Q2. Offensive Baptism

[s8nfighter]

Q2. (Matthew 3:5-10; Luke 7:30) How would John

[Commissioned]

Matthew 3:5-10; Luke 7:30) How would John

[javier]

Q2. (Matthew 3:5-10; Luke 7:30) How would Johns baptism have offended a Jews national pride?

If John's water baptism was compared to proselyte baptism, then this would have gone against the grain of there core beliefs. A person born into a Jewish family was already called a child of Abraham. They reap all the Covenant blessings that God had promised to Abraham. And to be baptized in public was to say that they were not part of Abraham's family.

Who welcomed Johns baptism?

People from Jerusalem, Judea, and the whole region of Jordan came to John's baptism.I'm thinking that this was a mixture of Jews and Gentiles who were of lower to no class citizens and were considered out cast of Judiaism.

Who resisted it? Why?

The Pharisee's, the Sadducees, and the experts of the Law resisted the call to repentance. They resisted because they thought just because they were children of Abraham they were already righteous. But I'm thinking also that they didn't like the fact that some wild eyed man wearing something made out of camels hair and who survives on locust and wild honey was in no position to give them any roadmap to the Kingdom of Heaven. After all the religious leaders of that time were already the embodiment of the Law and they already knew the way to God and to Heaven.

[Clifford]

Q2. (Matthew 3:5-10; Luke 7:30) How would John

[Guest Windy]

Q2. (Matthew 3:5-10; Luke 7:30) How would John’s baptism have offended a Jew’s national pride? Who welcomed John’s baptism? Who resisted it? Why?

John was the first true prophet in 400 years. He blasted the religious leaders, told them that they were sinners and needed to repent and be baptized. This fascinated the common people. His words were powerful, he was like Elijah, and the people wanted to hear what John was saying. The Pharisees and the religious leaders, said they didn't have to worry, they were descendants of Abraham, so their salvation was secure. But John told them, they were legalistic, and used their positions for political grains. John told them, that they called themselves righteous, but live otherwise, and God's judgement would cut them down, like bad fruit trees. Only those who repented of their sins and turned back to God would be forgiven.

[Lory]

Q2. (Matthew 3:5-10; Luke 7:30) How would John’s baptism have offended a Jew’s national pride?

Shalom, Before I can comment on the Jew's national pride, I would need to know the background of those governing Spiritual/polictical control over the Jewish people, in particular the Pharisees and the Saduccess> (there was also the Romans, Herod, the Essenes that had their place in the arena.)

A.Who were the Pharisees? The Pharisees were very zealous for the Law of Moses, but they also considered themselves the guardians of the oral traditions that scholars developed over generations. The oral traditions interpreted the Law of Moses. The Pharisees had great zeal for God. The average Pharisee fasted two days a week and paid his tithes to the penny. Yet, their zeal for God did not lead them to God but away from God. They examined the Law to the smallest detail and yet their hearts where far from God's heart.

B.Who were the Saduccess?The Sadducees were of the wealthy ruling class in Jesus day. Many of them comprised the priesthood that controlled the temple in Jerusalem and the Jewish legal council called the Sanhedrin. They were in some ways more conservative than the Pharisees. They only recognized the Torah as the inspired word of God. They acknowledged neither the prophets nor the oral traditions that came after the first five books of the Bible. Consequently, they did not believe in the resurrection or any life after death. They were often at odds with the Pharisees over this matter.

Here is John, yelling in the desert, "repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand! Make ready the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." He's teaching repentance, that the Jews need to turn away from their sins and wash themselves clean through baptism for the coming Messaiah. This wwas highly offensive to the religious rulers.

He's preparing the people to receive the good news. He's telling the people, "sinners,you have to change and if you change you will be forgiven," making sure they have a sincere repentance. YOu can see that that message didn't sit well with the Pharisees and why their pride was offended, because they beleived they were all ready perfect. They followed the law to the smallest detail and didn't believe they needed to be saved. They showed their outside works by following the letter of the law, but were not living the truth of God that was suppose to be living in their hearts, to love God and to love one's neighbor. And as for the Saduccess, they didnt' believe in a coming Kingdom, they believed in the here and now, do good, live good, do the best you can, and that was all there was for them. YOu can see that the message of John's baptism was off line to what the religious rulers believed, "baptism for the forgiveness of sins?", was blasphemous. Was it the Pharisees that said to Jesus, "only God can forgive sins?" As we see later in the bible, Jesus was healing and ministering to those who came to Him who were sick and perishing in need of healing, "your sins are forgiven."

2. Who welcomed John's baptism?

Before I can asnwer who welcomed John's baptism, I need to have some background information; What was the the Jewish normal baptism compared to John's? The Jews had their ceremonial cleansings too, etc. John's baptism was an adaptation of the mikvah, or ritual immersion bath, that had been part of Jewish life for generations and symbolized a spiritual cleansing. It was used to consecrate a new beginning. Jewish men took a mikvah each Sabbath. Women took a mikvah after each monthly period. On Yom Kippur the High Priest took 7 mikvot (plural of mikvah) during the ceremonies. Some people are confused when they see Jesus coming for baptism with John, it was not for the remission of His sins, as Jesus was perfect, but was the mikvah to symbolized the spiritual cleansing for His ministry, then soon after,the Holy Spirit leads Jesus out into the desert to be tempted for 40 days and nights.

John incorporated mikvah to all the people in the surrounding regions, to be baptized as a symbol to show that they need to turn from their sins, change their minds (repent) about their need for a Savior and were taking a new direction regarding their salvation. No longer would they focus on keeping the Law but would look instead to the coming promised Redeemer/Mesaiah whose arrival John was announcing. Once Jesus's minsitry began, John's baptism of repentance was no longer needed, so it became a symbol of the believer's death and re-birth.

The people that welcomed John's baptism were, common folks, soldiers, Publicans, wealthy people, tax collectors, and gentiles who were converted to Judiaism, and etc.

3. Who resisted and why?The ones who resisted were the ones who thought they were all ready saved and didn't have need a saviour or no need to change their sinful life, etc. (Herod and his family, Pharisees, Saducees,gentiles, etc.) anyone who was proud of themselves and their sins, and on how good they were, etc. Why, because they love their sins more than coming into the light, so that Jesus can heal them.

God bless you everyone, shalom, Lory

[Seeking His Face]

Q2. (Matthew 3:5-10; Luke 7:30) How would John’s baptism have offended a Jew’s national pride? Who welcomed John’s baptism? Who resisted it? Why?

Because they were decendants of Abraham, plus it was done in public. Also it would look like they were the same as the Gentiles (heathens) when the converted to Judaism.

The Jewish people because John reminded them of Elijah. The Pharisees resisted, because they were from the line of Abraham. They thought they didn't need it.

[DrD]

Q2. (Matthew 3:5-10; Luke 7:30) How would John

[Guitar Jim]

The religious leaders who trusted in their meticulous obedience to the Law of Moses would have been offended by the very notion that they needed to repent. They considered themselves above the common herd. We need no further proof of that than the story of the Pharisee who prayed in the temple and thanked God that he, the pharisee was such a good person. "I thank you God that I'm not like that tax collector over there." The "sinners" like tax collectors and other people who were considered second class by the pious religious leaders were the ones who wholeheartedly accepted John's baptism. The only reason the Pharisees and teachers of the Law even came to John was so that they wouldn't be left out just in case John WAS a prophet. John saw right through that though.

As far as the question of offending national pride goes, John answered that in the verse about the religious leaders' pride in their being descended from Abraham. They seemed to have overlooked the part of God's promise that the Gentiles would also be blessed through God's covenant with Abraham.

Even today there are Christian denominations that place great emphasis on their man made rites. They place faith in God as almost secondary to the observance of man made rules and regulations. I attended the funeral last year of my mother's next door neighbor. He'd been a devout member of his denomination for many years. The priest told us all that Leo had accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and that really encouraged me to hear that a personal relationship with Jesus was being preached and practiced there.

[hanks]

Q2. (Matthew 3:5-10; Luke 7:30)

How would John's baptism have offended a Jew's national pride?

Who welcomed John's baptism?

Who resisted it?

Why?

Gentiles who converted to Judaism were baptised and were expected to forsake there old ways and agree to follow the teachings of Moses. However, when John began baptizing, the Jews were greatly offended. Instead of Gentiles being baptized, we now have Jews being baptized and told to forsake their old ways and follow the teachings of Jesus; no wonder this must have offended their national pride. Jesus welcomed John

[Barbara A. Lee]

The true Jew would be offended because they thought they had the protection of the Mosaic Law. They didn't think they were in the wrong. They did not recognize the need for a savior as their way to God. They were a prideful People. The people who did repent of their sins were everyday people like you ad I. They were the ones who recognized the fact that they were sinners and they needed to repent of their sins. The people who resisted were the Saduccees and Pharosees. They were the ones who were wanting to kill Jesus. When they hung Him on the cross they mocked Him and thought that He was just a normal person, when he didn't come down off the cross. Only when they went to the grave and f ound Him not there did they begin to worry.

[Old Jerry]

John

[Highohfaith]

The Jews were offended by the mere presence of John the Baptist, claiming he would baptize them with water and fire. Because he was a lowly man in the Jewish society, they rejected his baptism because of their pride. They were offended that he called them Vipers and told them they were workers of iniquities and were not worthy of baptism. They thought they were sinless and followed the law of Abraham and that is all they needed.They did not need this out cast of society, John the Baptist, to tell them they were VIPERS and needed to be saved.They did not believe Jesus was the Messiah.

Many of the poor of Judea, and lowly in statue, the gentiles, believed in Johns baptism..because of their lowly statue in society,they were amazed that the Lord of all mankind would love them and want to baptize them, forgive their sins and give them eternal life.

[Jen]

Q2. (Matthew 3:5-10; Luke 7:30) How would John

[nurselaino]

Q2. (Matthew 3:5-10; Luke 7:30) How would John

[Paul H]

Q2. (Matthew 3:5-10; Luke 7:30) How would John

[HeidiW]

Q2. (Matthew 3:5-10; Luke 7:30) How would John’s baptism have offended a Jew’s national pride? Who welcomed John’s baptism? Who resisted it? Why?

I think the offense would have been because the Jews were God's chosen people, with His law and His promises. I think St Paul said something about "There's is the law and the prophets" as in "God has been speaking to this earth through the Jewish people, and that is not nothing." The Jews figured, they have God's word, why should they be cleansed from ANYTHING.

who welcomed the baptism? The gospels say that many people were going to hear John preach, and being baptized by him. He had crowds there attending to his words, when the Lord Jesus came by and John said "Behold, the Lamb of God" ... I'm thinking, people who recognized their own need for repentance welcomed the baptism. Jesus was baptized in order to "fulfill all righteousness" not because He needed to repent, but because He needed to show the way.

who resisted it...the pharisees and sadducees. The scribes. Those most deeply involved with the Law and its interpretation and dissemination. Why did they resist baptism? They didn't think they needed to repent BECAUSE they had God's Word, right? They didn't consider themselves sinful.

[PATCH]

Q2. (Matthew 3:5-10; Luke 7:30) How would Johns baptism have offended a Jews national pride? Who welcomed Johns baptism? Who resisted it? Why?

John's baptism involved an act of repentance, purification and forgiveness of sins. This did not go well with the Jews who considered themselves deeply religious and extremely righteous. Since they were Abraham's children, they could not very well be sinners. To them, John's baptism was meant for the gentiles who were all sinners.

Those who welcomed John's baptism were those who were cut to the core by John's message of repentance and responded to the once and for all turning from the old way of life to the new. They humbled themselves by being baptized publicly like a non-Jew. These people have in the past taken many repeated ritual cleansings but have never experienced the cleansing that only John's baptism offered. Those who resisted were those who felt that since they were already leaders in the religious and political arenas - the Pharisees and the Sadducees. They were knowledgeable about the Law, there was no need for them to participate in something which was meant for those who were despised in society.

[peaceful gardener]

Q2. (Matthew 3:5-10; Luke 7:30) How would John

[kenny]

Q2. (Matthew 3:5-10; Luke 7:30) How would John

[WALT39]

Q2. (Matthew 3:5-10; Luke 7:30) How would John's baptism have offended a Jew's national pride? Who welcomed John's baptism? Who resisted it? Why?

Matthew 3:5-10 - 5People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

Luke 7:30: But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)

How would John's baptism have offended a Jew's national pride? Because non-Jews were being publicly baptized by John, the Jews did not want to have to lower themselves to the non-Jew status. This took great humility on the Jews part

Who welcomed John's baptism? All who came were baptism. In Matthew 3:5, 'People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan.

Who resisted it? Why? The Pharisees and experts in the law. As Pastor Ralph wrote in his commentary,"The Jewish leaders refused to admit they were sinners in this way."

[tom.nabors]

Q2. (Matthew 3:5-10; Luke 7:30) How would John

[smurf1948]

How would John's baptism have offended a Jew's national pride? To be pabtized like a gentile also they didn't sin. They considered themselfs righteous.

Who welcomed John's baptism? All of the people in the area

Who resisted it? The Pharisees and experts in the law

Why? They believed they were righteous not sinners.

[Drand03]

Q2. (Matthew 3:5-10; Luke 7:30) How would John

[Drand03]

How would John's baptism have offended a Jew's national pride? To be pabtized like a gentile also they didn't sin. They considered themselfs righteous.

Who welcomed John's baptism? All of the people in the area

Who resisted it? The Pharisees and experts in the law

Why? They believed they were righteous not sinners.

The word of God says a man is "right in his own eyes." Amazing how human nature sometimes cannot allow us to see the truth about ourselves!