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
14 But G1161 John G2491 forbad G1254 him, saying, G3004 I G1473 have G2192 need G5532 to be baptized G907 of G5259 thee, G4675 and G2532 comest G2064 thou G4771 to G4314 me? G3165
15 And G1161 Jesus G2424 answering G611 said G2036 unto G4314 him, G846 Suffer G863 it to be so now: G737 for G1063 thus G3779 it becometh G4241 G2076 us G2254 to fulfil G4137 all G3956 righteousness. G1343 Then G5119 he suffered G863 him. G846
16 And G2532 Jesus, G2424 when he was baptized, G907 went up G305 straightway G2117 out of G575 the water: G5204 and, G2532 lo, G2400 the heavens G3772 were opened G455 unto him, G846 and G2532 he saw G1492 the Spirit G4151 of God G2316 descending G2597 like G5616 a dove, G4058 and G2532 lighting G2064 upon G1909 him: G846
17 And G2532 lo G2400 a voice G5456 from G1537 heaven, G3772 saying, G3004 This G3778 is G2076 my G3450 beloved G27 Son, G5207 in G1722 whom G3739 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,