Lenten Bible Study – Bristol Road Baptist Church

24th March 2004

Christ’s use of the Scriptures 2

The Doubts of John the Baptist

MATTHEW 11 & LUKE 7

In this study we see Jesus use words from MALACHI 3 v 1 to

explain to the people the ministry of John Baptist.

In that sense Jesus is using Scripture to illuminate a present – or

recent event still very much in the minds of His hearers – but
we also note the way in which Jesus responds to the DOUBTS of
JOHN BAPTIST as reported by his disciples.

In tonight’s shorter study I want you to try and answer the

following questions:

1. What has contributed to John’s change of mind?

2. Is Jesus’ answer a sufficient response?

3. What kind of OFFENCE does Jesus imply?

4. How was Jesus’ ministry received at this time?

5. What is the main thrust of Jesus’ use of Malachi 3 v 1?

Once again I have asked you to grapple with two passages

simultaneously – because they are indeed very similar, and
because each narrative has a little to contribute that the other
omits.

This raises the following aspects of Biblical study in general –

and of the Gospels in particular:

a. What is peculiar about the Gospels and how does it require

a special technique of study?

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b. What Bible study tools would we need to employ when

studying
the Gospel material?

c. What do both these two passages tell us about the

prevailing attitudes of the people to whom Jesus
ministered?

d. What is unusual about the illustration Jesus uses?

I propose to look at these general matters – before turning to

the broad outline of the passage before us:

THE GOSPELS REQUIRE A PARTICULAR METHOD OF

STUDY

There are FOUR accounts of broadly the same material

All four Gospels place much stress on the narrative of Christ’s

teaching, His death, and His resurrection.

Each individual Gospel has features of its own which should be

borne in mind.

Where the same account is given by individual gospel writers

the similarities and differences should be taken into account.

TOOLS FOR GOSPEL STUDY

If you could – it would be very helpful to have access to what is

called a HARMONY of the gospels. But such publications are
not all that common so what can you use in stead?

1. The paragraph or section headings in Bible versions that

give
the parallel references

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24th March 2004

2. The references given in a MARGINAL NOTE of a reference

Bible

3. It can sometimes be helpful to use a Bible that highlights

the words of Jesus in the text.

In the absence of a harmony you are likely at least to need two

copies of the Scriptures to open side by side.

As we have indeed got both passages side by side before us

tonight let’s see if we can answer that further question:

What do both these two passages tell us about the

PREVAILING ATTITUDES of the people to whom Jesus
ministered?

You need to look at Mat 11 7-9 Luke 7 24-26

and at Mat 11 16-19 and Luke 7 31-35

Here we can see the reactions of the people to JOHN reflected

in the comments of Jesus

and

Here we can see the ILLUSTRATION Jesus uses to describe the

argumentative and fickle nature of the people.

Take a few moments to consider those two sections.

What do you think is Christ’s conclusion about their attitude in

the first paragraph?

“A prophet? Yes I tell you, and more than a prophet”

A secondary question here is :

What does Matthew and what does Luke ADD INDIVIDUALLY to

that debate?

(Mat 11 12-15 and Luke 7 29 & 30)

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24th March 2004

Of these – which is the easier to understand? (Luke)

And, finally in this part of our little study:

WHAT IS UNUSUAL ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATION JESUS

USES?

“ ‘We played the flute for you,

and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not cry.’ LUKE
17
“ ‘We played the flute for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not mourn.’ MATTHEW

Fairly obviously it’s textual style is different : it’s a poem – or,

more probably a “playground chant”.

Learned men have argued about the significance of these

words – but I think they are missing the point – or perhaps they
had never listened, as Jesus obviously had – to the way children
play.

This little chant describes the PREVAILING ATTITUDE OF THE

PEOPLE OF HIS TIME – and Jesus applies it to their attitudes to
both himself and to John.

What do you think are the main features of the chant?

Obstinacy FicklenessSuperficiality ???

How does Jesus’ explanation help us to understand the chant?

Now then we turn to what I suspect you would have thought

was the main thrust of tonight’s study – had I actually given
you the passage to study in advance – and of course I didn’t!

We consider in closing the FIVE QUESTIONS outlined earlier

about the doubts of John the Baptist:-

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1. What has contributed to John’s change of mind?

Matthew I think puts the reason most succinctly:

2
When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent
his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or
should we expect someone else?”

To understand this you have to understand the kind of

imprisonment.

Obviously John is not completely cut off from contact – for his
disciples are able to come and go and report to him – but Herod
Antipas has him caged so that he can try to manipulate him.

Possibly the most telling cause is the absence of direct

intervention by Jesus in his imprisonment!

2. Is Jesus’ answer a sufficient response?

What do you think?

Surely the answer could have been more direct? Yes or No?

So why does Jesus not give such an answer?

Is it so that John – on the return of his disciples can spend time

(of which he had much) pondering the reports in a different
light.

Jesus offers him no hope of release – but praises his ministry in

the words that follow.

Jesus is coping with the problem of OFFENCE at His person and

works.

3. What kind of OFFENCE does Jesus imply?

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Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me

and the playground chant narrative

There is a difference between the kind of offence that John
might take and that generally reflected in the children’s chant.

ONE is offence at the PERSON

the other is OFFENCE AT THE MINISTRY

4. How was Jesus’ ministry received at this time?

Here the chant and what Jesus says needs to be supplemented

by the comments of LUKE 7 29,30

( 29 All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard
Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because
they had been baptised by John. 30 But the Pharisees and
experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves,
because they had not been baptised by John.)

There was a DEFINITE LINK between the reaction of the people

to John’s ministry – and to that of Jesus.

Luke indicates that the religious leaders rejected both –

whereas the people in general accepted both.

How will you interpret Matthew’s mysterious reference in 7 12-

14?

Who are the forceful men?

Obviously translators can never be really sure of the best way to render this sentence. Further,
finding a way to say the kingdom has suffered violence depends on how kingdom of heaven
itself has been handled. Nevertheless, here are some possible renderings for translators to
consider: “There have been attacks made against God’s rule (or, the establishment of God’s
rule), and violent men have tried to seize it by force”; “violent men (and other forces) have
used force to try to seize control of God’s rule”; “there have been men who have tried by
violent force to establish God’s rule.”

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5. What is the main thrust of Jesus’ use of Malachi 3 v

1?

Jesus is answering his own question – and that of John by

asserting that John was the messenger that comes before the
Messiah.

“ ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,

who will prepare your way before you.’*

Hence Matthew’s more intelligible comment:

13
For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are
willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 He who has ears,
let him hear.

Jesus leaves us in no doubt that John the Baptist was foretold

by Scripture – and that the scripture reference therefore works
both ways – it explains the ministry of John – and it reinforces
the significance of prophecy – and in that great line of prophets
John Baptist was the greatest.

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