Matthew - Suppressing the Truth

Today, we take a look at Matthew 3:1-12 and discover some interesting things about the ministry of John the Baptist and learn why the world really does not want to hear the truth, and will, for the most part, hate anyone who dares to tell it to them.

John the Baptist was first and foremost a preacher. His specific calling was to announce the Messiah. There are two people in the Bible who are considered the forerunners of Christ in the Bible: John the Baptist and Elijah. John the Baptist was the forerunner at his first coming (John 1:22-23). Elijah will be the forerunner at his second coming (Mal. 4:5-6). However, John could have been Elijah if they had received him (Matt 11:11-15). Because they did not, the Gentile Church was born (Acts 28:25-28).

John, a Preacher
John was a preacher and not a teacher. You need to understand the difference between the teacher and the preacher. The teacher teaches the Bible. The preacher preaches conformance to the Bible. The Levites were teachers while the Prophets were preachers in the Old Testament.

Modern Preachers

Unfortunately, when we look at John’s preaching, it is very different than the “so-called” preaching of today. Modern preachers are more like politicians. They say whatever the people want them to say (Jer 5:30-31, 23:16-17). Paul told Timothy in 2 Tim 4:3 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;”

John the Baptist, on the other hand, was a tough preacher. John spoke the truth plainly and without fear. As a result, he made a lot of enemies.Jesus this issue in Luk 6:22-23 Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man's sake.  23  Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets. Jesus said in Joh 7:7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.

Jesus also said in Joh 15:18-23 "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.  19  If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.  20  Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.  21  But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.  22  If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.  23  He who hates Me hates My Father also.

The same thing happened with Stephen in Acts 7:57 “Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,” Wicked men, do not want to hear the truth! Spoke spoke of this is Romans 1:18-23 how men knowingly "suppress" the truth. Folks we have always lived in a world that simply does not want to hear the truth.