Matthew 3:16-17 = God talks to a crowd of people

God talks to a crowd in Matthew 3:17 when Jesus is baptized (“This is my beloved Son…”). This conflicts with Mark’s gospel and Luke’s, which agree that God uses second person (“You are my son…”), talking only to Jesus.

It is also noteworthy since it is the last instance in scripture of God talking to a crowd of people.

Matthew 3:16-17 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.

A voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

By baptizing others in water, John the Baptist is a clear alternative to powerful and orthodox religious leaders. He had no interest in Jerusalem’s Temple.

His followers, including Jesus, rejected stale Temple rituals. Flowing water is the opposite of heavy and solid stones that make up the Temple.







Matthew 3:16-17 (uses 3rd person) = God talks to a crowd of people (Mark & Luke = 2nd person)