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A Special Messenger of the Lord

Text: Matthew 11 : 1 - 19

Jesus praised John for who he was. He must not be seen as a weakling just because he struggled with doubts. He must be honoured because he gave up a life of comfort and ease so that he could fulfill the high calling that God had given him.

John was also honoured because of the ministry he stepped into. Let us ponder over what that ministry really was.

“For this is he of whom it is written:
‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.'”
Matthew 11:10

The text that Jesus cited was taken from Malachi. Let us look at the text in its original setting and then study how Jesus applied it.

“‘Behold, I send My messenger,
And he will prepare the way before Me.
And the Lord, whom you seek,
Will suddenly come to His temple,
Even the Messenger of the covenant,
In whom you delight.
Behold, He is coming.’
Says the Lord of hosts.”
Malachi 3:1

1. The citing of Scripture

Whenever a text from Scripture is cited, we must note the following things.

a) Honouring of the sacred text

Jesus consistently honoured the sacred writ of the Hebrew Scriptures. Let us remember what He said about not destroying the Scriptures but to fulfilling it (Cf. Matthew 5:17).

b) Authority of the sacred text

Jesus cited the Scriptures as authoritative. He sought to ground what He taught in the Scriptures. The disciples must ever be encouraged to strengthen their trust in the authority of the Scriptures.

c) Challenge to search the Scriptures

Each time a text is cited, we must be challenged to read the original context of the portion of Scripture. This is a good discipline that all worthy disciples must be encouraged to develop. There are few things that bring more joy to the heart than to see a portion of Scripture correctly taught and applied. The joy is real and enriching when a prophetic text is understood as being fulfilled!

d) Enriched through a deeper study of the text

How enriched a disciple would be when he takes the time to ponder the text of the Word of God. Hence at every opportunity, Jesus would make reference to the sacred text of the Hebrew Scriptures and through that enrich the lives of the hearers.

2. The theme of the Malachi text

What was the theme of the text of Malachi. Let us consider the things that the prophet wrote.

a) God’s special messenger

Malachi’s theme was straightforward. He prophesied of a special messenger that God would send. His task was to prepare the way for God to appear to His people. This theme was one that Isaiah wrote on too. Isaiah was a prophet of a much earlier era. He too prophesied that God would send a special messenger. He would be a special “voice in the wilderness”. He would especially prepare the way for the Lord.

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make straight in the desert
A highway for our God…”
Isaiah 40:3

b) God’s Special Messenger of the Covenant

The main focus of Malachi must not be lost! The main concern of Malachi was to speak of the greater work of another Messenger. (The word “messenger” translates from the Hebrew word is also used to describe an angelic being).

i) John was a messenger of the Lord.

ii) He foreshadowed the greater ministry of another Messenger.

iii) That special Person was called “The Messenger of the Covenant”.

Who was that Person? Surely it must be clear to all! Jesus was that Special Messenger of the Covenant.

c) Special contribution of the Malachi text

A careful study of the text in Malachi would reveal some very important truths. (These details were not emphasized to the hearers, but they are nonetheless noteworthy).

i) The Messenger of the Covenant would be related to the LORD in a very special way.

ii) His authority would be like that of the LORD Himself!

THE MATTHEAN EMPHASIS

Though Matthew did not cite the whole text, he used it in such a way, that John obviously was the first messenger meant in the Malachi text. And of course if that was the case, then it follows that Jesus was the Messianic Messenger of the Covenant.

The praising of John the Baptiser was with reference to the special role he played. He was the forerunner, the messenger of The Messenger of the Covenant.