Matthew 3

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Matthew 3:13

(13) Then cometh Jesus.—We are brought here face to face with the question which the legend just quoted sought to answer, and cannot altogether turn aside from it: Why did the Lord Jesus come to the baptism of John? The Sinless One had no sin to confess, no need of repentance. We cannot even ascribe to Him that consciousness of evil which weighs upon the hearts of the saints of God almost in exact proportion to their holiness; yet we must believe that His righteousness was essentially human,... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Matthew 3:14

(14) John forbad him.—Better, sought to hinder Him. Here again we have a question which we cannot fully answer. Did John thus forbid Him, as knowing Him to be the Christ? If so, how did that knowledge come? Had they known each other before, in youth or manhood? Or did a special inspiration reveal the character of Him who now drew near? The narrative of St. Matthew seems to imply such knowledge. On the other hand, the words of the Baptist in John 1:33 not only imply, but assert that he did not... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Matthew 3:15

(15) Suffer it to be so now.—The “now” is emphatic, at the present time, in contrast with what was to follow. Hereafter, John should be the receiver and not the giver, but as yet there was a fitness in each retaining his position (the words “it becometh us” seem to refer to both, not to the speaker only). The word and the thought are the same as those of Hebrews 2:10. Even He had to pass through the normal stages of growth, and so an outward ordinance was even for Him the appointed way to the... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Matthew 3:16

(16) The heavens were opened.—The narrative implies (1) that our Lord and the Baptist were either alone, or that they alone saw what is recorded. “The heavens were opened to him” as they were to Stephen (Acts 7:56). The Baptist bears record that he too beheld the Spirit descending (John 1:33-34), but there is not the slightest ground for supposing that there was any manifestation to others. So in the vision near Damascus, St. Paul only heard the words and saw the form of Him who spake them... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Matthew 3:17

(17) A voice from heaven.—The words were heard, so far as the record goes, as the sign was seen, by our Lord and the Baptist only. It was a testimony to them, and not to the multitude. The precise force of the latter clause, in whom I was well pleased, points (to speak after the manner of men) rather to a definite divine act or thought, than to a continued ever-present acceptance. He who stood there was the beloved Son, in whom, “in the beginning,” the Father was well-pleased. To the Baptist... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Matthew 3:1-17

The Preaching of the Baptist Matthew 3:1 And what did he preach? This chapter in St. Matthew's Gospel tells us pretty plainly what was the burden of his message. I. He Spoke Plainly About Sin. He taught the absolute necessity of 'repentance' before anyone can be saved; he preached that repentance must be proved by its 'fruits'; he warned men not to rest on outward privileges, or outward union with the Church. This is just the teaching that we all need. II. He Spoke Plainly About our Lord... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Matthew 3:1-12

Chapter 3His Herald - Matthew 3:1-12THIRTY years have gone since all Jerusalem was in trouble at the rumour of Messiah’s birth. But as nothing has been heard of Him since, the excitement has passed away. Those who were troubled about it are aging or old or dead; so no one thinks or speaks of it now. There have been several political changes since, mostly for the worse. Judea is now a province of Rome, governed by procurators, of whom the sixth, called Pontius Pilate, has just entered on his... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Matthew 3:13-17

Chapter 4His Baptism - Matthew 3:13-17."THE baptism of John, was it from Heaven or of men?" This question must have been asked throughout the length and breadth of the land in the days of his mission. We know how it was answered; for even after the excitement had died away, we are told that "all men counted John for a prophet." This conviction would of course prevail in Nazareth as well as everywhere else. When, therefore, the Baptist removed from the wilderness of Judea and the lower reaches... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Matthew 3:1-17

3. The Herald of the King; the Entrance upon His Public Ministry. 1. The Herald of the King. (Matthew 3:1-6 .) 2. His Message and His Baptism. (Matthew 3:7-12 .) 3. The King in Jordan's Waters. (Matthew 3:13-17 .) 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... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Matthew 3:1

3:1 In {a} those days came {1} John the Baptist, preaching in the {b} wilderness of Judaea,(a) Not when Joseph went to dwell at Nazareth, but a great while after, about fifteen years: for in the 30th year of his life Jesus was baptized by John: therefore "those days" means the time when Jesus remained as an inhabitant of the town of Nazareth.(1) John, who through his singular holiness and rare austerity of life caused men to cast their eyes on him, prepares the way for Christ who is following... read more

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Matthew 3:13

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Matthew 3:14

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Matthew 3:15

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Matthew 3:16

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Matthew 3:17

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Matthew 3:1-17

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Matthew 3:1-12

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Matthew 3:13-17

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Matthew 3:1-17

Geneva Study Bible - Matthew 3:1

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