Matthew 3:13

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. THEN COMETH JESUS FROM GALILEE TO JORDAN UNTO JOHN, TO BE BAPTIZED OF HIM. Moses rashly anticipated the divine call to deliver his people, and for this was fain to flee the house of bondage, and wait in obscurity for 40 years more (, etc.). Not so this Greater than Moses. All but thirty years had He now spent in privacy at Nazareth, gradually ripening for His public work, and calmly awaiting the time appointed of the Father. Now it had arrived; and this movement from Galilee to Jordan is the step, doubtless, of deepest interest to all heaven since that first one which brought Him into the world. Luke () has this important addition - "Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus being baptized,...

Matthew 3:13._That he might be baptized by him. _For what purpose did the Son of God wish to be baptized? This may be learned, in some measure, from his answer. We have already assigned a special reason. He received the same baptism with us, in order to assure believers, that they are ingrafted into his body, and that they are “buried with him in baptism,” that they may rise to “newness of life,” (Romans 6:4.) But the end, which he here proposes, is more _extensive: for thus it became him to fulfill all righteousness, _(Matthew 3:15.) The word _righteousness _frequently signifies, in Scripture, the observation of the law: and in that sense we may explain this passage to mean that, since Christ had voluntarily subjected himself to the law, it was necessary th

13-17 Christ's gracious condescensions are so surprising, that even the strongest believers at first can hardly believe them; so deep and mysterious, that even those who know his mind well, are apt to start objections against the will of Christ. And those who have much of the Spirit of God while here, see that they need to apply to Christ for more. Christ does not deny that John had need to be baptized of him, yet declares he will now be baptized of John. Christ is now in a state of humiliation. Our Lord Jesus looked upon it as well becoming him to fulfil all righteousness, to own every Divine institution, and to show his readiness to comply with all God's righteous precepts. In and through Christ, the heavens are opened to the children of men. This descent of the Spirit upon Christ, showed that he was endued with his sacred influences without measure. The fruit of the Spirit is love, j...

THEN COMETH JESUS - The Saviour is now introduced as about to enter on his work, or as about to be solemnly set apart to his great office of Messiah and Redeemer. The expression “cometh” implies that the act was voluntary on his part; that he went for that purpose and for no other. He left the part of Galilee - Nazareth - where he had lived for nearly 30 years, and went to the vicinity of the Jordan, where John was baptizing the people in great numbers, that he might be set apart to his work. The occasion was doubtless chosen in order that it might be as public and solemn as possible. It is to be remembered, also, that it was the main purpose of John’s appointment to introduce the Messiah to the world, Matthew 3:3. TO BE BAPTIZED OF HIM - By him. Baptism was not in his case a symbol of personal reformation and repentance,

EXPOSITION MATTHEW 3:1 THE HERALD. His public appearance and proclamation (Matthew 3:1, Matthew 3:2), as foretold by Scripture (Matthew 3:3). His Elijah-like dress (Matthew 3:4). He is listened to by multitudes (Matthew 3:5, Matthew 3:6). His faithful warning to typical Jews, and his pointing not to himself, but to the Coming One ...

THEN COMETH JESUS,.... That is, when John had been some time preaching the doctrine of repentance, and administering the ordinance of baptism; for which, time must be allowed, since he went into all the country about Jordan, and preached unto them, and baptized such large numbers: very probably it might be six months from his first entrance on his ministry; since there was this difference in their age, and so might be in their baptism and preaching. Now when John had given notice of the Messiah's coming, and so had prepared his way; had declared the excellency of his person, the nature of his work, and office, and had raised in the people an expectation of him, THEN COMETH JESUS FROM GALILEE; from Nazareth of Galilee, Mark 1:9 where he had lived for many years, as the Jews q themselves own; in great obscurity, in all obedience to God, in subjection to his parents, exercising a cons

Matthew 3:1. _In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand._ His was a preparatory ministry; his work was to prepare men's minds for Christ; and never is the heart of man so ready to receive Christ as when it is in a state of repentance. When it is weary of sin, then is it that Christ comes in, and is welcomed by the soul conscious of its guilt, tired of it, and longing to be rid of it. Matthew 3:3. _For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his path straight. And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey._

3. THE HERALD OF THE KING; THE ENTRANCE UPON HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY. __ 1. The Herald of the King. (Matthew 3:1 .) 2. His Message and His Baptism. (Matthew 3:7 .) 3. The King in Jordan's Waters. (Matthew 3:13 .) 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 the events connected with it, are given in the second half of the chapter. “Now in those days comes John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, Repent, for the kingdom of the heaven

THE BAPTISM OF JESUS (Mark 1:9 *, Luke 3:21 f.). Matthew 3:14 f. (Mt. only) meets the objection to the acceptance by a sinless Jesus of a baptism connected with repentance (p. 661). Jesus maintains (suffer it now) that a temporary necessity must be acknowledged. Until the new revelation is ready, ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS, _ i.e._ Divine ordinances, must be duly observed. For John's sense of unworthiness _cf._ Luke 5:8 (Peter). The message of the voice (Matthew 3:17) is a combination of...

THE BAPTISM OF JESUS. -- Matthew 3:13-17. GOLDEN TEXT. -_ This is my beloved Son, in whom. am well pleased._ -- Matthew 3:17. TIME. --When Jesus was about thirty years old, or about A. D. 26. In the year 780 after the building of Rome. PLACE. --At the river Jordan, probably at the ford near Jericho. HELPFUL READINGS. -- Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-23; John 1:15-18. LESSON ANALYSIS. --1. _Jesus and John;_ 2. _Jesus Baptized;_ 3. _Jesus Anointed._ INTRODUCTION. The great e