The baptism of Jesus was both an identification with sinners and also his coronation and commissioning as he began his ministry.
Just as John the Baptist was called to be a way-maker for Christ, we too are to be way-makers for Christ in this statement of the Great Commission.
John the Baptist preached a strong condemning message to the Pharisees and Sadducees, but, in the midst, there was a message of hope and salvation for all who would hear.
Jesus said that John the Baptist, as the herald for the King, was the greatest man to be born. Then he went on to say that the least of us in the kingdom are greater than John. What does that mean?
Matthew continues to verify that Jesus is truly the King and the Anointed One of God by picking four prophecies that Christ fulfilled at his birth and the reasons behind those particular prophesies.
Why did Matthew record the visit of the Magi? Who were they? Why’d they come? What was the star all about? God orchestrated it all so that the world would know that Jesus is King of kings.
After laying out the details of Jesus’ family tree from the human side in the beginning of the chapter, Matthew now points out that Jesus is the very Son of God using the virgin birth as proof of his divine origin.
Matthew presents irrefutable proof of Jesus’ legal right to be King, on his way to be King of kings and Lord of lords.
The Lord’s Prayer is Jesus's blueprint giving us direction for effective praying. The first half teaches us to submit to him in everything and the second half to depend on him for everything.
It’s easy to recite the Lord’s Prayer, but what happens when we ask that God’s will be done, yet our will gets in the way?