Tag: Malachi 4:5-6
“My Beloved Son!”
Scripture reading for October 4: Matthew 1-4
We are finally in the New Testament! Four hundred years of silence have passed and God is speaking again! He is fulfilling a number of prophesies that He gave over the years concerning His Son. A virgin, named Mary, gives birth to a son. (Matthew 1:22-23) This virgin and her betrothed husband, Joseph, are descendants of King David and their genealogy is traced back to Abraham. (Matthew 1:1-16) This “Son” was born in Bethlehem, fulfilling what the prophet Micah had predicted nearly 700 years earlier. (Matthew 2:6)
Gentile wise men came to worship Him Who was born “King of the Jews.” In their search, they came to Judea and visited King Herod. Herod became jealous and ordered the destruction of all boys 2 years and younger. God had already intervened and warned Joseph and Mary to depart for Egypt. This fulfilled two other prophesies about Rachel weeping for her children and God calling His Son out of Egypt. (Matthew 2:15-18) When Joseph and Mary returned to Israel after Herod’s threat had passed, they settled in Nazareth. Jesus was called a “Nazarene” in fulfillment of prophetic word!
The Book of Malachi had ended with a promise from God that He would send Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord. (Malachi 4:5-6) Elijah’s message would seek to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers. Matthew records the ministry of John the Baptist preaching in the Desert of Judea and calling God’s people to repentance symbolized by water baptism. John was Jesus’ cousin and had a special call from God to prepare the way for His Son. Repentance is a basic requirement to prepare a heart to receive the truth. (Matthew 3:1-3)
John the Baptist spoke plainly to the religious leaders who came to ridicule him. He warned them that One was coming Who would not just baptize with water, but with the Holy Spirit and fire! (Matthew 3:7-11) When Jesus came to the Jordan River to be baptized by John, John tried to reverse the situation. Jesus insisted on His need to be baptized to fulfill “all righteousness.” (Matthew 3:15) The Holy Spirit descended on Him like a dove. The Father spoke: “This is My Beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased.” Father God, we thank You for sending Your Beloved Son and giving believers Your Holy Spirit!
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went out of the water. At that moment heaven opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is My Son, Whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17
Thankful for Prophetic Voices!
Scripture reading for October 12th: Malachi 3-4, Matthew 1-3:2
Key Scriptures: Malachi 4:5-6 “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.” Matthew 3:1-2 “In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
The Old Testament and the New Testament are separated by about 400 years as far as the writing of Malachi and the coming of Jesus Christ. Malachi’s last prophetic word was that the Lord would send Elijah back to warn the people before the coming of the day of judgment. Jesus Christ taught that John the Baptist, his cousin, was the fulfillment preparing the way for Christ. Prophetic voices prepare the way to help God’s people believe and receive the kingdom!
Thankful for Christ’s confirmation: “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matthew 11:12-15)