Matthew 3

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 3:16

The dove-Spirit on Christ. "Descending like a dove, and lighting upon him." Comparing the accounts given by the evangelists, it still remains uncertain whether what was seen by John actually had the form of a dove, or hovered or brooded as a descending bird does. But for our fixed associations, and the familiar comments, we should be more willing to see that the brooding, resting, abiding of the Spirit on Jesus, is the thing intended to be set prominently before us by the figure. It will be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 3:16-17

The heavenly attestation of the Sonship of Jesus. The singular and thrilling event recorded in these verses is recorded also by St. Mark ( Mark 1:9-11 )and by St. Luke ( Luke 3:21 , Luke 3:22 ) in an equally full manner, while it is distinctly alluded to by St. John ( John 1:32 , John 1:33 ). It is remarkable that, though nothing is said either way, we are left to conclude that the vision was confined to the two only—Jesus himself and John the Baptist. From that time John, who had ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 3:16-17

The baptism of Jesus by the Holy Ghost. After receiving John's baptism, Jesus "went up straightway from the water." He did not remain to make confession of sin, and for the obvious reason that he had none. He went up "from the water," or ascended the outer hank of the Jordan; for John appears to have ministered his baptism within the double bank of that river. Then "lo, the heavens were opened unto him," etc. An interval is here clearly marked between the baptism of John and that of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 3:17

Lo ; peculiar to St. Matthew—a reminiscence of Aramaic diction. A voice . Similarly in Matthew 17:5 (Transfiguration, cf. 2 Peter 1:17 , 2 Peter 1:18 ); John 12:28 (like thunder); [possibly Acts 2:6 , Pentecost]; Acts 9:4 (Paul's conversion); Acts 10:13 , Acts 10:15 (Peter). Talmudic and rabbinic writings often mention the Bath-Qol as speaking from heaven. The character of the occasions on which the voice is heard in the New Testament on the one hand, and in the Jewish... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 3:17

Christ the beloved Son of God. This declaration at the baptism of Christ was repeated later on in his ministry at the Transfiguration ( Matthew 17:5 ). Thus God owns his Son and bears witness to him. Let us consider what the heavenly voice teaches us about him. I. THE NATURE OF CHRIST AS THE SON OF GOD . It will not profit us much to plunge into the fourth-century speculations concerning the Divine Sonship of Christ in order that we may know him in so far as he has... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 3:1

In those days - The days here referred to cannot be those mentioned in the preceding chapter, for John was but six months older than Christ. Perhaps Matthew intended to embrace in his narrative the whole time that Jesus lived at Nazareth; and the meaning is, “in those days while Jesus still dwelt at Nazareth,” John began to preach. It is not probable that John began to baptize or preach long before the Saviour entered on his ministry; and, consequently, from the time that is mentioned in the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 3:2

Repent ye - Repentance implies sorrow for past offences 2 Corinthians 7:10; a deep sense of the evil of sin as committed against God Psalms 51:4; and a full purpose to turn from transgression and to lead a holy life. A true penitent has sorrow for sin, not only because it is ruinous to his soul, but chiefly because it is an offence against God, and is that abominable thing which he hates, Jeremiah 44:4. It is produced by seeing the great danger and misery to which it exposes us; by seeing the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 3:3

The prophet Esaias - The prophet Isaiah. Esaias is the Greek mode of writing the name. This passage is taken from Isaiah 40:3. It is here said to have been spoken in reference to John, the forerunner of Christ. The language is such as was familiar to the Jews. and such as they would understand. It was spoken at first with reference to the return from the captivity at Babylon. In ancient times, it was customary in the march of armies to send messengers, or pioneers, before them to proclaim their... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 3:4

His raiment of camel’s hair - His clothing. This is not the fine hair of the camel from which our elegant cloth is made called camlet, nor the more elegant stuff brought from the East Indies under the name of “camel’s hair,” but the long shaggy hair of the camel, from which a coarse cheap cloth is made, still worn by the poorer classes in the East, and by monks. This dress of the camel’s hair, and a leather belt, it seems, was the common dress of the prophets, 2 Kings 1:8; Zechariah 13:4.His... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 3:5

Jerusalem - The people of Jerusalem.All Judea - Many people from Judea. It does not mean that literally all the people went, but that great multitudes went. It was general. Jerusalem was in the part of the country called Judea. Judea was situated on the west side of the Jordan. See the notes at Matthew 2:22.Region about Jordan - On the east and west side of the river. Near to Jordan. read more

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