Category: Uncategorized

¹³ “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)

What are some takeaways about temptations in the Christian’s life that we can glean from Scripture? There are several principles regarding the subject that can be taken from today’s text.

First, temptations will happen in our lives. We may not know when, how, or by whom they will occur. What we do know is that temptations will occur.

Secondly, God is faithful. For God to be faithful (πιστός; pistos) means that He is always trustworthy, dependable, committed and praiseworthy. Not only is God faithful when life is good, but the context of today’s text indicates that He is also faithful when His children face temptations from the world, their sinful nature (flesh) and the devil.

Additionally, God in His faithfulness “will not let you be tempted beyond your ability.” This statement reveals that God is sovereign and in control of our lives; especially when temptations occur. He actively will not allow or permit us to be tempted beyond our ability (ὑπέρ; hyper), or to a greater degree, than we can handle at that particular time. This means that our temptations are compatible to our spiritual strength.

“Ancient teachers often pointed out that adversities come to everyone, and that one should not be proud but submit to what comes one’s way. But whereas pagan writers emphasized human will, Paul emphasizes God’s faithfulness,” explains commentator Craig S. Keener.

“While this verse is challenging, encouraging, and hopeful, most of all, I find this verse incredibly humbling. There’s one phrase in the verse that stops me in my tracks and makes me want to let out a long, deep sigh. It’s the part about whatever temptation I’m fighting being “common to man,” states Melissa Kruger, director of women’s content at The Gospel Coalition. “Most days, I don’t view my temptations as common. In fact, I want people to understand how terribly uncommon my struggle is so that they’ll sympathize with me when I don’t take the way out provided. Secretly, I want to tell them my tale of woe as a means to escape the guilt of my own sinful choices.”

“The notion that whatever temptation comes knocking at my door is typical silences my inner justifications. My temptation isn’t special. My circumstances are not cause for disobedience. Others have faced this very thing and by the Spirit have faithfully endured. My pride protests, “Anyone facing this circumstance would give in!” But the Spirit faithfully reminds me that there’s a way of escape. By God’s grace, obedience is possible,” Kruger continues.

“Whatever temptation you face, the power of Jesus is available to help. His Spirit is alive in you. God knows exactly what you can bear, and He’s actively arranging all the details of your life to provide a way out so you may endure. Whatever you face today is a common struggle. The grace He provides in the midst of the struggle will strengthen and protect you,” Kruger concludes.

I am praying for you as you face temptations. I would appreciate your prayers.

Soli deo Gloria!

¹³ “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)

What are some takeaways about temptations in the Christian’s life that we can glean from Scripture? There are several principles regarding the subject that can be taken from today’s text.

First, temptations will happen in our lives. We may not know when, how, or by whom they will occur. What we do know is that temptations will occur.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man” Temptation (πειρασμὸς; peirasmos) within the context refers to a solicitation unto evil. It is a trial designed to make an individual stumble in their walk of faith (Luke 4:13; Acts 15:26).

The word overtaken (λαμβάνω; lambano) means to take hold of. Within the grammatical context, it refers to a temptation that has taken hold of your life in the past and continues in the present. It may be either the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, or the boastful pride of life (I John 2:15-17).

Second, temptations are commonplace (ἀνθρώπινος; anthropinos). They happened to people in the past, they do happen in the present, and they will happen in the future. The temptations our ancestors faced are the evil solicitations we face and our children and grandchildren will face (Rom. 6:19; 1 Cor. 2:13; 4:3; 10:13; James 3:7; 1 Peter 2:13+; 1Tim. 1:15). All believers in Christ face the temptation to compromise and commit sinful disobedience.

“Every difficult circumstance that enters a believer’s life can either strengthen him if he obeys God and remains confident in his care, or become a solicitation to evil if the believer chooses instead to doubt God and disobey his word,” explains Dr. John MacArthur.

What kinds of temptations are common in your life? What evil solicitation, either from the fallen world, your own remaining sinful nature, or the devil, trips you up the most in your walk of faith in Christ?

When we pray to the Lord, we not only are to adore Him, thank Him and bring our requests to Him. Believers in Christ are also to confess sin unto Him (I John 1:9). While temptations are not sinful, they become so when we succumb to the solicitation. Therefore, when you are tempted to sin, take that moment to place that temptation into a conversation with God. Use that temptation to energize your prayer time with God, and your intercession for others.

Whatever temptation you may be facing, know that other faithful believers in Christ have faced the same struggle you are encountering. Ask God to give you the strength to resist the devil (James 4:7), to no longer conform to the fallen world system (Rom. 12:1-2), and to put sin to death in your life (Col. 3:5).

I am praying for you. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

⁸ “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. ⁹ And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ” ¹¹Then the devil left him, and behold, “angels came and were ministering to Him.” (Matthew 4:8–11 (ESV)

 “Satan tests God’s people by manipulating circumstances, within the limits that God allows him (cf. Jb. 1:12; 2:6; 1 Cor. 10:13), in an attempt to make them desert God’s will. The NT knows him as ‘the tempter’ (ho peirazōn, Matt. 4:3; 1 Thes. 3:5), the implacable foe of both God and men (1 Pet. 5:8; Rev. 12),” explains J.I. Packer.

The focus today is on the temptation of the lust of the eyes. It is the evil of coveting what we see and honoring it above, or equal to, the Lord. It is not only wanting what we see and fixate upon, but also to have resentment for the one who possesses what we see and want and cannot have righteously and in the will of God.

The devil showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. What a sight that must have been. There were no limitations to what the devil offered Jesus. However, there was only one stipulation. Jesus would have to bow down and worship the devil.

“Satan’s final test related to God’s plan for Jesus. It was and is God’s design that Jesus Christ rule the world. Satan showed Jesus the kingdoms of the world with all their splendor. These kingdoms presently are Satan’s, as he is “the god of this Age” (2 Cor. 4:4) and “the prince of this world” (John 12:31; cf. Eph. 2:2). He had the power to give all these kingdoms to Jesus at that time—if only Jesus would bow down and worship him. Satan was saying, “I can accomplish the will of God for You and You can have the kingdoms of this world right now.” This of course would have meant Jesus would never have gone to the cross. He supposedly could have been the King of kings without the cross,” explains commentator Louis A. Barbieri Jr.

Jesus would not do this. He knew the path to kingship included the cross. He also knew that the only one worthy of worship was the One True God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  

Again, Jesus quoted Scripture, from Deuteronomy 6:13, to resist the devil. He said, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ” The devil immediately obeyed Jesus’ command and left Him. It was at that moment that angels came and ministered to Jesus.

“Interestingly Satan’s temptations of Eve in the Garden of Eden correspond to those of Jesus in the desert. Satan appealed to the physical appetite (Gen. 3:1–3; Matt. 4:3), the desire for personal gain (Gen. 3:4–5; Matt. 4:6), and an easy path to power or glory (Gen. 3:5–6; Matt. 4:8–9). And in each case Satan altered God’s Word (Gen. 3:4; Matt. 4:6). Satan’s temptations of people today often fall into the same three categories (cf. 1 John 2:16). The One who had identified Himself with sinners by baptism and who would provide righteousness proved He is righteous, and revealed His approval by the Father. Satan then left Jesus. At that moment God sent angels to minister to His needs,” Barbieri concludes.

In which of the three areas of temptation do you find the most difficult to resist? Perhaps like many believers in Christ, you may struggle against all three. Pray that the Lord will bring to your mind Scripture by which you can resist the devil and his temptations (James 4:7).

Have a God honoring day today.

Soli deo Gloria!

⁵ “Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple ⁶ and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” ⁷ Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” (Matthew 4:5-7 ESV).  

Temptations began in Genesis 3:1-7. They are solicitations to disobey God; either in our thinking, speaking or behavior. Although God never tempts anyone (James 1:13), they are included in God’s plan for lives (I Cor. 10:13). Temptations occur from the fallen world system, our remaining sinful nature (the flesh), and the devil (Eph. 2:1-3).

Temptation’s core purpose is to not only disbelieve (Gen. 3:1-3), but also to deny what God has said (Gen. 3:4) resulting in disobedience. An individual does not sin when tempted. It is only when the individual gives in to the temptation that sin occurs (James 1:12-15).  

There are three areas of temptations. They are implicit not only in the Genesis account, but also Matthew 4 and Luke 4. The three areas of temptation are the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. They involve our physical drives, the desire for possessions and a sense of entitlement.

The Apostle John explicitly refers to them in I John 2:15-17 where he writes, ¹⁵ “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

The focus today is on the temptation of the pride of life. It is the evil solicitation to exalt oneself. “Hence, it is evident that the stratagems of the enemy were intended to induce Christ to exalt Himself unduly,” explains John Calvin.  

Today’s text also reveals that the devil also knows the Word of God. While he does not submit to it, he can, and does, use it for his intended purposes (Gen. 3:1-7). He did so in this context by quoting from Psalm 91:11-12. It stands to reason that if the devil knows Scripture, believers in Christ better know it as well.

However, the devil twisted Scripture in a way that was opposite to its original meaning. He used Psalm 91:11-12 as a proof text carefully avoiding the verses immediately preceding and following the quoted verses. False teachers do the same thing as do many immature believers.

“The second test by Satan appealed to personal display or popularity. This test built on the first, for if He is the Son of God and the Messiah, nothing could harm Him. Satan took Him to … the highest point of the temple. Whether this was actual or simply a vision cannot be determined dogmatically. Here Satan made a subtle suggestion to Jesus as the Messiah. In effect he was reminding Jesus of Malachi’s prophecy (Mal. 3:1), which had led to a common belief among the Jews that Messiah would suddenly appear in the sky, coming down to His temple. Satan was saying, in essence, “Why don’t You do what the people are expecting and make some marvelous display? After all, the Scripture says His angels will protect You and You won’t even hurt a foot as You come down,” explains commentator Louis A. Barbieri.

Psalm 91 stresses the importance of trusting God and not testing Him. That is why Jesus quoted from Deut. 6:16 and Isaiah 7:12. We are not to put God to the test.  

“Satan may have thought if Jesus could quote Scripture to him, he could quote it too. However, he purposely did not quote Psalm 91:11–12 accurately. He left out an important phrase, “in all Your ways.” According to the psalmist, a person is protected only when he is following the Lord’s will. For Jesus to cast Himself down from the pinnacle of the temple in some dramatic display to accommodate Himself to the people’s thinking would not have been God’s will. Jesus responded, again from Deuteronomy (6:16), that it would not be proper to test … God and expect Him to do something when one is out of His will,” states Barbieri.

The pride of life temptation is particularly strong for students, teachers, professional speakers, leaders and planners who think of themselves more highly than they should (Romans 12:3). Remember, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall,” (Proverbs 16:18 ESV).  If we are too confident in our own abilities, providential circumstances will show us that we are not as good as we think.

Today, ask Jesus to provide you the strength to resist the devil; knowing he will flee (James 4:7). Jesus has already provided us the example.

Soli deo Gloria!

³ “And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” ⁴ But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” (Matthew 4:3–4 (ESV)

Being fully confident of the Lord’s truth, however, Jesus never gave in to Satan’s lies,” Dr. Sproul concludes.

Temptations began in Genesis 3:1-7. They are solicitations to disobey God; either in our thinking, speaking or behavior. Although God never tempts anyone (James 1:13), they are included in God’s plan for lives (I Cor. 10:13). Temptations occur from the fallen world system, our remaining sinful nature (the flesh), and the devil (Eph. 2:1-3).

Temptation’s core purpose is to not only disbelieve (Gen. 3:1-3), but also to deny what God has said (Gen. 3:4) resulting in disobedience. An individual does not sin when tempted. It is only when the individual gives in to the temptation that sin occurs (James 1:12-15).  

There are three areas of temptations. They are implicit not only in the Genesis account, but also Matthew 4 and Luke 4. The three areas of temptation are the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. They involve our physical drives, the desire for possessions and a sense of entitlement.

The Apostle John explicitly refers to them in I John 2:15-17 where he writes, ¹⁵ “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

Today’s text highlights the temptation of the lust of the flesh. It is the lust of fulfilling the cravings caused by physical and bodily desires. Hunger, sex, and freedom from pain are all examples of this solicitation when fulfilling them violates God’s Word and will.

Hunger is not sinful but gluttony is ((Number 11:18-34; Psalm 78:26-31). . Heterosexual sex between a husband and his wife is not sinful, but any other type of sexual behavior is (I Thess. 4:1-8). Freedom from pain, whatever form it may be, can result in ingested or injected intoxicants to alleviate the pain resulting in a dulling of the senses but possible addiction (Prov. 20:1; I Cor. 6:12-13; 10:23-33; Eph. 5:18).

The devil tempted Jesus to turn stones into bread; in order to alleviate His hunger (Matt. 4:1-2). While this would not be a temptation for normal human beings, because we lack the power to turn stones into bread, it was a real temptation for Jesus. Being God (John 1:1-4), He could turn stones into bread.

The devil’s ploy was for Jesus to prove that He was the Son of God. However, in so doing He would be violating the will of God the Father. The ultimate purpose for Jesus’ temptations were to prove that He could not sin. To give into the devil’s request, would violate that purpose; resulting in sin. This Jesus could not, and would not do.

“The first test pertained to the matter of Sonship. Satan assumed that if He (Jesus) were the Son of God, perhaps He could be persuaded to act independently of the Father. Satan’s test was subtle for since Jesus is the Son of God, He has the power to turn the stones all around Him into bread. But that was not the will of His Father for Him. The Father’s will was for Him to be hungry in the desert with no food. To submit to Satan’s suggestion and satisfy His hunger would have been contrary to God’s will,” commentator Louis A. Barbieri, Jr. explains.  

How did Jesus respond to this temptation? He quoted Scripture appropriate to the particular temptation. The quoted text was Deuteronomy 8:3, which is contained in today’s text. While satisfying physical hunger is not necessarily sinful, it can be if satisfying one’s hunger violates God’s Word. The greater satisfaction is to fill one’s soul with the Word of God.

“Jesus therefore quoted Deuteronomy 8:3, which affirms that man does not live on bread alone, but by God’s Word. It is better to obey God’s Word than to satisfy human desires. The fact that Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy showed that He recognized the inerrant authority of that book, one often criticized by scholars,” Barbieri concludes.

“Temptation invites a man or woman to take something that is good, when for some reason the person tempted does not have the right to that good thing or cannot, at that moment, use it properly. When Jesus did not drink, He got thirsty. When He ate nothing for forty days, He grew hungry. He knew He could use His powers selfishly, to turn those stones to bread, but He refused. Both the temptation and the response fit the fabric of Jesus’ life, a real human life. As a man, Jesus was susceptible to temptation (Hebrews 4:14-16),” commentator Daniel M. Doriani states. As God, He would not, and could not, comply.

Today, ask Jesus to provide you the strength to resist the devil; knowing he will flee (James 4:7). Jesus has already provided us the example.

Soli deo Gloria!

“¹Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ² And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.” (Matthew 4:1–2 (ESV)

Temptations began in Genesis 3:1-7. They are solicitations to disobey God; either in our thinking, speaking or behavior. Although God never tempts anyone (James 1:13), they are included in God’s plan for lives (I Cor. 10:13). Temptations occur from the fallen world system, our remaining sinful nature (the flesh), and the devil (Eph. 2:1-3).

“If we overcome temptations, we are strengthened. If we succumb, we recognize more clearly our need for further sanctification,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.

Temptation’s core purpose is to not only disbelieve what God has said (Gen. 3:1-3), but also to deny what He has said (Gen. 3:4) resulting in disobedience. Temptations involve a lack of trust, commitment, dependence and worship of God when we give in to them. An individual does not sin when tempted. It is only when the individual gives in to the temptation that sin occurs (James 1:12-15).  

The temptation of Jesus parallels the testing of Israel in the wilderness. The forty days for Jesus corresponds to the forty years for Israel (Num. 14:34). Israel’s experience foreshadowed Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness following His baptism.

“At Jesus’ baptism, the Holy Spirit commissioned Him for ministry (Matt. 3:16–17). What was Christ’s first act? Matthew 4:1 gives us the answer: “Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” Of all the things that our Lord could have done after His baptism, He undertook a grueling temptation by Satan in the wilderness. Anyone who is the least bit familiar with the biblical storyline cannot help but think of Adam’s temptation in the garden when they read of our Lord’s encounter with the devil,” states Dr. Sproul.

There are three areas of temptations. They are implicit in not only the Genesis account, but also Matthew 4 and Luke 4. The Apostle John explicitly refers to them in I John 2:15-17 where he writes, ¹⁵ “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”

The three areas of temptation are the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. They involve our physical drives, the desire for possessions and a sense of entitlement.

“Jesus underwent a test that was similar to Adam’s, but it was actually far more difficult. Adam met Satan in paradise, where life was easy. Jesus met Satan in the desert wilderness where the environment was hardly friendly. Adam enjoyed the company of his wife, Eve. Jesus was alone. Adam was well fed from the trees of Eden. Jesus was fasting. In short, Adam failed even though he had everything going for him, but Jesus succeeded even though, humanly speaking, the odds were stacked against Him (Gen. 3; Matt. 4:1–11). Like Adam, Jesus was tempted to disbelieve God’s Word, to pit one part of it against another and to think that the Father was not telling Him the whole story. Being fully confident of the Lord’s truth, however, Jesus never gave in to Satan’s lies,” Dr. Sproul concludes.

In which of the three areas of temptation are you most susceptible? Pray that Lord would give you the strength to resist and not succumb.

Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

¹³ “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. ¹⁴ John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” ¹⁵ But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. ¹⁶ And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; ¹⁷ and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son,^[b] with whom I am well pleased.”(Matt. 3:13-17 ESV)

Matthew does not record for us the length of time between the narratives of Matt. 3:1-12 and today’s text. Eventually, Jesus came from Galilee in northern Israel and traveled south to the Jordan River Valley in order for John to baptize Him.

John was immediately reluctant to do so. He said, ““I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” John recognized that Jesus had no need for repentance. However, Jesus responded by saying, ““Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” What did Jesus mean by this statement?

“In order for all righteousness to be fulfilled, Jesus had to be identified with His people as the bearer of their sins (2 Cor. 5:21). Isaiah foretold that God’s righteousness servant would make ‘many to be accounted righteous’ as He was ‘numbered with the transgressors’ (Isaiah 53:11-12). Ultimately, John’s baptism points to Jesus, for only Jesus’ death on the cross, which He called a ‘baptism’ (Luke 12:50), can take away sins,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.  

It was at that moment that John consented and baptized Jesus. Matthew then stated, “And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; ¹⁷ and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son,^[b] with whom I am well pleased.”

The testimony from heaven, not only by the Holy Spirit but also God the Father confirmed Jesus Christ as the Messiah; the royal Son of God (Psalm 2:1-7; Ex. 4:22). Jesus was the Suffering Servant spoken of by Isaiah (Isaiah 42:1).

“God’s kingdom (His sovereign rule in salvation and judgment) is defined by His righteousness. Jesus teaches the perfect righteousness that God requires (Matt. 5:20, 48). He (Jesus) also secures God’s righteousness for sinners. His baptism points to His death as a ‘ransom for many’ (Matt. 20:28) and shows the perfect obedience in which he fulfills all righteousness (Jer. 23:5-6). Remission of sins and the gift of righteousness are received through faith in Jesus (Matt. 8:10; 23:23),” concludes Dr. Sproul.

Have you received the remission of your sins and the gift of righteousness by grace alone, through faith alone, in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone (John 1:12-13)? This is God’s gracious gift to sinners like you and me.

Soli deo Gloria!

¹¹ “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹² His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” (Matthew 3:11-12 ESV)

John’s baptism was a baptism for repentance. Repentance (μετάνοια; metanoia) means a change within the inner man. It is God wrought change in the soul of the individual. Repentance may mean four things in Scripture.

First, repentance can refer to forsaking wickedness. Second, repentance may be synonymous with conversion. Third, repentance can refer to a way of life for the believer in Christ. Finally, repentance can refer to a time when a believer in Christ, or even a church, returns to God after a period of time of cold or lifeless faith.

Today’s text not only mentions John’s baptism of repentance but also two others; a baptism with/or by the Holy Spirit and with fire. In this preaching, John directed the crowd’s attention away from himself and placed it upon the coming Messiah; Jesus Christ. John strongly expressed that he was unworthy to carry Jesus’ sandals.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit involved those who God converts by grace alone, through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone (I Cor. 12:13). The baptism of fire may well refer to the judgment of God upon unbelievers (Psalm 1:5-6).

The metaphor of the winnowing fork supports this concept of judgment, or separation. The winnowing fork was the tool farmers used for tossing grain so that the chaff was blown away (Matt. 13:24-30). Therefore, John was saying that the separation of the repentant from the unrepentant would begin with the advent of the Messiah.  

Believers in Christ are likened to wheat. Unbelievers are compared to the chaff that will be burned with fire. Chaff (ἄχυρον; achyron) is the dry, scaly protective casing of the seeds of cereal grains or similar fine, dry, scaly plant material. Chaff is indigestible by humans, but livestock can eat it. In agriculture it is used as livestock fodder, or is a waste material ploughed into the soil or burned.

I liken chaff to the residual dust in the air when farmers harvest their sow bean crops in northern Indiana. The beans are thrown into the truck containers but the chaff blows into the air.

The harvest has begun. Jesus is Lord of the harvest (Matt. 9:35-38).

Soli deo Gloria!

¹¹ “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹² His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” (Matthew 3:11-12 ESV)

John’s baptism was a baptism for repentance. Repentance (μετάνοια; metanoia) means a change within the inner man. It is God wrought change in the soul of the individual. Repentance may mean four things in Scripture.

First, repentance can refer to forsaking wickedness. However, turning from one’s sins does not necessarily mean you turn to God.

Second, repentance may be synonymous with conversion. This is the sense in Isaiah 55:7 when the prophet announces that the wicked is to forsake his way and his evil thoughts. When such a man turns (repents) to the LORD, He will have mercy on him.

Third, repentance can refer to a way of life for the believer in Christ. For all believers, there is a gradual recognition of not only sins past, but also sins present. “If repentance is a way of life, we search for and then forsake out sins one by one, as the Spirit gives us grace to recognize them,” explains commentator Dr. Daniel M. Doriani.

Finally, repentance can refer to a time when a believer in Christ, or even a church, returns to God after a period of time of cold or lifeless faith. This is the sense when the Apostle John encouraged the Church at Ephesus to “Repent and do the things you did at first” (Rev. 2:4-5).  

“The symbolism of John’s baptism likely had its roots in OT purification rituals (cf. Lev. 15:13). Baptism had also long been administered to Gentile proselytes coming into Judaism. The baptism of John thus powerfully and dramatically symbolized repentance. Jews accepting John’s baptism were admitting they had been as Gentiles and needed to become the people of God genuinely, inwardly (an amazing admission, given their hatred of Gentiles). The people were repenting in anticipation of the Messiah’s arrival. The meaning of John’s baptism differs somewhat from Christian baptism (cf. Acts 18:25). Actually, Christian baptism altered the significance of the ritual, symbolizing the believer’s identification with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection (Rom. 6:3–5; Col. 2:12),” explains Dr. John MacArthur.

“This passage calls us first to repent of our sins and to turn to God. It urges every man, woman, and child to be reconciled to God by repenting of sin and turning to Christ. The biblical message of repentance further summons every Christian to live a life of daily repentance. This applies both individually and corporately. Given the range and depth of our sins, penitence must be a way of life, for sin departs slowly,” explains Dr. Doriani.  

What sin do you need to repent of and to continually repent? Take the opportunity today to do so.

Soli deo Gloria!