of the King – Mt 4:12-13,14-15,16-17<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            2. The initial followers of the King – Mt 4:18-19,20,21-22<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            3. The initial fame of the King – Mt 4:23,24,25<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

               <\/p>\n\n\n\n

              After presenting the Lord Jesus as the King in chapters 1 and 2, Matthew then outlines the pathway of the King in chapters 3 and 4 from preparation to public ministry. John the Baptist appears as the prophesied forerunner, calling the nation to repentance in view of the nearness of the kingdom of heaven. He exposes empty religious profession and points forward to the One
              coming after him who will baptize in the Holy Spirit and in fire. Jesus then enters this pathway, identifying Himself with God\u2019s purposes in baptism. Though sinless, He fulfills all righteousness, is anointed by the Spirit, and publicly affirmed by the Father as His beloved Son.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Immediately following this event, the King is led into the wilderness to be proven. In resisting Satan\u2019s temptations, He demonstrates perfect dependence on God\u2019s Word and unwavering submission to His will. Following this victory,
              Jesus begins His public ministry, proclaiming repentance, fulfilling
              prophecy, calling disciples, and displaying divine authority through teaching and healing, as His fame spreads throughout the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

               <\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Textual notes<\/u><\/p>\n\n\n\n

               <\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \u25cf We find the first mention of \u2018baptism\u2019 in Matthew 3 but the
              practice was known before New Testament times. New converts to Judaism, called proselytes, would typically be circumcised (males), they would immerse or baptize themselves in water and then offer a gift for the temple. So for John to baptize Jews would be most curious to the nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \u25cf Matthew is the only gospel writer to mention the Pharisees and
              Sadducees together<\/u> (5 times). This was unique because of their
              distinctively different theological positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \u25cf There is some difference of opinion as to how to interpret John\u2019s
              statement that the Lord Jesus would baptize \u201cwith the Holy Spirit and fire\u201d <\/em>. Some see the baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire as both speaking of the same event (usually Pentecost and the formation of the church) and they see the fire as speaking of the purifying effects of salvation. But others, based on the context, see two<\/u><\/strong> events – the baptism in the Holy Spirit at the formation of the Church at Pentecost and the baptism in fire during the judgments of the Great Tribulation. The preposition translated \u2018with\u2019 in the NKJV is more properly \u2018in\u2019 and so refers to the element into which the individuals are baptized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \u25cf The Lord fasted forty days and nights before Satan came to tempt Him. The number forty in the Bible is often used for times of testing, probation, trial or preparation. Examples: Israel\u2019s 40 years in the wilderness, Moses on Mt. Sinai (Ex 24:18; 34:28), the spies in Canaan (Nu 13:25), Goliath\u2019s challenge (1Sa 17:16), Jonah\u2019s preaching to Nineveh (Jon 3:4)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Discussion questions<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

               <\/p>\n\n\n\n

              1. Why do you suppose that John who came \u201cpreaching\u201d
              (or publicly heralding)
              would do so \u201cin the wilderness\u201d? Why not in the bustling streets and marketplaces of the cities?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              2. In Mt 11:11, Jesus states that
              \u201cthere has not risen one greater than John the Baptist\u201d
              <\/em> Why do you think that Jesus said this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              3. What can we learn about true repentance from John\u2019s confrontation of the Pharisees and Sadducees?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              4. What does John\u2019s resistance to baptize Jesus tell us about his estimation of himself and of Jesus?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              5. In what sense could Jesus\u2019 baptism by John \u201cfulfill all righteousness\u201d ?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              6. We see the unity of the trinity at the occasion of Jesus\u2019 baptism. How was the anointing of the Spirit and the acknowledgement of the Father significant at this point in Matthew\u2019s narrative?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              7. What does Jesus being led by the Spirit into the wilderness teach us about the purpose of the temptation?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              8. Hebrews 4:15 tells us that Jesus\u201cwas in all points tempted as we are\u201d<\/em>. How are Jesus\u2019 temptations here representative of those that we face?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              9. Jesus responds with Scripture to each temptation of the devil. What practical lessons are there for us in this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              10. Matthew (and the other synoptic gospels) skips over at least a year of Jesus\u2019 early ministry mostly in Judea covered in the early chapters of John and instead begins with Jesus in Galilee and only Matthew specifically links Galilee to the Gentiles. Given Matthew\u2019s audience, why do you think that he does this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              11. What do you think is the significance of how Jesus called these two fraternal pairs of disciples –
              \u201cFollow Me, and I will make you fishers of men\u201d<\/em>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              12. What can we learn from the three aspects of Jesus\u2019 early ministry that Matthew highlights in 4:23?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              Bible Class – Matthew Study #2 (Mt 3-4)Notes and Discussion questions Matthew Study #2: The pathway of the King Main passage of study: Mt 3:1-4:25 Related passages: Pt A: Ps 1:4-6; 140:3; Is 40:3; Mal 4:5-6; Mt 7:16-17; 16:1,6; Lu 3:1-3; Jn 8:39; Ac 19:4; 1Co 12:13; Re 14:10 Pt B: Is 42:21; 61:1; Mt […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-11552","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nMatthew 3 & 4 - Truth Rightly Divided<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/truthrightlydivided.ca\/wp2\/matthew-3-4\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Matthew 3 & 4 - Truth Rightly Divided\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Bible Class – Matthew Study #2 (Mt 3-4)Notes and Discussion questions Matthew Study #2: The pathway of the King Main passage of study: Mt 3:1-4:25 Related passages: Pt A: Ps 1:4-6; 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