Matthew 3:15 WEB

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 3:15

John agreed to baptize Jesus only after Jesus convinced him that by baptizing Him both of them would "fulfill all righteousness." What did Jesus mean?An important prerequisite to understanding Jesus’ words is an understanding of the meaning of "righteousness." Matthew’s use of this word is different from Paul’s. Paul used it mainly to describe a right standing before God, positional righteousness. Matthew used it to describe conformity to God’s will, ethical righteousness. [Note: Benno... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 3:1-17

Appearance of the Baptist. Baptism of Jesus1-12. John the Baptist’s ministry. The circumstances of John’s birth are detailed in Luke 1 (see notes there). He was sanctified from birth to be the forerunner of the Messiah (Luke 1:13-17, Luke 1:76.), and received a special revelation to enable him to recognise the Expected One when He appeared (John 1:33). His mother Elisabeth was a cousin of the virgin, and he was born about six months before Jesus. Knowing what his work in life was to be, he... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Matthew 3:15

(15) Suffer it to be so now.—The “now” is emphatic, at the present time, in contrast with what was to follow. Hereafter, John should be the receiver and not the giver, but as yet there was a fitness in each retaining his position (the words “it becometh us” seem to refer to both, not to the speaker only). The word and the thought are the same as those of Hebrews 2:10. Even He had to pass through the normal stages of growth, and so an outward ordinance was even for Him the appointed way to the... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Matthew 3:1-17

The Preaching of the Baptist Matthew 3:1 And what did he preach? This chapter in St. Matthew's Gospel tells us pretty plainly what was the burden of his message. I. He Spoke Plainly About Sin. He taught the absolute necessity of 'repentance' before anyone can be saved; he preached that repentance must be proved by its 'fruits'; he warned men not to rest on outward privileges, or outward union with the Church. This is just the teaching that we all need. II. He Spoke Plainly About our Lord... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Matthew 3:13-17

Chapter 4His Baptism - Matthew 3:13-17."THE baptism of John, was it from Heaven or of men?" This question must have been asked throughout the length and breadth of the land in the days of his mission. We know how it was answered; for even after the excitement had died away, we are told that "all men counted John for a prophet." This conviction would of course prevail in Nazareth as well as everywhere else. When, therefore, the Baptist removed from the wilderness of Judea and the lower reaches... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Matthew 3:1-17

3. The Herald of the King; the Entrance upon His Public Ministry. 1. The Herald of the King. (Matthew 3:1-6 .) 2. His Message and His Baptism. (Matthew 3:7-12 .) 3. The King in Jordan's Waters. (Matthew 3:13-17 .) CHAPTER 3 The third chapter relates the ministry of the herald of the King, who announces that the kingdom of the heavens has drawn nigh, and the presence of the King Himself, who is to come after him; the baptism of the King, who comes from Galilee to the Jordan to John, and... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Matthew 3:15

3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer [it to be so] now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil {n} all righteousness. Then he suffered him.(n) All such things as it has appointed for us to keep. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 3:1-17

Though John was of a priestly family, this too is not mentioned. He does not preach in the temple, but in the wilderness of the river Jordan, at least thirteen miles from Jerusalem. For a priest to preach in the wilderness is totally out of character, and nothing but the sovereign power of the Spirit of God can account for his large audience coming from Jerusalem and all Judea out into the wilderness to hear the unusual messenger of God. But the formal religion of the Jews, though... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Matthew 3:1-17

PREPARATION FOR PUBLIC MINISTRY BAPTIZED BY JOHN (Matthew 3:0 ) For the earlier history of John the Baptist compare Luke 1:0 . In Matthew 3:1-6 of the present lesson, however, we have the place and theme of his ministry, a statement of his official relationship to the Messiah, his description, and an account of the interest awakened by his mission. “The Kingdom of heaven” or “the heavens” (Matthew 3:2 ) means the earthly kingdom promised to Israel in the Old Testament, over which the... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Matthew 3:1-17

Review of the Whole Chapter Now, looking at the third chapter as a whole, having already gone through it in detail, we seem to see in this brief chapter the history of a whole dispensation, the dispensation of John the Baptist. It begins and ends in these seventeen short verses. In this chapter I read, "Then cometh John," and I also read, "Then cometh JESUS." God thus condenses much into brief space. Sometimes he takes a long line, and we say he has gone into a far country, and we know not... read more