Gospel of Matthew - Week 3

Scripture Reading: Matthew 3

Understand the Passage

1. What significance does John the Baptist play in the Gospel story? Why do you think he is such a eccentric character?
   
2. What message did John the Baptist communicate? Who does he reserve his harshest words for in Chapter 3? Why?
3. What ideas would the images of the winnowing fork, gathering of wheat, burning of the chaff convey to someone of Jesus' day?
   
4. What do you think Jesus was baptized by John? Why was this important?

Application

1. What warnings would John the Baptist have for our generation? For us?
2. What do we rely on, apart from God, for our salvation?
3. What is the difference between God's discipline and God's judgment?
4. God's voice proclaimed he was "well pleased" with Jesus. What do you think pleases God?