Luke 7:27
The service in the praise. “This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare the way before thee” (Luke 7:27).First, the prediction of the service. “Of whom it is written.” This refers to Malachi 3:1 and confirms John’s ministry.
Second, the prominence of the service. “Much more than a prophet … Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he” (Luke 7:26,28). Christ really exalted John the Baptist here. “There is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist.” There were some great prophets in Israel’s history; to say John was the greatest is a tremendous compliment.
Third, the perspective of the service. “But he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” This does not refer to character but to privilege. John did not have the spiritual privileges we have today. We have so much more Divine revelation than John had. The lowest saint can study the Bible and know more about Christ than did the great prophet John the Baptist. This statement about John ought to cause us to better appreciate our blessings and to be better stewards of our spiritual privileges.
Matthew 11:10
Taken almost owrd for word from Malachi 3:1. I can't this much better than the note in the MacArthur Study Bible: It was a custom of the Near Eastern kings to send messengers before them to remove obstacles to their visit. Employing a wordplay on the name of Malachi, (“the LORD’s messenger”), the Lord Himself announced He was sending one who would “prepare the way before Me.” This is “the voice of one crying in the wilderness” (Is. 40:3) and the Elijah of 4:5 who comes before the Lord. The NT clearly identifies him as John the Baptist (cf. Matt. 3:3; 11:10,14; 17:12ff.; Mark 1:2; Luke 1:17; 7:26,27; John 1:23). Will suddenly come.
To come “suddenly” does not mean immediately, but instantaneously and unannounced. It usually refers to a calamitous event (cf. Is. 47:11; 48:3; Jer. 4:20, etc.). When all the preparations are completed, the Lord will come, not to Zerubbabel’s temple, nor in partial fulfillment to Herod’s temple but finally to that millennial temple which Ezekiel describes in Ezek. 40–48. The unexpected coming of Christ, partially fulfilled at His first advent, will be accomplished in full at His second coming (cf. Matt. 24:40–42).
Messenger of the covenant. Probably not the messenger just mentioned. Rather, because this Messenger “will come to His temple,” it is most likely a reference to the Lord Himself, the One who has the authority to reward or judge His people on the basis of their faithfulness to His covenant with them. The title may reflect earlier OT references to His “angel,” which is lit. “messenger” (cf. Ex. 23:20–23; 32:34; Is. 63:9). In whom you delight. This is likely sarcastic. These sinful people were not delighting in God then, nor would they when He came in judgment on their hypocritical worship and cleansed the temple (cf. John 2:13–25). All the ungodly will be destroyed at His return (cf. Rev. 19:11ff.).
The Preaching in the Beginning (Matthew 4:17)
Like John the Baptist, Jesus Christ also preached to the people to whom He ministered.
The manner of the preaching. “Preach” (Matthew 4:17). The word translated “preach” means to cry out, to announce publicly. This is not dialogue or discussion. It is a declaration of an important truth in a dogmatic, earnest, forceful way. It is the same word used to describe the speaking of John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1) to the multitudes that followed him.
The message in the preaching. “Repent; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). This is the same message John the Baptist proclaimed which we noted in Matthew 3:2. We note three important features of it. First, it was a condemning message (for “repent” says you are a sinner). Second, it was a needed message (“kingdom of heaven,” says you can’t get in a holy kingdom unless you are holy; therefore, men needed to “repent”). Third, it was an urgent message (“at hand” denotes urgency to repent; “at hand” says opportunity is present, do not waste it, do not be dilatory).
The Traveling & Triumphing Because of the Harassing (Mark 1:14-15)
1. Travelling becuase of Harassing (1:14)
“Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee” (Mark 1:14). Another form of harassing of Christ’s ministry was the indirect way of harassing. In this case the harassing came indirectly through the incarceration of the great John the Baptist, which resulted in Christ traveling from southern province of Judea to the northern province of Galilee.
The principle in the traveling. “After … John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee” (Mark 1:14). When God’s work unwanted, God often moves out and leaves the evil people to their wishes. Christ leaving the southern province of Judea and traveling north to the province of Galilee was a judgment move. John the Baptist was ministering in Judea. Herod arrested John and put him in prison. This showed hostility for Christ and so He left and moved north. When hostilities rear their ugly heads against the work of God, spiritual privilege will be lost.
The place in the traveling. “Came into Galilee” (Mark 1:14). This was the northern province of Palestine which was greatly blessed by the ministry of Christ. Yet, many in Galilee rejected His ministry. But Galilee was more receptive to Christ than Judea and as a result was greatly blessed. The blessings of Christ are found were Christ is received.
2. The Triumph Over the Harassing (Mark 1:14, 15)
Though Christ was harassed throughout His ministry, He always triumphed over it. Here is a good example of triumph.
The manifestation of the triumph. “Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom” (Mark 1:14). The opposition of the enemy did not stop the ministry of Christ. When He left Judea, He did not stop proclaiming His message but came to Galilee and kept preaching it. Christ gives preachers a good example of dedication here. When the enemy harasses and oppresses, just move on and keep preaching.
The message in the triumph. Harassment did not result in compromising the message. First, the precept in the message. “Repent ye … believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15). Two precepts are given here—we are to repent and receive (“believe” is to receive Christ as Savior). Repent of your sins; believe the Savior. “God … commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30). “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). Second, the principality in the message. “The kingdom of God” (Mark 1:15). Christ focused on the kingdom of which most men were not interested. Men are generally interested only in the kingdoms of this world. But eternity involves the “kingdom of God” and we need to be interested in that kingdom. Third, the priority in the message. “The kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1:15). “At hand” means opportunity, and this means urgency of action. The “kingdom” will not always be “at hand.” Use your spiritual opportunities while you have them. “Now is the day of salvation” (II Corinthians 6:2).
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