Matthew 3:16

III. JESUS. NOINTED.

16. And Jesus, when he was baptized.

The baptism took place in the river Jordan, and was doubtless by immersion. Dr. Whitby, of the Church of England, on this passage says: "The observation of the Greek Church is this, that he who ascended out of the water must first descend into it. Baptism is therefore to be performed, not by sprinkling, but by washing the body." Dr. Schaff, the great pedobaptist scholar, says: "While the validity of baptism does not depend on the quantity or quality of water, or the mode of its application, yet immersion and emersion is the primitive and expressive mode to symbolize the idea of entire spiritual purification and renovation."

Went up straightway out of the water.

The Revision says "from the water," which is correct, as the preposition is apo; yet Mark uses ek in giving the same account, which the Revision correctly renders "out of." He and John had descended together to where the water was probably waist deep; he had been baptized, and came straightway, without delay, out of the water. He went up praying, as we learn from Luke 3:21. We find solemn prayer preceding, 1. Our Lord's baptism with the Spirit; 2. His choice of the Twelve (Luke 6:12); 3. His transfiguration (Luke 9:20); 4. His agony in the garden (Matthew 26:39).

Lo, the heavens were opened unto him.

The skies were parted, rolled back, so as to reveal, as it were, the throne of God. The expression used by Luke (3:21) and Matt. (3:16) is not so strong as that of Mark, correctly rendered in the margin of the English Bible rent or cloven. (Wicliffe, cleft.) The phrase as here used cannot possibly denote. flash of lightning, or the shining of the stars, or anything whatever but an apparent separation or division of the visible expanse of heaven; how occasioned or produced can only be conjectured. It seems to be in Mark spoken of as if beheld by Jesus only; but in Matthew and Luke the language is more general, and John expressly says that the Baptist was to see and did see the descent of the Spirit (John 1:32-33).-- J. A. Alexander.

Spirit... descending like. dove.

In form, and not, as some suppose, in motion merely, which would convey no definite idea. The choice of. dove as. visible emblem of the Spirit has been variously explained as referring to its gentleness, and the corresponding quality of Christ's own ministry (compare Matthew 12:19); to the brooding of the Spirit on the waters at the time of the creation (Genesis 1:2); to the dove which Noah sent forth from the ark (Genesis 8:8; Genesis 8:12); to the use of the same bird in sacrifice (Leviticus 1:14). The truth taught by the visible descent was the personal union of the Son and Spirit, and the spiritual influences under which the Son was to perform his mission.-- J. A. Alexander. The dove appears, not bearing an olive branch, but pointing out to us our deliverer from all evils, and suggesting the hopes of grace. For she leads not one man only out of an ark, but the whole world she leads up to heaven at her appearing.-- Chrysostom. It was needful that the Holy Spirit should assume some visible form, in order that John might be aware of his presence. This had been foretold to him as the mark of the Christ, and it was of immense importance that he should recognize the Christ, in order to turn his followers to him. Besides, God seems to have determined to specially honor the baptism of the Son by the presence of the other persons of the Godhead. The Spirit descends upon the baptized Son, and the Father speaks from heaven to acknowledge him. It was also needful that he be filled with the Holy Spirit, to be the Lord's Anointed.