Matthew 3:6 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 3:6

And (they, Revised Version) were baptized . The Revised Version probably desires to call attention to the change in the verb from singular to plural. In Jordan; in the river Jordan (Revised Version, with manuscripts). So also parallel passage in Mark. By him; i.e. their baptism was not self-imposed, but an act of submission to his teaching, and of acceptance of his message. The forerunner saw results, not merely in crowds of listeners, but in external actions. By him (contrast John... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 3:6

The moral value of confession. "Confessing their sins." "There are two cases which lead men in communities to the confession of particular sins in the presence of their fellows, before God and before man. Any moral exaltation which places them so that they see evil from a plane higher than that on which they live ordinarily, and where its relations, its tendencies, its nature, and character are clearly revealed, constantly tends to produce confession. There is also a confession which results... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 3:6

Were baptized - The word “baptize” βαπτίζω baptizo signifies originally to tinge, to dye, to stain, as those who dye clothes. It here means to cleanse or wash anything by the application of water. See the notes at Mark 7:4. Washing, or ablution, was much in use among the Jews, as one of the rites of their religion, Numbers 19:7; Hebrews 9:10. It was not customary, however, among them to baptize those who were converted to the Jewish religion until after the Babylonian captivity. At the time of... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 3:6

Matthew 3:6. And were baptized of him in Jordan Namely, those that were awakened to repentance. It has been questioned by many, whether John baptized these immense multitudes by dipping them in Jordan? In answer to which it has been observed, “that such prodigious numbers could hardly be baptized by immerging their whole bodies under water: nor can we think they were provided with change of raiment for it, which was scarce practicable for such vast multitudes. And yet they could not be... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 3:1-12

15. Preaching of John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:1-8; Luke 3:1-17; John 1:19-28)The preaching of John soon attracted opposition from the Jewish religious leaders. They sent representatives to question him and then report back on what he taught and who he claimed to be. John denied that he was promoting himself as some new leader in Israel. He did not consider himself to be either the prophet of Deuteronomy 18:15,Deuteronomy 18:18 or the ‘Elijah’ promised in Malachi 4:5. He was only a... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 3:6

were baptized = were being baptized. baptized of. See App-115 . of = by. Greek. hupo. App-104 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Matthew 3:6

Matthew 3:6. Were baptized of him— There were two kinds of baptism in use among the Jews; one was that of the priests at their consecration, Leviticus 8:6.; the other was that of the heathens proselyted to the Jewish religion. It was therefore no unheard-of rite which the Messiah's harbinger made use of. His countrymen were well acquainted both with the thing itself, and with its signification: they knew that it denoted some great change, either in the opinions or practices of those who... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 3:6

6. And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins—probably confessing aloud. This baptism was at once a public seal of their felt need of deliverance from sin, of their expectation of the coming Deliverer, and of their readiness to welcome Him when He appeared. The baptism itself startled, and was intended to startle, them. They were familiar enough with the baptism of proselytes from heathenism; but this baptism of Jews themselves was quite new and strange to them. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 3:1-11

D. The King’s preparation 3:1-4:11Matthew passed over Jesus’ childhood quickly to relate His preparation for presentation to Israel as her King."The material of this section of the Gospel is particularly important since the baptism of Jesus serves as the occasion of his special anointing by the Holy Spirit for the ministry that follows, but it is also Christologically significant in that his divine Sonship is confirmed and the non-triumphalist nature of the present phase of that Sonship is... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 3:1-12

1. Jesus’ forerunner 3:1-12 (cf. Mark 1:2-8; Luke 3:3-18)It was common when Jesus lived for forerunners to precede important individuals to prepare the way for their arrival. For example, when a king would visit a town in his realm his emissaries would go before him to announce his visit. They would make sure the town was in good condition to receive him. Sometimes his servants even had to do minor roadwork to smooth the highway the king would take as he approached his destination. [Note:... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 3:6

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 3:6

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 3:6

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 3:6

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 3:1-12

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 3:6

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Matthew 3:6

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 3:6

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 3:1-11

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 3:1-12

Group of Brands