THE THREE MINUTE WORD

Sunday – May 12, 2024, Iyar 4, 5784

RIGHTEOUSNESS – PART FIVE

Video Link: https://youtu.be/FiZ4dxwDGGE

Welcome to the Sunday Bible Study as we dive right back into our current topic of being righteous and righteousness. Thus far in this study we have been focused on the use and meaning of these words in the Old Testament. We discovered that these words are found far more commonly in the Old Testament (Covenant, Contract) than the New Testament. We have determined that words synonymous with “righteous and righteousness” include just, lawful, rightness, rectitude, justice, moral virtue, and prosperity.

Today we are moving into the New Testament. The New Testament for the most part is written in Greek. So, we will be looking at those Greek language words transliterated and translated to the English words of righteous and righteousness and other equivalent words. First, let’s look at first use which occurs in verse fifteen of the following passage.

Matthew 3:13-17 (KJV)

13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

First, a little side issue. We see in verse seventeen that the Father speaks from Heaven that He is will pleased with His Son. What does that tell us? It tells us that Jesus had been operating by faith at least from the age of understanding. We know that because Hebrews 11:6 tells us that it is impossible to please God without faith. Jesus had to walk in faith during His time on the earth as a man just as we do. He has not asked anything of us that He has not already done.

Now, back to “righteousness” in verse fifteen. This is Greek Strong’s Number G1343 meaning equity (just, fair, righteous, equal) and justification. I have heard some interpret this as “just as if we never sinned”. I do think this is accurate. This word has several layers of root words, or words from which it was derived. I will throw in here that righteousness is a conformity to the will and nature of God. The immediate root word is Greek Strong’s Number G1342 meaning to be equitable, be innocent, holy (set aside for Divine use), just, meet (appropriate), and right. I think we can all see that this is looking a lot like, not surprisingly, the Old Testament meanings. Greek Strong’s Number G1342 is derived from G1349 meaning to be right, justice, judgment, punish, and vengeance. In turn Greek Strong’s Number G1349 originates from G1166 meaning to show (make apparent). Now, let’s look back at Matthew 3:15.

Matthew 3:15 (KJV)

15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

What did He mean, “to fulfil all righteousness”? John’s baptism (John the Baptist) was one of repentance from sin as symbolized by the full emersion in water. It foreshadowed the coming of Christ and the need for all who would follow Him to be fully emersed into Him as well as the Father and the Holy Spirit. Water is the Word, Jesus is the Word, they and we are to be fully emersed, guided solely (only) by the Word of God. Jesus had not sinned and did not sin at any time so what righteousness was fulfilled? Well, let’s look back at some of the meanings of the word “righteousness”. This baptism signified that He was conforming Himself to the will and nature of God for this new chapter, the Ministry for which He came to earth to accomplish. He was conformed to the will and nature of God already but this was a public demonstration of that and a change of direction. It was a public showing of His right standing before God. It was also a foreshadowing of the coming judgment, punishment, and vengeance upon the Devil.

At the time John the Baptist baptized Jesus, Jesus was Anointed for His Ministry to follow including the Cross and subsequent events as a man. Matthew 3:16 is a clear picture of the Anointing coming upon Jesus for the work ahead.

Acts 10:38 (KJV)

38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

It is my hope that you have enjoyed and gained insights by way of these five Sundays of teachings on righteousness.

Lord willing, I will pick up right here next Sunday with more revelation from the Throne. Remember, we love you, the Lord loves you, and there is nothing you can do about either one.

By: Dr. David R. Wood, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice

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