The Collect
O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Readings:
Psalm 38
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+38&version=NIV
Exodus 19:16–25
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+19%3A16%E2%80%9325&version=NIV
Gospel: Matthew 3:13–17
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.
14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.
16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.
17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Commentary:
In our two previous studies, we examined Matthews introduction to John the Baptist, setting the scene for the baptism of Jesus—the beginning of his ministry.
“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.” (Henry)
“Chapter 3 opens with John the Baptist preaching repentance and baptizing in the wilderness of Judea (3:1-12). He rejects Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism because of their unworthiness (3:7-10), and attempts to reject Jesus as a candidate for baptism because of his super-worthiness (v. 14). A towering prophet in verses 1-12, John the Baptist is reduced to a subordinate figure in the presence of Jesus.” (Donovan)
“Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.” (v. 13)
“ It was an instance of Christ’s great humility, that he would offer himself to be baptized of John; that he who knew no sin would submit to the baptism of repentance. Note, As soon as ever Christ began to preach, he preached humility, preached it by his example, preached it to all, especially the young ministers. Christ was designed for the highest honours, yet in his first step he thus abases himself. Note, Those who would rise high must begin low. Before honour is humility. It was a great piece of respect done to John, for Christ thus to come to him; and it was a return for the service he did him, in giving notice of his approach.” (Henry)
“This is a significant emergence of Jesus from His many years of obscurity. These first works in His public ministry carry great meaning in understanding the rest of His ministry. Jesus came: No one compelled Jesus to be baptized. He came to John of His own choice.” (Guzik)
“At the time of Matthew’s writing, John’s disciples are still present and are sometimes in conflict with Jesus’ disciples. Matthew establishes early on that Jesus is the greater and John the lesser. We find the same emphasis in all four Gospels (Mark 1:7; Luke 3:16; John 1:6-9, 15, 19ff.)” (Donovan)
“But John tried to deter him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’” (v. 14)
John recognized the inherent irony in this situation. Jesus had nothing to repent of, and it would be more appropriate for Jesus to baptize John. It was as if John said to Jesus, “I need your Spirit-and-fire baptism, not you my water-baptism.” (France)
“Though John was filled with the Holy Ghost from the womb (Lu. 1:15), yet he acknowledges he had need to be baptized with that baptism. Note, They who have much of the Spirit of God, yet, while here, in this imperfect state, see that they have need of more, and need to apply themselves to Christ for more.” (Henry)
“Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.” (v. 15)
“There was a propriety in every thing that Christ did for us; it was all graceful (Heb. 2:10; 7:26); and we must study to do not only that which behoves us, but that which becomes us; not only that which is indispensably necessary, but that which is lovely, and of good report. Our Lord Jesus looked upon it as a thing well becoming him, to fulfil all righteousness, that is (as Dr. Whitby explains it), to own every divine institution, and to show his readiness to comply with all God’s righteous precepts. Thus it becomes him to justify God, and approve his wisdom, in sending John to prepare his way by the baptism of repentance. Thus it becomes us to countenance and encourage every thing that is good, by pattern as well as precept. ” (Henry)
Righteousness is a major theme in this Gospel:
- “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness” (5:6).
- “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven” (5:20).
- “Seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness” (6:33).
- “John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn’t believe him” (21:32).
“it is proper for us” (v. 15b). Note the word “us”. It is right, not only for Jesus to fulfill all righteousness, but also for John. In Jesus’ baptism, both honor God’s will.
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.” (v. 16) Matthew does not describe the baptism itself so much as the eschatological signs that followed it (the heavens opened and the Spirit descending).
All four Gospels report the descent of the Spirit, which will empower Jesus throughout his ministry. Noah’s story (Gen 8:8-12) established the dove as a symbol of peace—of shalom—not of power. Nonetheless, it will be by the power of this gentle Spirit that Jesus will attack Satan’s forces (Hare, 22).
It was important for God the Father to publicly demonstrate that Jesus’ baptism was not just like anyone else’s, in the sense of being a display of repentance. It was not a display of repentance, but instead it was a righteous identification with sinners, motivated by love, was well pleasing to the Father.
“ In and through Jesus Christ, the heavens are opened to the children of men. Sin shut up heaven, put a stop to all friendly intercourse between God and man; but now Christ has opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Divine light and love are darted down upon the children of men, and we have boldness to enter into the holiest. We have receipts of mercy from God, we make returns of duty to God, and all by Jesus Christ, who is the ladder that had its foot on earth and its top in heaven, by whom alone it is that we have any comfortable correspondence with God, or any hope of getting to heaven at last. The heavens were opened when Christ was baptized, to teach us, that when we duly attend on God’s ordinances, we may expect communion with him, and communications from him.” (Henry)
“And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’” (v. 17)
This is the first of three instances in which God speaks directly to humanity in the New Testament, and in each occurrence he is directing his attention—verbally pointing so to speak—at Jesus:
- At the Baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:17, Mark 1:11, Luke 3:22)
- At the transfiguration ( Matthew 17:5, Mark 9:7, Luke 9:35)
- During the last week of his human life, shortly before he was betrayed and crucified (John 12:28)
“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” “See here how ready he is to own us in him: He is my beloved Son, not only with whom, but in whom, I am well pleased. He is pleased with all that are in him, and are united to him by faith. Hitherto God had been displeased with the children of men, but now his anger is turned away, and he has made us accepted in the Beloved, Eph. 50:6. Let all the world take notice, that this is the Peace-maker, the Days-man, who has laid his hand upon us both, and that there is no coming to God as a Father, but by him as Mediator.” (Henry)
“When this voice of God the Father spoke from heaven, everyone knew that Jesus was not just another man being baptized. They knew Jesus was the perfect (in whom I am well pleased) Son of God, identifying with sinful man. By this, everyone knew that Jesus was different. Jesus was baptized so to be identified with sinful man, but He was also baptized to be identified to sinful man.” (Guzik)
We should not miss the obvious point: God the Father loves God the Son, and communicated that love by God the Holy Spirit. Here we see the love relationship and cooperation between the Persons of the Trinity, in one occasion when the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit were all manifested at the same time.
Benediction
Let the majesty of the Father be the light by which you walk, the compassion of the Son be the love by which you walk, the presence of the Spirit be the power by which you walk. Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you, now and for evermore. Amen
Thought for the Day:
It ain’t those parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand.
Mark Twain
Announcements:
Bible Studies From The Daily Office, is an outreach ministry designed to encourage the viewer to read one Old Testament or Epistle, a Psalm, and a Gospel selection everyday. Following each Gospel reading is a commentary designed to help the reader understand the traditional meaning of God’s Holy Word.
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