13 Then G5119 cometh G3854 Jesus G2424 from G575 Galilee G1056 to G1909 Jordan G2446 unto G4314 John, G2491 to be baptized G907 of G5259 him. G846
And G2532 John G2491 bare record, G3140 saying, G3004 G3754 I saw G2300 the Spirit G4151 descending G2597 from G1537 heaven G3772 like G5616 a dove, G4058 and G2532 it abode G3306 upon G1909 him. G846 And I G2504 knew G1492 him G846 not: G3756 but G235 he that sent G3992 me G3165 to baptize G907 with G1722 water, G5204 the same G1565 said G2036 unto me, G3427 Upon G1909 whom G3739 G302 thou shalt see G1492 the Spirit G4151 descending, G2597 and G2532 remaining G3306 on G1909 him, G846 the same G3778 is G2076 he which baptizeth G907 with G1722 the Holy G40 Ghost. G4151 And I G2504 saw, G3708 and G2532 bare record G3140 that G3754 this G3778 is G2076 the Son G5207 of God. G2316
And G2532 it came to pass G1096 in G1722 those G1565 days, G2250 that Jesus G2424 came G2064 from G575 Nazareth G3478 of Galilee, G1056 and G2532 was baptized G907 of G5259 John G2491 in G1519 Jordan. G2446 And G2532 straightway G2112 coming up G305 out of G575 the water, G5204 he saw G1492 the heavens G3772 opened, G4977 and G2532 the Spirit G4151 like G5616 a dove G4058 descending G2597 upon G1909 him: G846 And G2532 there came G1096 a voice G5456 from G1537 heaven, G3772 saying, Thou G4771 art G1488 my G3450 beloved G27 Son, G5207 in G1722 whom G3739 I am well pleased. G2106
Now G1161 when all G537 the people G2992 were baptized, G1722 G907 it came to pass, G1096 that Jesus G2424 also G2532 being baptized, G907 and G2532 praying, G4336 the heaven G3772 was opened, G455 And G2532 the Holy G40 Ghost G4151 descended G2597 in a bodily G4984 shape G1491 like G5616 a dove G4058 upon G1909 him, G846 and G2532 a voice G5456 came G1096 from G1537 heaven, G3772 which said, G3004 Thou G4771 art G1488 my G3450 beloved G27 Son; G5207 in G1722 thee G4671 I am well pleased. G2106
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Matthew 3
Commentary on Matthew 3 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 3
At the start of this chapter, concerning the baptism of John, begins the gospel (Mk. 1:1); what went before is but preface or introduction; this is "the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ.' And Peter observes the same date, Acts 1:22, beginning from the baptism of John, for then Christ began first to appear in him, and then to appear to him, and by him to the world. Here is,
Mat 3:1-6
We have here an account of the preaching and baptism of John, which were the dawning of the gospel-day. Observe,
The beginning of the gospel in a wilderness, speaks comfort to the deserts of the Gentile world. Now must the prophecies be fulfilled, I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, Isa. 41:18, 19. The wilderness shall be a fruitful field, Isa. 32:15. And the desert shall rejoice, Isa. 35:1, 2. The Septuagint reads, the deserts of Jordan, the very wilderness in which John preached. In the Romish church there are those who call themselves hermits, and pretend to follow John; but when they say of Christ, Behold, he is in the desert, go not forth, ch. 24:26. There was a seducer that led his followers into the wilderness, Acts 21:38.
Mat 3:7-12
The doctrine John preached was that of repentance, in consideration of the kingdom of heaven being at hand; now here we have the use of that doctrine. Application is the life of preaching, so it was of John's preaching.
Observe,
Mat 3:13-17
Our Lord Jesus, from his childhood till now, when he was almost thirty years of age, had lain hid in Galilee, as it were, buried alive; but now, after a long and dark night, behold, the Sun of righteousness rises in glory. The fulness of time was come that Christ should enter upon his prophetical office; and he chooses to do it, not at Jerusalem (though it is probable that he went thither at the three yearly feasts, as others did), but there where John was baptizing; for to him resorted those who waited for the consolation of Israel, to whom alone he would be welcome. John the Baptist was six months older than our Saviour, and it is supposed that he began to preach and baptize about six months before Christ appeared; so long he was employed in preparing his way, in the region round about Jordan; and more was done towards it in these six months than had been done in several ages before. Christ's coming from Galilee to Jordan, to be baptized, teaches us not the shrink from pain and toil, that we may have an opportunity of drawing nigh to God in ordinance. We should be willing to go far, rather than come short of communion with God. Those who will find must seek.
Now in this story of Christ's baptism we may observe,
Now, when he was coming up out of the water, and all the company had their eye upon him,