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Izaja 40:3

 Glas viče: "Pripravite Jahvi put kroz pustinju. Poravnajte u stepi stazu Bogu našemu.

 

Malahija 3:1 Evo šaljem glasnika da put preda mnom pripravi. I doći će iznenada u Hram svoj Gospod koga vi tražite i anđeo Saveza koga žudite. Evo ga, dolazi već - govori Jahve nad Vojskama.

הִנְנִ֤י שֹׁלֵחַ֙ מַלְאָכִ֔י וּפִנָּה־דֶ֖רֶךְ לְפָנָ֑י וּפִתְאֹם֩ יָבֹ֨וא אֶל־הֵיכָלֹ֜ו הָאָדֹ֣ון ׀ אֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּ֣ם מְבַקְשִׁ֗ים וּמַלְאַ֨ךְ הַבְּרִ֜ית אֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּ֤ם חֲפֵצִים֙ הִנֵּה־בָ֔א אָמַ֖ר יְהוָ֥ה צְבָאֹֽות׃

Hini šoleah malahi, ufinah dereh lefanai, ufitom javov el heihalov haAdovn ašer atem mevakšim umalah haberit ašer atem hafesim hineh va, amar Jehovah sevaovt.

 

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Izaija 40:3 – Malahija 3:1 – Poslani glasnik i njegova poruka

Glas onoga koji viče, Pripremite [[hebrejski, oblik glagola transliteriran kao "panah", što znači "okrenuti" -- Strongov #6437] vas [množina] u pustinji putem [hebrejski, oblik riječi transliteriran kao "derek", figurativno za "moralni karakter"] [u ime, prema] Jahvi; načini izravnati [hebrejski, oblik riječi Yahshar, izravnati, zapravo, opravdati] u pustinji autoput za [ili, do] našeg Boga. — Izaija 40:3, svjetski engleski “Evo, ja šaljem svog glasnika, i on će pripremiti [hebrejski, oblik glagola transliteriran kao "panah", što znači "okrenuti" -- Strongov #6437] put* ispred [pred] mnom; i Gospodin, kojega tražite, iznenada će doći u svoj hram; a glasnik saveza, koga želite, evo dolazi!” govori Jahve nad vojskama. — Malahija 3:1, svjetski engleski Dva gornja proročanstva govore o Ivanu Krstitelju i njegovom djelu. Mnogi su, videći primjenu Ivana Krstitelja kao Isusovog preteče, mislili da ti stihovi nude dokaz da je Isus Jahve. Ova ideja je, međutim, djelomično posljedica pogrešnog tumačenja onoga što ti stihovi zapravo govore. Razmotrit ćemo stihove u Novom zavjetu koji gore navedena dva stiha primjenjuju na Ivana Krstitelja i njegovo djelo. U Malahiji 3 spominju se dva glasnika. Prvi je glasnik koji okreće put prema Jahvi, a zatim je tu i drugi glasnik, o kojem se govori kao o "glasniku saveza". Hebrejski preveden kao "glasnik" u oba slučaja je malak, anđeo. Ni jedno od njih nije iz reda duhovnih bića koja se obično nazivaju "anđeli", ali su oboje glasnici Jahve. Hebrejska riječ prevedena "put" [Strong's #1870] oblik je riječi koja se često transliterira kao derek, što znači: put, cesta, daljina, putovanje, način put, put, staza putovanje smjer način, navika, način naravno života (sl.) moralnog karaktera (sl.) http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/nas/derek.html Jahve je, preko proroka Malahije, prorekao da je posao koji je dodijeljen Ivanu Krstitelju bio okrenuti moralni karakter naroda pred licem Jahve. To je učinio Ivan Krstitelj propovijedajući izraelskom narodu poruku pokajanja prema Jahvi, Bogu Abrahama, Izaka i Jakova, Bogu koji je poslao i podigao Isusa kao svog proroka, Bogu i Ocu Isusovom. (Izlazak 3:14,15; Ponovljeni zakon 18:15-20; Izaija 61:1; Marko 1:4; Djela 3:13-26; 13:24; 19:4; Efežanima 1:3) Iako se Ivanovo propovijedanje pokajanja temeljilo na žrtvi (Rimljanima 3:25; 5:12-19; 8:3; On Brews 9:28; 10:10; 1. Petrova 3:18) onoga koji je dolazio nakon njega, Ivan nije propovijedao da se ljudi trebaju obratiti Isusu, nego je propovijedao, kao i učenici, "pokajanje Bogu i vjeru u Gospodina našega Isusa Krista". (Djela 20:21) Priprema, ili okretanje, puta pred licem Jahvinim, zapravo je bilo prema Isusovom Bogu, a ne prema samom Isusu. Gospodin (adon) kojeg je Izrael tražio bio je Mesija, koji je iznenada došao u svoj hram. Došao je neočekivano da iskuša i dokaže Izrael kao narod, i kao takav je došao u jeruzalemski hram, ali konkretnije, Isus je došao u svoj hram, svoju crkvu, koju mu je darovao njegov Bog. — Efežanima 2:20-22; Ivan 6:37,39; 10:29. U Izaiji 40,3 nalazimo da je Ivan prorečen kao glas u pustinji. Ivan ne prikazuje samog sebe kako priprema put, kao što su mnogi pogrešno pretpostavili; on je taj koji objavljuje ljudima da pripreme put; to je učinio svojim propovijedanjem narodu pokajanja prema Jahvi, po kojem je, po vjeri, put naroda bio ispravan, opravdan, pred Jahvom. Matej 3,1-3 U one dane dođe Ivan Krstitelj propovijedajući u judejskoj pustinji govoreći: Obratite se jer se približilo kraljevstvo nebesko! Za to je onaj o kojem je Izaiah govorio prorok, rekavši: "Glas jednog plača u pustinji, pripremite se [oblik grčkog, transliteriranog, hetoimazosa (Stronga's #2090), koji odgovara hebrejskom Strongu #6457, da se promijeni, izravno u životu. — Sveto ime dostavljeno.

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Matej 3:3 houtos gar estin ho rheetheis dia eesaiou tou JER OVO JE (JEDNO) O ČEMU GOVORI KROZ ISAIAH THE 3778 1063 1510_2 3588 2064_5 1223 2268 3588 propheetou legontos phwnee bowntos en tee PROROK GOVORI GLAS VAPIJUĆEG U 4396 3004 5456 0994 1722 3588 ereemw hetoimasate teen hodon kuriou eutheias PUSTINJA NEKA TE PRIPRAVI PUT GOSPODNJI, RAVAN 2048 2090 3588 3598 2962 2117 poieite tas tribous autou KRITI MU CESTE. 4160 3588 5147 0846_3 Kao i većina citata iz Starog zavjeta u Novom zavjetu, ovo nije izravan citat iz Izaije 40:3, već neizravan citat. Fraza "u pustinji" uklonjena je iz zapovijedi ljudima i primijenjena izravno na "onog" koji prenosi poruku ljudima. Ovdje treba biti jasno da je onaj koji plače u pustinji Ivan Krstitelj. On, zapravo, govori ljudima: “Pripravite put Jahvi, poravnite njegove staze [doslovnije, njegove staze”]. Metoda kojom Ivan Krstitelj govori ljudima ovu poruku je njegova propovijed ljudima: "Obratite se, jer se približilo Kraljevstvo nebesko!" (Matej 3:1-3; vidi također Djela 20:21, koja pokazuju da je pokajanje usmjereno prema Bogu.) Drugim riječima, ‘Kraljevsko veličanstvo s neba je na dohvat ruke!’ Niti Jahvine staze, niti Isusove staze, nije trebalo ispravljati, budući da su obje bez grijeha. Trebalo je ispraviti staze grešnog naroda, naroda Izraela, koji pripada Jahvi, a time i metodu u koje narod priprema [okreće] putove [figurativno moralnog karaktera] Jahve, i popravlja njegove putove je pokajanjem prema Jahvi, ispravljanjem, pravednošću, vjerom, u pripremi za onoga koji dolazi u ime Jahvino, onoga koji je govorio za Jahve, onoga koga je Jahve postavio za Kralja. — Ponovljeni zakon 18:15-19; Psalam 2:2,6; 45:6,7 ; 110:1,2; Izaija 9:6,7; 61:1; Danijel 7:13,14; Matej 21:9; 23:39; 28:18; Luka 24:19; Ivan 4:25; 5:43; 8:28; 10:25; 12:49,50; Djela 2:34-36; 3:17 -26; 5:30,31; Efežanima 1:22; Filipljanima 2:9-11; Hebrejima 1:2,9; 3:1,2. Neki se često pozivaju na stih u Izaiji 40:3 kao da je poruka da se pripremi put zapravo upućena Ivanu Krstitelju, a ne da su to riječi upućene ljudima. Stoga bi neki pročitali proročanstvo kao obraćanje Ivanu Krstitelju da pripremi put Jahvi, za kojeg tvrde da je Isus. Kao rezultat toga, krivo su protumačili proročanstvo koje kaže da je sam Ivan Krstitelj trebao pripremiti put za Isusa, a zatim su tvrdili da ono što su pogrešno protumačili znači da je Isus Jehova. U stvarnosti, u Izaiji, glasnik [Ivan] upućuje poruku narodu Izraela. (Izaija 40:3, Malahija 3:1 — vidi također Postanak 18:19; Izreke 10:29; Jeremija 5:4,5) Zapovijed dana da se pripremi put nije jednoj osobi, kao Ivanu Krstitelju, već je hebrejski u množini, a ne u jednini. Stoga je u Mateju 3, “onaj” prije prorečeni Ivan Krstitelj, koji je onaj u pustinji koji objavljuje poruku ljudima: “Pripravite put pred Jahvom”, što je bila poruka narodu o pokajanju prema Jahvi.

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Naravno, Isus je predstavnik Jahve, a Ivan je došao prije Isusa, i propovijedajući pokajanje prema Jahvi, pripremio je narod da primi Isusa, ne kao Jahvu Svemogućeg, već Pomazanika Jahve Svemogućeg, onoga koga je Jahve. poslan da govori njegove riječi u njegovo ime. Isus nije došao u svoje ime; Isus je došao u ime drugoga koji nije on sam, odnosno došao je u ime svoga Boga, čije je ime Jahve (Jehova). — Ponovljeni zakon 18:15-20; Psalam 118:26; Izaija 61:1; Luka 1:32; 13:35; Ivan 3,16.17; 5:43; 17:1,3; Djela 3:13-26; Hebrejima 1:1,2. Dakle, sekundarni način gledanja na riječi Mateja 1:1-3 je da govoreći ljudima da pripreme put Jahvi putem pokajanja prema Jahvi, priprema se put i za Isusa, predstavnika Jahve. Moglo bi se reći da je Ivan, praveći tako reći put Isusu, pripremao put i onome koji je Isusa poslao. Mesiju je poslao Jahve kao predstavnika Jahve. Oni koji su ga primili primili su i Jahvu, kao što tko god primi istinskog Kristovog učenika, prima i Krista. — Matej 21:9; 23:39; Marko 9:37; Luka 2:26; 9:20,48; Ivan 3,17; 4:34; 5:24,30,36-38;6:29,38-44,57; 7:16,18,28,29,33; 8:16,26,29,42; 9:4; 10:36; 11:42; 12:44-49; 13:20; 17:1,3; Hebrejima 1:9. Bez obzira na to, u stihove bi se moralo pročitati da je Matej htio reći da je Isus Jahve, što bi značilo da je Isus doista došao u svoje ime, te da je Ivan sigurno pogriješio kada je zapisao Isusove riječi iz Ivana 5:43. Netko bi morao zamisliti čak i više, tako da sve što je napisano u ovim stihovima označava bilo što o trojedinom Bogu, koji se "Bog" niti jednom ne spominje u Bibliji. Matej 11:9,10 Ali zašto si izašao? Vidjeti proroka? Da, kažem vam, i mnogo više od proroka. Jer ovo je onaj za koga je pisano: ‘Evo, šaljem svoga glasnika pred licem tvojim, koji će pripraviti put tvoj pred [pred tobom].’ Matej 11:10 houtos estin peri hou gegraptai idou egw OVO (JEDAN) JE O KOME JE PISANO POGLEDAJTE! ja 3778 1510_2 4012 3739 1125 2400 1473 apostellw ton aggelon mou pro proswpou sou ŠALJEM GLASNIKA SVOGA PRED LICEM SVIM, 0649 3588 0032 1473_2 4253 4383 4771_1 hos kataskeuasei teen hodon sou emprosthen sou KOJI ĆE TI PRIPRAVITI PUT PRED TOBOM. 3739 2680 3588 3598 4771_1 1715 4771_1

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Isus neizravno citira Malahiju 3:1 i preformulira proročanstvo. Isus govori mnoštvu Židova o Ivanu Krstitelju, da je Ivan bio više od običnog proroka. [Rasprava o ovim stihovima se ažurira, i ako Bog da, uskoro će biti dostupna] Marko 1,2-5 Kao što je zapisano u prorocima: "Evo, ja šaljem svoga glasnika pred licem tvojim, koji će pripraviti put tvoj pred tobom. 3 Glas viče u pustinji: ‘Pripravite put Jahvi! Poravnajte mu staze!'” 4 Ivan je došao krsteći u pustinji i propovijedajući krštenje obraćenja za oproštenje grijeha. 5 Izlazila je k njemu sva judejska zemlja i svi Jeruzalemci. On ih je krstio u rijeci Jordanu, ispovijedajući svoje grijehe. — Božansko ime dostavljeno. Ovdje se spominju oba proročanstva. Opet, očito je da Marko neizravno citira i preformulira proročanstva. Malahija 3:1 citira se slično kao što je citiran u Mateju 11:9,10, što vidi gore. Isus je predstavnik Jahve, glasnik Saveza, i također ga je Jahve poslao. On nije Jahve koji ga je poslao. Izaija 40:3 se ispunjavao kroz pokajanje, ili preobrazbu, ljudi. Drugi stih to pokazuje, tako što glasnik upućuje poruku izraelskom narodu koji se trebao pokajati pred Jahvom. I time su ljudi, kroz svoje pokajanje prema Bogu, pripremili put Jahvi čineći sebe pripremljenim narodom prije nego što im je njihov Mesija (pomazanik Jahvin) obznanjen. — Djela 20:21. Imajte na umu da nije samo Ivan glasnik ljudima, nego što je još važnije, ljudi koji pripremaju put Jahvi svojim pokajanjem. Ivanova misija bila je prije svega misija ukoritelja i reformatora, govoreći ljudima da pripreme put Jahvi kroz pokajanje prema Jahvi simbolizirano krštenjem u vodi. Vidi Matej 3:1-3 i Matej 11:9,10 gore. Luka 1,1-4 Petnaeste godine vladavine Tiberija Cezara, Poncije Pilat upravitelj Judeje, Herod tetrarh Galileje, njegov brat Filip tetrarh regije Itureje i Trahonitide, a Lizanije tetrarh Abilene, u visokom svećeništvu Ane i Kajfe, dođe riječ Božja Ivanu, sinu Zaharijinu, u pustinji. Došao je u sve krajeve oko Jordana propovijedajući krštenje obraćenja za oproštenje grijeha. Kao što je zapisano u knjizi riječi proroka Izaije: “Glas vapijućeg u pustinji: ‘Pripravite put Jahvi! Poravnajte mu staze.” Ovo je također još jedan neizravni citat iz Izaije 40:3. Vidi Matej 3:1-3 gore.

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Luka 1,15-17 Jer on će biti velik u očima Jahvinim i neće piti vina ni žestoka pića. Bit će ispunjen Duhom Svetim, još od utrobe svoje majke. On će obratiti mnoge sinove Izraelove Jahvi, njihovu Bogu. Ići će pred licem njegovim u duhu i sili Ilijinoj, ‘da obrati srca očeva k djeci,’ i neposlušne k mudrosti pravednika; da pripravi narod pripravan za Jahvu.” Ovdje se za Ivana kaže da priprema narod za Jahvu. To je učinio svojim propovijedanjem pokajanja prema Jahvi. Vidi Matej 3:1-3 gore. Luka 1:76,77 A ti, dijete, bit ćeš nazvan prorokom Svevišnjega, jer ćeš ići pred Jahvinim licem da pripremiš [hebrejski u Malahiji 4:1 je oblik glagola transliteriran kao Panah, što znači okrenuti] njegove putove, da daš spoznaju o spasenju njegovom narodu oproštenjem njihovih grijeha. Često se tvrdi da se Isus ovdje naziva Jahve (Jehova). Zapravo, Isusov Bog je taj koji se ovdje govori kao Jahve, a ne Isus. Ivan je propovijedao izraelskom narodu pokajanje pred Bogom, i na taj je način Ivan pripremao, ili obraćao narod, na Jahvine puteve. Vidi Mateja 3:1-3 gore. Luka 7:26,27 Ali što ste izašli vidjeti? Prorok? Da, kažem vam, i mnogo više od proroka. Ovo je onaj za koga je pisano: ‘Evo, šaljem svoga glasnika pred licem tvojim, koji će ti pripraviti put pred tobom.’ Vidi Matej 3:1-3 i Matej 11:9,10 gore. Ivan 1:23 On [Ivan Krstitelj] je rekao: “Ja sam glas onoga koji viče u pustinji: ‘Poravnite put Jahvin’, kao što reče prorok Izaija.” Ovdje vrijedi isto kao i za stihove o kojima smo već raspravljali. Gore navedeno ispitivanje pokazuje da ni u jednom od ovih stihova nema ničega što bi nas trebalo navesti da vjerujemo da je Isus Jahve. Neki povezani tekstovi – Ne slažemo se nužno sa svim zaključcima ovih autora. -----------------------------------------------------

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Priprema Puta Ključni stih: “Ovo je onaj za koga je pisano: Evo, šaljem svoga glasnika pred licem tvojim, koji će pripraviti put tvoj pred tobom.” —Matej 11:10 Odabrani stihovi iz Svetog pisma: Matej 3:1-11; 11:7-10 U KLJUČNOJ SVETOPISEMSKOJ referenci za ovu lekciju Isus citira odlomak iz Starog zavjeta koji se odnosi na Ivana Krstitelja, koji kaže: "Poslat ću svog glasnika, i on će pripraviti put preda mnom; i Gospodin, koga tražite, iznenada će doći u svoj hram, i to glasnik saveza, koji vam je mio: evo, doći će, govori Gospodin nad vojskama." - Mal. 3:1 Ivan je bio Božji glasnik izabran da pripremi put “Jaganjcu Božjem koji odnosi grijeh svijeta”. (Ivan 1:29) Isus, kao što je prorečeno, neće biti samo Spasitelj svijeta, nego će također biti 'glasnik saveza'. Savez je bio onaj koji je dan Abrahamu, koji predviđa sjeme blagoslova koje će blagosloviti sve obitelji na zemlji. (Post 22:15-18) Ovo obećanje će se ispuniti tijekom budućeg tisućgodišnjeg Kristova kraljevstva. Sjeme blagoslova je naš Gospodin Isus, a uključuje i njegove vjerne sljedbenike. Pavao objašnjava: “Ako ste Kristovi, onda ste Abrahamovo potomstvo i baštinici po obećanju.” (Gal. 3:29 Naš Gospodin Isus, kada je govorio mnoštvu, proglasio je Ivana "više od proroka". (Matej 11:9) Nadalje, u vezi sa svojim pretečom, rekao je: “Zaista, kažem vam, među onima koji su rođeni od žena nije ustao veći od Ivana Krstitelja: iako je najmanji u kraljevstvu nebeskom veći od njega.” (Mat. 11:11 Ivan je bio posebno pripremljen kao Božji sluga, njegova misija i poziv bili su božanski vođeni. Također je bio šest mjeseci stariji od Isusa, dostigao je dob zrelosti i započeo svoje djelo predstavljanja našeg Gospodina narodu Izraela, pola godine prije nego što je Isus započeo svoju službu. Izraelci su iščekivali dolazak Mesije, a Ivanova poruka privukla je veliku pozornost. „I dok je narod bio u stanju iščekivanja i svi su se u svojim srcima pitali o Ivanu, je li on Krist, Ivan odgovori i reče svima: Što se mene tiče, ja vas krstim vodom; ali dolazi Onaj koji je jači od mene, a ja nisam sposoban odriješiti remen na sandalama Njegovim; On će vas krstiti Duhom Svetim i ognjem.” (Luka 3:15,16, Nova američka standardna verzija Ivan je bio moćna figura u svojoj objavi Božjeg kraljevstva i u svom propovijedanju pokajanja djeci Izraelovoj. “Ovo je onaj o kome je govorio prorok Izaija [Izaija], govoreći: Glas vapijućeg u pustinji: Pripravite put Gospodinu, poravnite mu staze.” (Mt. 3:3) Matej je citirao Izaijine riječi, kako su zapisane u Izaiji 40:3. Bog je izabrao snažan karakter da bude preteča našeg Gospodina i Učitelja. Njegova iskustva u pustinji očvrsnula su ga da živi odvojeno od raznih sekti i stranaka među djecom Izraelovom. Čak i tijekom službe našega Gospodina mnogi su primili Isusa, koji je prvi prihvatio učenja Ivana Krstitelja i pokajanja, te ih je Ivan krstio. Ovi, međutim, nisu bili kršteni Duhom Svetim. To je bila veća služba Učitelja. Ivan je, međutim, vjerno izvršio Božju namjeru u njemu da bude preteča Gospodina Slave, najvećeg života koji je ikada proživljen. ​

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Isaiah 40:3 – Malachi 3:1 – The Sent Messenger and His Message

 

The voice of one who cries, Prepare [[Hebrew, a form of the verb transliterated as "panah", meaning "to turn" -- Strong's #6437] you [plural] in the wilderness the way [Hebrew, a form of the word transliterated as "derek", figurative of "moral character"] of [on behalf of, toward] Yahweh; make level [Hebrew, a form of the word Yahshar, make straight, in effect, justify] in the desert a highway for [or, to] our God. — Isaiah 40:3, World English

“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare [Hebrew, a form of the verb transliterated as "panah", meaning "to turn" -- Strong's #6437] the way* before [in the face of] me; and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, behold, he comes!” says Yahweh of hosts. — Malachi 3:1, World English

The two prophecies above speak of John the Baptist and his work. Many, in seeing the application of John the Baptist as being the forerunner of Jesus, have thought that these scriptures offer proof that Jesus is Yahweh. This idea, however, is due, in part, to a misreading of what these scriptures are actually saying. We will consider the scriptures in the NT that apply the above two scriptures to John the Baptist and his work.

In Malachi 3, two messengers are referred to. The first is the messenger who turns the way toward Yahweh, and then there is the other messenger, spoken of as the “messenger of the covenant. The Hebrew translated “messenger” in both instances is malak, angel. Neither of these are of the order of spirit beings that are normally referred to as “angels”, but both are messengers for Yahweh. The Hebrew word translated “way” [Strong's #1870] is a form of the word often transliterated a derek, meaning:

way, road, distance, journey, manner
road, way, path
journey
direction
manner, habit, way
of course of life (fig.)
of moral character (fig.)

http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/nas/derek.html

Yahweh, through the prophet Malachi, was foretelling that the work that was being assigned to John the Baptist was to turn the moral character of the people before the face of Yahweh. This John the Baptizer did by preaching to the people of Israel the message of repentance toward Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God who sent and raised Jesus up as his prophet, the God and Father of Jesus. (Exodus 3:14,15; Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Isaiah 61:1; Mark 1:4; Acts 3:13-26; 13:24; 19:4; Ephesians 1:3) Although John’s preaching of repentance was based on the sacrifice (Romans 3:25; 5:12-19; 8:3; Hebrews 9:28; 10:10; 1 Peter 3:18) of the one who was coming after him, John was not preaching that the people should repent toward Jesus, but he was preaching, as did the disciples, “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 20:21) The preparing, or turning, of the way before the face of Yahweh, was actually toward the God of Jesus, not toward Jesus himself.

The Lord (adon) whom Israel was seeking was the Messiah, who came suddenly to his temple. He came unexpectedly to test and prove Israel as a people, and as such he came to the temple in Jerusalem, but more specifically, Jesus came to his temple, his church, which has been given to him by his God. — Ephesians 2:20-22; John 6:37,39; 10:29.

In Isaiah 40:3, we find that John is being foretold as the voice in the wilderness. John is not depicting, himself, as preparing the way, as many have falsely assumed; he is the one declaring to the people to prepare the way; this he did by his preaching to the people repentance toward Yahweh, by which, through faith, the way of the people were being made straight,  justified, before Yahweh.

Matthew 3:1-3

In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ready [form of Greek, transliterated, Hetoimazos (Strong's #2090), corresponding with Hebrew Strong's #6457, to turn, as to change one's course in life, repent] the way [Greek course of conduct] of [before] Yahweh, Make his paths straight.” — Holy Name supplied.

 

Matthew 3:3
houtos gar estin ho rheetheis dia eesaiou tou
THIS FOR IS THE (ONE) SPOKEN OF THROUGH ISAIAH THE
3778 1063 1510_2 3588 2064_5 1223 2268 3588
propheetou legontos phwnee bowntos en tee
PROPHET SAYING VOICE OF ONE CRYING OUT IN THE
4396 3004 5456 0994 1722 3588
ereemw hetoimasate teen hodon kuriou eutheias
WILDERNESS MAKE YOU READY THE WAY OF LORD, STRAIGHT
2048 2090 3588 3598 2962 2117
poieite tas tribous autou
BE MAKING THE ROADS OF HIM.
4160 3588 5147 0846_3

 

Like most quotations of the Old Testament in the New Testament, this is not a direct quote of Isaiah 40:3, but an indirect quote. The phrase “in the wilderness” is removed from the command to the people and applied directly to the “one” who is delivering the message to the people .

It should be clear here that the one crying in the wilderness is John the Baptizer. He, in effect, tells the people: “Make ready the way of Yahweh, Make his paths [more literally, paths of him"] straight.” The method by which John the Baptist tells the people this message is by his preaching to the people: “Repent, for the Kingdom of the Heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3:1-3; see also Acts 20:21, which shows that repentance is toward God.) In other words, ‘The Royal Majesty from heaven is at hand!’ Neither Yahweh’s paths, nor Jesus’ paths, needed to be make straight, since both are without sin. It is the paths of the sinful people, the people of Israel, who belong to Yahweh, that needed to be made straight, and, thus, the method in which the people make ready [turned] the ways [figurative of moral character] of Yahweh, and make his ways straight is through repentance toward Yahweh, being made straight, just, through faith, in preparation for the one coming in Yahweh’s name, the one who spoke for Yahweh, the one appointed as King by Yahweh. — Deuteronomy 18:15-19; Psalm 2:2,6; 45:6,7; 110:1,2;Isaiah 9:6,7; 61:1; Daniel 7:13,14; Matthew 21:9; 23:39; 28:18; Luke 24:19;John 4:25; 5:43; 8:28; 10:25; 12:49,50; Acts 2:34-36; 3:17-26; 5:30,31;Ephesians 1:22; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:2,9; 3:1,2.

Some often refer to the verse in Isaiah 40:3 as though the message to prepare the way was actually addressed to John the Baptist, rather than being the words addressed to the people. Thus, some would read the prophecy as an address to John the Baptist to prepare the way of Yahweh, who they claim to be Jesus. As a result that misread the prophecy as saying that John the Baptist, himself, was to prepared the way for Jesus, and then claim that that what they have misread means that Jesus is Jehovah. In reality, in Isaiah, the messenger [John] directs the message to the people of Israel. (Isaiah 40:3, Malachi 3:1 — see also Genesis 18:19; Proverbs 10:29; Jeremiah 5:4,5) The command given to prepare the way is not to one person, as John the Baptist, but the Hebrew is in the plural, not singular. Thus in Matthew 3, the “one” before foretold is John the Baptist, who is the one in the wilderness who declares a message to the people: “Prepare the way before Yahweh”, which was a message to the people of repentance toward Yahweh.

Of course, Jesus is the representative of Yahweh, and John did come before Jesus, and did, by means of preaching repentance toward Yahweh, prepare the people to receive Jesus, not as Yahweh the Almighty, but the Anointed One of Yahweh the Almighty, the one whom Yahweh. sent to speak his words in his name. Jesus did not come in his own name; Jesus came in the name of another who is not himself, that is, he came in the name of his God, whose name is Yahweh (Jehovah). — Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Psalm 118:26;Isaiah 61:1; Luke 1:32; 13:35; John 3:16,17; 5:43; 17:1,3; Acts 3:13-26; Hebrews 1:1,2.

Thus, a secondary way of viewing the words of Matthew 1:1-3 is that by telling the people to prepare the way of Yahweh by means of repentance toward Yahweh, a way was also being prepared for Jesus, the representative of Yahweh. It could be said that John, in making the way, so to speak, for Jesus, was also preparing the way for the one who sent Jesus. The Messiah was sent by Yahweh as the representative of Yahweh. Those who received him received Yahweh also, just as any who receives a true disciple of Christ, also receives Christ. — Matthew 21:9; 23:39; Mark 9:37; Luke 2:26; 9:20,48; John 3:17; 4:34; 5:24,30,36-38;6:29,38-44,57; 7:16,18,28,29,33; 8:16,26,29,42; 9:4; 10:36; 11:42; 12:44-49;13:20; 17:1,3; Hebrews 1:9.

Regardless, one would have to read into the verses that Matthew meant to say Jesus is Yahweh, which would mean that Jesus did indeed come in his own name, and that John must have erred in recording Jesus’ words of John 5:43. One would have to imagine even more so that anything written in these verses denotes anything about a triune God, which “God” is not once ever mentioned in the Bible.

Matthew 11:9,10

But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before [in the sight of] you.’

 

Matthew 11:10
houtos estin peri hou gegraptai idou egw
THIS (ONE) IS ABOUT WHOM IT HAS BEEN WRITTEN LOOK! I
3778 1510_2 4012 3739 1125 2400 1473
apostellw ton aggelon mou pro proswpou sou
AM SENDING OFF THE MESSENGER OF ME BEFORE FACE OF YOU,
0649 3588 0032 1473_2 4253 4383 4771_1
hos kataskeuasei teen hodon sou emprosthen sou
WHO WILL PREPARE THE WAY OF YOU IN FRONT OF YOU.
3739 2680 3588 3598 4771_1 1715 4771_1

 

Jesus quotes indirectly from Malachi 3:1, and rewords the prophecy. Jesus is speaking to the multitudes of Jews concerning John the Baptist, that John was more than just an ordinary prophet. [Discussion on these verses is being updated, and God willing, will soon be available]

 

Mark 1:2-5

As it is written in the prophets, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, Who will prepare your way before you. 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of Yahweh! Make his paths straight!'” 4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins. 5 There went out to him all the country of Judea, and all those of Jerusalem. They were baptized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins. — Divine name supplied.

Both prophecies are referred to here. Again, it is evident that Mark is making an indirect quotation and rewords the prophecies. Malachi 3:1 is quoted similarly to the same way is quoted in Matthew 11:9,10, which see above. Jesus is the representative of Yahweh, the messenger of the covenant, and also was sent by Yahweh. He is not Yahweh who sent him.

It was the through the repentance, or the transmentation, of the people thatIsaiah 40:3 was being fulfilled. Verse two shows this, in that the messenger directs the message to the people of Israel, who needed to repent before Yahweh. And thereby the people, through their repentance toward God, did prepare the way of Yahweh by making themselves a prepared people before their Messiah (anointed of Yah) was made known to them. — Acts 20:21.

Please note that it is not only John, who is the messenger to the people, but more importantly the people who prepare the way of Yahweh by means of their repentance. John’s mission was pre-eminently that of a reprover and reformer, telling the people to prepare the way of Yahweh through repentance toward Yahweh symbolized through water baptism.

See Matthew 3:1-3 and Matthew 11:9,10 above.

Luke 1:1-4

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. He came into all the region around the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance to remission of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of Yahweh. Make his paths straight.”

This is also another indirect quote of Isaiah 40:3. See Matthew 3:1-3 above.

Luke 1:15-17

For he will be great in the sight of Yahweh, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. He will turn many of the children of Israel to Yahweh, their God. He will go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for Yahweh.”

Here John is said to make ready a people for Yahweh. This he did by his preaching of repentance toward Yahweh.

See Matthew 3:1-3 above.

Luke 1:76,77

And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, For you will go before the face of Yahweh to prepare [Hebrew in Malachi 4:1 is a form of the verb transliterated as Panah, meaning to turn] his ways, To give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins.

It is often claimed that Jesus is referred to here as Yahweh (Jehovah). Actually, it is the God of Jesus that is spoken here as Yahweh, not Jesus. John preached to the people of Israel repentance toward God, and it was in this manner that John prepared, or turned the people, to the ways of Yahweh. See Matthew 3:1-3above.

Luke 7:26,27

But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, Who will prepare your way before you.’

See Matthew 3:1-3 and Matthew 11:9,10 above.

John 1:23

He [John the Baptizer] said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of Yahweh,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”

The same applies here as to the verses already discussed above.

The above examination shows that there is nothing in any of these verses that should lead us to believe that Jesus is Yahweh.

Some Related Writings – We do not necessarily agree with all conclusions presented by these authors.

 

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Preparing the Way

 

Key Verse: “This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.” —Matthew 11:10 Selected Scripture: Matthew 3:1-11; 11:7-10

 

IN THE KEY SCRIPTURAL reference for this lesson Jesus quotes from an Old Testament passage concerning John the Baptist, which says: “I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.”—Mal. 3:1

John was the messenger of God chosen to prepare the way for the “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) Jesus, as prophesied, would not only be the Savior of the world, but he also would be the ‘messenger of the covenant.’ The covenant was the one given to Abraham, that provides for a seed of blessing which will bless all the families of the earth. (Gen. 22:15-18) This promise will be fulfilled during the future Millennial kingdom of Christ. The seed of blessing is our Lord Jesus, and includes his faithful followers. Paul explains, “If ye be Christ’s , then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”—Gal. 3:29

Our Lord Jesus, when speaking to the multitude, proclaimed John to be “more than a prophet.” (Matt. 11:9) Further, concerning his forerunner, he said, “Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”—Matt. 11:11

John had been especially prepared as the servant of God, his mission and calling being Divinely directed. He was also six months older than Jesus, reaching the age of maturity, and beginning his work of introducing our Lord to the people of Israel, a half-year before Jesus began his ministry. The Israelites had been in anticipation for the coming Messiah, and John’s message drew a great amount of attention. “Now while the people were in a state of expectation and all were wondering in their hearts about John, as to whether he was the Christ, John answered and said to them all, As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”—Luke 3:15,16, New American Standard Version

John was a powerful figure in his announcement of God’s kingdom, and in his preaching of repentance to the children of Israel. “This is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias [Isaiah], saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” (Matt. 3:3) Matthew quoted the words of Isaiah, as recorded in Isaiah 40:3.

God had chosen a strong character to be the forerunner of our Lord and Master. His wilderness experiences had toughened him to live separately from the various sects and parties among the children of Israel. Even during our Lord’s ministry many received Jesus, who had first accepted the teachings of John the Baptist, and of repentance, and were baptized by John. These, however, were not baptized by the Holy Spirit. That was the greater ministry of the Master. John, however, faithfully carried out God’s purpose in him to be the forerunner of the Lord of Glory, the greatest life that has ever been lived.