Matthew 3

• Matthew 3:1 – John was not a Baptist. John was a baptizer.
  • See Luke 1:36. Elizabeth was a blood relative, but not technically a cousin.
• Matthew 3:2
  • Repentance does not primarily mean, “change the way you are living” but “change the way you are thinking.” See Matthew 3:8 – “bear fruit consistent with repentance.”
  • “kingdom of heaven”: See definitions in Colossians 1:13; Revelation 17:18; Luke 1:32-33; Matthew 12:26-28; Luke 17:20-21. The kingdom of heaven is the domain of God – the people over whose hearts He reigns. Church and kingdom both refer to the same group of people, but the words are not synonymous.
  • “at hand” – See Mark 9:1. The kingdom would come within some of their lifetimes.
• Matthew 3:3 – See Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1; 4:5-6. There are about 100 quotes and allusions from the Old Testament in Matthew.
• Matthew 3:4 – John had unusual looks and diet.
• Matthew 3:6 – See Matthew 3:23. John baptized where there was much water, making it convenient to immerse people.
• Matthew 3:7-9 – John’s audience: the Pharisees and Sadducees.
• Matthew 3:10-12 – “Clearing the threshing floor” may be a reference to the destruction of Jerusalem. See Acts 1:4-5.
• Matthew 3:16 – We don’t currently know precisely where Jesus was baptized. Jesus was baptized as an example of obedience to God. He had no sin to be forgiven of. Note that there are not three Gods. There are three who are God.

The Greek word psallo includes instruments.

Look in Greek dictionaries

• Vine’s: “in the NT, ‘to sing a hymn, sing praise’”
• Thayer’s Lexicon: “in the NT to sing a hymn, to celebrate the praises of God in song.”
• Vincent’s Word Studies in the NT: “The verb, however, is used in the New Testament of singing praise generally.”
• The word changed over time to mean singing in the time of the New Testament.
• Words change meaning over time!

Look in reliable English translations

The elders decided to have instruments. So if it’s wrong, they bear the guilt.

• Titus 1:9; I Timothy 5:19-20 – Elders can make mistakes and should be rebuked when they do.

Harps are used in Heaven.

• Revelation 5:8; 14:2; 15:2; 18:21-22
• The first challenge is to even prove these are literal harps.
• Second, why stop with the harps?
• Events in Heaven aren’t instructions for Christians on earth.
  • Matthew 22:30

We should use our God-given talents to worship Him.

• Is there any limit to this?
• God wants us to follow His instructions in worship.
  • John 4:24; Matthew 15:9
  • Genesis 4:2-5; Hebrews 11:4; Romans 10:17 – Abel followed God’s instructions. Cain did not.
  • Leviticus 10:1-2

Instruments were used for Old Covenant worship.

• That’s right!
  • Numbers 10:10; II Chronicles 29:25-28
  • These were commanded by God at that time.
• But we follow the New Covenant, not the Old Covenant.
  • Hebrews 8:7-8, 13
  • Acts 15
  • Galatians 5:1-3

Conclusion

• No one can argue that we should use instruments because they are clearly authorized as acceptable worship in the New Covenant.

Philippians 2, continued:

Philippians 2:9-18 – Jesus Christ is Lord; be children of God

• Philippians 2:10 – See Isaiah 45:23.
• Philippians 2:13 – See I Thessalonians 2:13; II Timothy 3:15; Hebrews 4:12

Philippians 2:19-24 – Timothy

• Philippians 2:19 – Paul loved the brethren. He loved hearing good news about them.

Philippians 2:25-30 – Epaphroditus

• Philippians 2:25 – “my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier”: this is quite a commendation! See Philippians 4:14-18. Evidently they had sent Epaphroditus to bring money to Paul.

Philippians 3

Philippians 3:1-11 – What Paul gave up to gain Christ

• Philippians 3:2 – “Mutilation” here is a different word for circumcision.
• Philippians 3:3 – See Romans 2:28-29. Physical vs. spiritual Jews:

• Philippians 3:5 – Paul had Jewish lineage of the tribe of Benjamin.
• Philippians 3:8 – Whatever we have to give up to follow Christ is worth it!

Introduction

• Scriptures that refer to worship with music in the New Testament:
  • Acts 16:25
  • Romans 15:9
  • I Corinthians 14:15
  • Ephesians 5:19
  • Colossians 3:16
  • Hebrews 2:12
  • Hebrews 13:15
  • James 5:13

Why don’t we add instruments to that?

• The simple answer is: because God does not authorize us to do so.

God didn’t say NOT to.

God didn’t say NOT to … carry the ark on an ox cart.

• Exodus 25:14; Numbers 4:15; 7:6-9 – God’s specifications for the ark.
• I Chronicles 13:7-12; 15:2, 2, 12-15
• God’s instructions:
  • Poles
  • Kohathites
  • Shoulders

God didn’t say NOT to … appoint a priest from Judah.

• Numbers 13:10; Hebrews 7:11-14; 8:4

God didn’t say NOT to … offer strange fire.

• Leviticus 10:1-2

God didn’t say NOT to … preach circumcision.

• Acts 15:5-6, 24

Instruments are just aids, like pitch pipes or song books.

• Mark 16:15 – “Go”: how?
• II Timothy 2:2 – “Teach”
• I Corinthians 16:1-2 – “collection … put aside and save”
• Psalms 150:1-6 – Instruments were regarded as worship under the Old Covenant.

The story of Jesus

• Luke 2:1-7
• Matthew 2:5-6
• Matthew 1:18-25 – the birth of Jesus
• Luke 2:8-20 – Shepherds are visited by an angel and go to visit Jesus.
  • Isaiah 9:6 – Jesus would bring peace
  • Philippians 4:7
  • John 14:27
  • Colossians 1:20 – Jesus made peace between man and God.
  • Romans 5:21
  • Luke 2:17 – The word of Jesus birth spread quickly.
• Many now teach that men are born in sin.
  • If that were true, Jesus was born in sin. But Jesus knew no sin, thus the premise is false.
  • Some hold to the doctrine of the immaculate conception, which teaches that Jesu was born without sin because Mary had no sin. This, in the eyes of those who believe it, makes it possible to pray to Mary since she has no sin.
• Luke 2:21-24 – See Leviticus 12:6-8. If Mary had to make a sin offering for herself, that indicates she had sin.
• Matthew 2:1-8 – The magi evidently came a while after Jesus was born. Despite songs like “We Three Kings,” there is no evidence that the wise men were kings.
• Matthew 2:9-12 – The magi fell down and worshipped Jesus – not Mary.
• Matthew 2:13-18 – Mary and Joseph flee to Egypt with Jesus. Herod discovers that he has been tricked and kills all the children two years old and under. All of this is according to prophecy.
• Luke 2:41-54 – Twelve years later, Jesus and his family return to Nazareth.