In Advent, John the Baptist’s portrayal in Matthew is pivotal for understanding the transition from John's prophetic authority to Jesus. Matthew aims to address both insiders seeking control and outsiders needing hope. The prophetic message invites communal reorientation, emphasizing openness and transformation within the kingdom of heaven as it expands, challenging readers to avoid exclusivity.
Matthew 3:1-12 (2nd Sunday of Advent) – December 4th, 2022
As I mentioned last week, Matthew portrays Jesus as prophetic figure more than any other Gospel. True to other prophets in the scriptures, there is a handoff that occurs from one prophet to another: Moses to Joshua, Elijah to Elisha. Matthew’s use of this tactic is for the purpose of recognizing the transition of authority from John to Jesus but also to make it abundantly clear that, for Matthew, Jesus is playing the role of a prophet. And as prophet, Jesus will continue speaking the hard truths that we have just heard from John.
Micah Krey 