Gospel According to Matthew Bible Study

Chapter 3

Book One: John the Baptist and the Early Ministry of Jesus, Narrative: Ministry of John and Jesus

Questions

1. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (3:2) “Kingdom of heaven” == “Kingdom of God” is the central theme of Matthew (expression appears more than 30 times throughout the book). What did John (and later Jesus) mean by “kingdom of heaven”? (Obviously this is big question that we’ll answer throughout our study - keep it in mind as we continue)
2. John is crying out in the wilderness and making the Lord’s paths straight (3:3) Isaiah’s words announce the restoration of Israel and the world Is 40:3 What other biblical promises offered in Isaiah will be fulfilled by the Lord? Answers:
   1. rescue the poor and oppressed Is 41:17, Is 42:7, Is 49:13
   2. pour out the spirit Is 44:3
   3. restore Israel Is 43:5-7, Is 48:20, Is 49:5
   4. come to Jerusalem as King Is 40:9-10, Is 52:7-10
   5. destroy his enemies Is 41:11-13, Is 47:1-15
   6. show mercy to his children Is 43:25, Is 44:22, Is 55:7
   7. be a messianic Servant who blesses the nations Is 42:1-4, Is 49:1-6
   8. atone for sin Is 50:4-9, Is 52:13-53:12
3. John is the antetype of what OT prophet? 2 Kings 1:8 Why was it important for John to be in the spirit of this OT prophet? Mal 4:1-5, Sir 48:9-10
4. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (3:2) What did John mean by “repent” (3:6, 3:8, 3:10)? Why would Jews need to repent to enter the kingdom if they were God’s chosen people? (3:9)
5. What is significant about the location for John’s ministry and baptisms - the Judean wilderness (a desert) and the Jordan River? Josh 3:14-17, 2 Kings 5:14
6. What was the purpose of John’s Baptism? How is it different from the Christian sacrament of Baptism? (3:11)
7. Jesus didn’t “need” a baptism - he was sinless - yet he insisted that John baptize him to “fulfill all righteousness” (3:15). What does “fulfill all righteousness” mean (5:17)?
8. How many (and which) people are referenced in verses 16-17?
9. What 3 effects could the water, Spirit, and divine voice at Jesus’ baptism prefigure for our own (and every) Christian baptism? Acts 22:16, 3:11, 1 Cor 12:13, 3:17, Gal 3:26-27

Primary Resources

• The Holy Bible
• Introduction to the Gospel According to Saint Matthew, from the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible especially note the outline on the last page of the pdf to provide helpful context to where we are in Matthew’s Gospel. Introduction written by Dr. Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch

Secondary Resources

• John the Baptist and the Essenes

Logical Daily Gospel Exegesis (Hayden)

• Matt 3: 1-12
• Matt 3: 13-17

The Bible in a Year Podcast (Fr. Mike)

• Gospel of Matthew Introduction (with Jeff Cavins) (Lots of chit-chat in the beginning, remember you can fast forward.)
• Matt 1-4