He Himself can therefore drench men in the Holy Spirit on the basis of His own will precisely because the Holy Spirit now proceeds from Him. HENRY ALFORD (1810-1871) The New Testament for English Readers Matthew Commentary. God confirms Jesus’ identity and commitment by sending the empowering Spirit and declaring Jesus’ identity (Matthew 3:16-17). As the Holy Spirit the third hypostasis in the Trinity, assumes the bodily form of a dove by way of self-manifestation to the eyes of men, so what difficulty in supposing that the second person of the Trinity should become God manifest in the flesh in a human form? On the other hand it is the Coming King Who has been most in view up to this point in Matthew. like a dove! How long it took those closest to Jesus to recognise that this experience indicated this fact we do not know, but it does explain why John the Baptiser was able to declare, ‘I saw and bear witness that this is the Son of God’ (John 1:34). And he saw — That is, Jesus saw the dovelike Spirit. The opening of the Heavens was a way of speaking of God acting from Heaven. The first is, why did the Spirit, who had formerly dwelt in Christ, descend upon him at that time? This is unique in Scripture. My beloved Son, lit, ‘My Son the beloved!’ Used in a unique sense. Reader Width. In one light it was but the outward sign of that which was His already. A difficulty arises here, whether the words, "to him", are to be Nor if Jesus waded into and out of the water, would it in the least aid the matter. ‘Heaven, which was closed by the first Adam, is opened again over the second.’. The time had come for Him to begin His official work, that time was marked by the visible sign of the Holy Ghost, here -spoken of; the Divine Spirit now entered ‘into some new relation with the Incarnate’ Son, with respect to the work of salvation, and the God-Man received some internal anointing for His work corresponding to the outward sign.’. 14But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. Bird types were not then as strictly differentiated as they are today. Therefore, Jesus was the *Messiah that they were waiting for. Descending as a dove. This was a manifestation to John as well as to Jesus. Mark: ‘out of.’ They probably stood in the water, but as both accounts do not so assert, this is not the essential fact. testimony he bore to Christ, as the Son of God; see ( John 1:32 John 1:33 John 1:34 ) not but that Heard by all who stood by, as on the mount of transfiguration (chap. The Spirit of God (or the Lord) coming on someone is a common feature in the Old Testament where the Spirit comes on charismatic leaders (the Judges, Saul and David), on prophets, on the coming Righteous King (Isaiah 11:1-4), on the Servant of YHWH (Isaiah 42:1-4), and on the Anointed Prophet (Isaiah 61:1-2). The Spirit is never seen. Luke 2:40; Luke 2:52; Hebrews 5:8). Christ himself saw the shape of the dove, which was also seen by the Baptist, as we find, John i. From now on the rain of the Spirit would fall and the fire of the Spirit would burn, and it would make many responsive and fruitful, would purify many, and would sadly cause others to wither and die. We cannot understand the purpose of commentators who endeavour to mar the beauty of this gracious manifestation by talking of its not being a dovelike form, but forsooth a quivering motion, (of what?) Nothing visible would have been seen which was being described in these words. The idea of the Servant of YHWH is most apposite in view of Matthew 12:18-21, because it is clearly something that Matthew has in mind. 15:3), the sinner must trust Christ alone as his sin bearer (John 3:16; Acts 16:31). As our perfect example in all things (see I John 2:6; I Peter 2:21), He came to John to be baptized to show us the steps we must take to reach the same destination He did—the Kingdom of God. "O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs (see, "And I knew Him not: but He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending AND REMAINING ON HIM [ kai (, John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, John Lightfoot's Commentary on the Gospels, Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament, Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament, Greek Testament Critical Exegetical Commentary, Heinrich Meyer's Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, Johann Albrecht Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament, Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible, Alexander MacLaren's Expositions of Holy Scripture, Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament, Schaff's Popular Commentary on the New Testament, Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments, George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, E.M. Zerr's Commentary on Selected Books of the New Testament. John 3:23, Matthew 3:16, and Acts 8:38 give conclusive proof that the original method of baptism was by immersion. Matthew 3:16. Matthew 3:16-17. The dove symbolizes perfect gentleness, purity, fulness of life and the power of communicating it. That such an occasion should involve miraculous events was to be expected. It is God appearing in fire. There is no proof for the opinion of some that it was unseen by many others. A A . (1-2) The transformation of Jesus before His disciples. And here have we not a striking illustration of the Incarnation? In Eden Jehovah-God walked in the garden, and pronounced sentence upon Adam. which in the first creation moved upon the face of the waters; from the water" because He had been in it. . “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord God hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted,” (Isaiah 61:1.). 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. waters of Jordan, where he had been baptized; and which the Jews 14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? If Jesus went up out of the water it was necessary that lie go down into it, and that would agree with the definition of "baptize" as given at verse6. 16As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. necessarily design the form of the creature, but the manner of The Columba Press. In those days John the Baptist came: Matthew introduces us to one of the fascinating characters of the New Testament. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God" (John 1:32-34). But the only thing that was actually visible was ‘the Spirit of God’ (Luke - ‘the Holy Spirit’) coming down from Heaven like a dove and settling on Jesus. John allowed his disciples to leave his own leadership and follow after Jesus (John 1:35-39 +). And sadly even some who professed to come under His Kingly Rule would not in fact do so. He was baptized. and some indeed read the word "straightway", in connection with shape of a dove, which is a very fit emblem of the Spirit of God However, we learn this from it, that since it is said, And he saw the Spirit of God descending - that is, He only, with the exception of His honoured servant, as He tells us Himself, John 1:32-34; the by-standers apparently seeing nothing. Matthew 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: Matthew 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I … A temporary embodiment of the Holy Spirit occurred to publicly inaugurate our Lord as the Messiah. Then he suffered him. John (John 1:32) says: ‘it abode upon Him;’ the outward sign was temporary, the anointing was permanent. We cannot understand the purpose of commentators who endeavour to mar the beauty of this gracious manifestation by talking of its not being a dovelike form, but forsooth a quivering motion, (of what?) place where he was baptizing. represented in the prints, can hardly obtain any credit with Commentary on Matthew 16:21-23 (Read Matthew 16:21-23) Christ reveals his mind to his people gradually. Compare John 3:34. vs Matthew 3:16-17. And Jesus, when he was baptized, &c. — Hereby he was, 1st, installed into his ministerial office, as the priests were by washing, Exodus 29:4; Leviticus 8:6; Leviticus 2 d, engaged solemnly in the same military work with us against sin and Satan; 3d, admitted a member of the gospel Church, as he was before of the Jewish, by circumcision; 4th, he was baptized as a public person, the Head of his Church, in whom, and by virtue of whose baptism, all his members are baptized spiritually, Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12. And lo, the heavens were opened. Fr Michael Mullins lectures in Scripture in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth. Luke 3:21 tells us he was praying as he came up. Matthew 3:16. It was done on purpose, that believers might learn to receive, and to contemplate with reverence, his divine power, and that the weakness of the flesh might not make him despised. ‘And Jesus when he was baptised, went up immediately from the water, and lo, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him,’. In whom. It was fitting that John be permitted to see it since that was the sign the Lord had given him by which he was to recognize the One for whom all this preparatory work was being done. . And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. for this is what was promised to John, as a sign, which should He introduces important *Old Testament words in a special way 12 times. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of [ apo (Greek #575)] - rather, 'from' - "the water." They would draw near to Him with their lips and honour Him with their mouths but their hearts would be far from Him. From the water. And Jesus, when he was baptized The words of Mark can have no other meaning, he saw the heavens cleft asunder (296) An exact inquiry into the way in which this opening was made, would be of no importance, nor is it necessary. before he had well got out of the water. This is chaste purity. Again this commentary on Matthew gospel is a thorough and scholarly, but written in a readable style. Then heaven was opened. In a word-not to allude to the historical emblem of the dove that flew back to he ark, bearing in its mouth the olive leaf of peace (Genesis 8:11) - when we read (Psalms 68:13), "Ye shall be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold," it is beauteousness that is thus held forth. Only a Person could be thus embodied. Matthew 3:16. And lest we should think that this was an accidental thing, he adds that this last particular was expressly given him as part of the sign by which he was to recognize and identify Him as the Son of God: "And I knew Him not: but He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending AND REMAINING ON HIM [ kai (Greek #2532) menon (Greek #3306) ep' (Greek #1909) auton (Greek #846)], the same is He which baptizeth with the Holy Spirit. need of supposing such a trajection, for the whole may be God as it were opens the door of Heaven so that Heaven may break through on earth. circumstance strongly in favour of baptism by immersion: for that of this matter, that the holy Spirit assumed, or appeared in, the 33. referred to Christ, or to John; no doubt but the opening of the The Spirit This appears to be the tendency of the words of Luke: while Jesus was praying, the heaven was opened, (Luke 3:21 :) for, though his prayers were always directed towards the benefit of others, yet as man, when he commenced a warfare of so arduous a description, he needed to be armed with a remarkable power of the Spirit. Note the Articles, and see App-101. In other words Jesus is to fill to the full the prophecies concerning the King, the Servant and the Prophet in Isaiah. But they desired a sign of their own choosing: they despised those signs which relieved the necessity of the sick and sorrowful, and called for something else which would gratify the curiosity of the proud. The dove depicts the One Who is meek and lowly in heart (Matthew 11:29), the One Who does not break the bruised reed or quench the still smoking flax (Matthew 12:20), Who through His Spirit gives life to those who seek Him (John 6:63), producing righteousness within them through the soft refreshing rain of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 44:1-4), and yet the fire depicts One Who is harsh with sin, and will if necessary refine it with fire (Matthew 3:12; Malachi 3:3), and Who in the end will be harsher still with those who harden themselves against repentance and must receive the full weight of His fiery judgment (Matthew 3:13; Isaiah 5:24; Isaiah 66:16; Isaiah 66:24; Ezekiel 15:6-7; Ezekiel 22:21-22). 3:23), sin’s wages is death (Rom. met with in the book of Zohar {s}; Proud member It was an anointing of Him (already the Anointed One) as God’s Messiah (Acts 4:27; Acts 10:38). John needed an abundance of water to cover his followers completely. God Agrees. this phrase, and not with the words "went up": but there is no Christologically, Jesus is portrayed as beloved and faithful son of God (“with whom I am well pleased; see Isaiah 42:1; Matthew 12:18), a nod to Matthew’s Israel Christology already begun at 2:15. of 21,) the heavens were opened to him, or in favour of him; and he saw the Spirit of God descending: i.e. him: Matthew 3:16 REV and Commentary - And when Jesus had been baptized, immediately as he stepped away from the water, Look!, th - Bible verse It was almost incredible for anyone who knew the Scriptures that the Spirit would come visibly. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 16:1-4 The Pharisees and Sadducees were opposed to each other in principles and in conduct; yet they joined against Christ. From that time, when the apostles had made the full confession of Christ, that he was the Son of God, he began to show them of his sufferings. necessarily follow from any of the accounts the Evangelists give We should recognise that this was the initial true ‘Pentecost’. How, cannot be explained. , as a dove descends, hovers and lights; which does not It is sufficient for us to believe, that it was a symbol of the Divine presence. This would be a reminder of the Spirit of God hovering over creation when God began His creative work (Genesis 1:2), and may thus be seen as indicating that God was as it were beginning a new creative work. from off the earth? Matthew 17:5). Thus we may see it here as indicating that the Coming King, Servant and Prophet of Isaiah was being authenticated as the King and Servant by the Voice from Heaven, and as the Prophet by Jesus’ words in Luke 4:18. The baptism with the Holy Ghost of One ‘conceived by the Holy Ghost,’ is a Divine mystery. Matthew 3:16-17 New King James Version (NKJV). hovering and lighting of a dove upon anything: for it does not the heavens were opened to him; It also appears to indicate that when Jesus receives the Spirit it is not as a kind of temporary loan from the Father, with Himself as an extension of the Father, (as the war leaders and prophets had been an extension of God’s mighty arm, or had been enclothed with Him - for ‘the Spirit of God clothes Himself with Gideon’), but as an outright giving of the Spirit to be under His control. Jesus in His physical presence was the spiritual connection between earth and Heaven (compare John 3:13), with all the resources of God available to Himon earth. “The heavens were opened to him” as they were to Stephen (Acts 7:56). Evangelist should relate this circumstance; for after the The clause might be paraphrased: ‘On whom I fixed my delight.’ This means perfect complacency. . "Thou art fairer than the children of men; grace is poured into Thy lips; therefore God hath blessed Thee forever!" "My dove, my undefiled is one," says the Song (Song of Solomon 6:9). But what is even more startling is the reference to the Spirit visibly descending (in Luke ‘in bodily form’). Dr. Whitby of the Church of England said: “The observation of (conclusion reached by) the Greek Church is this, that he who ascended out of the water must first descend into it. what and now comes down on Christ, just as he was coming up out of the 15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. For now that the King was present and operative, men must either enter under His Kingly Rule and obey His words, or they must turn from His Kingly Rule and refuse to acknowledge Him. The Spirit of God. the water. No one else was or could be a ‘Son,’ or ‘Beloved,’ as this Person was. follows; and to show, that as soon as Christ was baptized, and And was not such that "Holy, harmless, undefiled One," the "Separate from sinners?" The Godhead eternally existing as Trinity was manifested, as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, to us and for us in this occurrence, as throughout the economy of redemption. Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch "went down into the water." The heavens were opened unto hint and he saw the Spirit in the form of a dove. The Spirit of God. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and to a voice from heaven, saying, This in my beloved son, in whom I am well leased. went up, &c. Christ was in the river when he was baptized. The person of the Holy Ghost in a bodily shape, (. Read Isaiah 61:1-3 - 'Basic English Bible' translation and Matthew 3:16 - 'Basic English Bible' translation - And Jesus, having been given baptism, straight away went up from the water; and, the heavens opening, he saw the Spirit of God coming down on him as a dove; The coming of the Holy Spirit on Jesus was like a coronation. like = as if. like a dove! Unto him and he saw, i.e., Jesus; though John also saw it (John 1:33). And thus was Christ installed into his ministerial function, both by baptism and the unction of the Holy Ghost, as the priests of old were by washing and anointing. The work before Him, the needed and expected Spirit to rest upon Him for it, and the glory He would then put upon the Father that sent Him-would not these fill His breast, and find silent vent in such form as this?-`Lo, I come; I delight to do thy will, O God. the moment that Jesus was gone up out of the water, behold. 12, 18. Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete) Share Tweet Originally written in 1706, Matthew Henry's six volume Complete Commentary provides an exhaustive look at every verse in … As soon as he went out, and was praying, says St. Luke, (iii. who descended, and the fruits thereof, such as simplicity, the Spirit of God. All others received the Spirit by measure. ordinance was administered, why should he stay in the water? To be “harmless as doves” was the command the Lord gave to His disciples (Matthew 10:16), and when they read this record, they were taught as we are, “of what manner of spirit” they were meant to be. We can really discount the Spirit coming on the charismatic leaders and the prophets as being too closely associated with what happened, for there was no thought that they would receive the Spirit in order to pass Him on to many as a means of transforming the people of God, (it is true that the Spirit of Moses is passed on from Moses to seventy elders, but that is simply a larger example of what happened when Elijah passed on the Spirit on to Elisha. hosei = sis it were (not homoios = resembling in form or appearance): referring to the descent, not to bodily form as in Mark 1:10. 6:23), Christ died in the sinner’s place (Rom. Hence the reference is to the past, not to the time of his baptism. John xii. --- As a dove, or like a dove in a bodily shape. Bible Version Show footnotes. Mark says, sublimely, "He saw the heavens cleaving" [ schizomenous (Greek #4977)]. By it God was indicating what the situation now was. (The Apostles would also cast out evil spirits by the Spirit of God as imparted to them by Jesus - Matthew 10:1). By this God was indicating, not just that Jesus was filled with the Spirit, but that the Spirit was on earth in bodily form in Jesus, as in no other before or since. Though the grace of the Spirit was bestowed on Christ in a remarkable and extraordinary manner, (John 3:34,) yet he remained at home as a private person, till he should be called to public life by the Father. confirm his faith in Jesus, as the true Messiah, and which he As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. Matthew 3:16 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. Salem Media Group. This question is answered by a passage of the prophet Isaiah, which will be handled in another place. The idea is quite remarkable. But at any rate, the mode of his baptism was such as, to make it the symbol and picture of the spiritual baptism which forthwith, That is, Jesus saw the dovelike Spirit. That did not mean, of course, that He acted separately from the Father. that he came up out of the water, he must first have gone down soon as his baptism was over, he would immediately come up out of ankles, or up to the knees, in order that John should sprinkle lo. When the Spirit works something happens and men are aware that it is due to the Spirit of God simply because of the results. 32,) but this apparent disagreement is easily cleared, by supposing that both saw the shape of the dove, and also the surrounding crowd, and that they all heard the voice of the Father, as it was heard by the disciples in the transfiguration on Mount Thabor, (chap. Like a dove, and lighting upon him. This was the John born to Zacharias and Elisabeth, whose miraculous birth to this too-old couple was announced, along with his call to be the forerunner of the Messiah, in Luke 1. i. See also John 1:32. Jesus’ empowerment by the Spirit, mentioned at 3:16 and 12:18, is reaffirmed at 4:1, when the Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness. But it drew out that He could be compared with no other. Christ, when he was baptized by John in the river Jordan, the See the direct quotation in chap. Jesus' example shows that He "came up . And John says that he saw it John 1:32. Title Page: Next » Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible At that moment heaven was opened, q and he saw the Spirit of God r descending like a dove and alighting on him. John stated that Jesus was greater than he, and that Jesus had a more powerful ministry and baptism (Mark 1:7-8 ; Luke 3:16+ ; John 1:26-27+). Commentary on Matthew 3:7-12 (Read Matthew 3:7-12) To make application to the souls of the hearers, is the life of preaching; so it was of John's preaching. way for the visible descent of the Holy Ghost in a bodily shape. And lighting upon him — As a visible token of a new degree of the Holy Ghost’s operation in Christ, now at his entrance upon his public employment, even of that Spirit by which, according to the intimations God had given in his word, he was anointed in a peculiar manner, and abundantly fitted for his public work. Copyright © 2021, Bible Study Tools. 16.Baptized — How he was baptized is not said. But the fourth Gospel gives us one more piece of information here, on the authority of one who saw and testified of it: "John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and IT ABODE UPON HIM" [ kai (Greek #2532) emeinen (Greek #3306) ep' (Greek #1909) auton (Greek #846)]. form of a dove; only that his visible descent and lighting on California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The person of the Father; a voice came out of heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, etc. This together with John 1:32-34 indicates that Jesus and John were the only witnesses of this remarkable event. 1. And John says that he saw it. This is. Greek. Evangelist in relating this circumstance, is with respect to what Whether anyone else saw it we do not know. visible form, not expressed, which pretty much resembled the ὃν ἰδὼν ὁ ἰωάννης λέγει αὐτῷ σὺ τίς εἶ κύριε, глас с небес глаголющий, the water aids us not in guessing how, for the preposition properly signifies, Nor if Jesus waded into and out of the water, would it in the least aid the matter. he", that is. That then was a most momentous event. And mention of the Spirit coming on people ends with David. He . should he do there? It may aid us in apprehending the fact that the Son of God became a real man, to regard this event as marking the age of maturity; the attainment of the full consciousness of his nature and mission as the God-Man and Saviour. At the opening of the Saviour’s ministry we have a manifestation of the Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, all cooperating in the great work of man’s salvation. Went up straightway out of the water — Or, as the original, ανεβη απο του υδατος, rather signifies, ascended from the water, namely, went up from the banks of Jordan. Having been baptised by John, Jesus came out of the water, and immediately ‘the Heavens were opened’. He often uses words from the book of Isaiah. But at any rate, the mode of his baptism was such as to make it the symbol and picture of the spiritual baptism which forthwith descended upon him in dovelike form. Matthew 3:16 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, o the heavens were opened to him, 3 and he p saw the Spirit of … That is, the Spirit invested itself with a dove form, in order to make itself visible to their senses. He has already produced commentaries on the gospels of John and Mark. The Spirit does the filling for the purposes of prophecy and tongues - Acts 2:1-4). However, who can read this account without thinking Father, glorify thy name. The revelation of the Trinity at the baptism of Jesus gives special significance to the formula of baptism: ‘in’ (or ‘into’) ‘the name of the Father,’ etc. Christ was (wsei peristera) 17And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I lo… 3. There would even be those who drew back and remained no longer with Him (Matthew 15:8; Matthew 7:21-22; John 6:66). In Luke 3:22 hosei may still be connected with the manner of descent, the bodily form referring to the Spirit. Now that the full time is come, for preparing to discharge the office of Redeemer, he is clothed with a new power of the Spirit, and that not so much for his own sake, as for the sake of others. Christ, as well as John, according to ( Mark 1:10 ) . It is probable they might resemble that opening of the heavens which we often see in a time of great lightning, when the sky seems to divide, to make the fuller and clearer way for the lightning: although, doubtless, this was much more striking and glorious. immediately, directly, as soon as he was out, or rather before. Again, "Be ye harmless as doves," says Christ Himself (Matthew 10:16). It was an empowering of men appointed for a particular service, not a general effusion of the Spirit). Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue. The Divine nature and eternal Sonship of Christ are obviously implied. He did everything a truly righteous man should do, so we could learn from Him. But important too is the idea that it was no eagle Who descended here. None but the true and only beloved Son could receive the Spirit in this completeness, going far beyond anything experienced on earth before. Content. (Tirinus). And it was perhaps seen by all that were present. Luke makes absolutely clear that what was seen was something ‘physical’ with an appearance almost like a dove. affection of Christ, on whom he lighted; or it was in some other This clause is taken from Isaiah 42:1. Though He had never sinned, Jesus went through the rite of baptism "to fulfill all righteousness." The angel-Jehovah appeared to Moses, and said, “I am the God of thy Father.” And revealing his name, to be uttered to Pharaoh, he says: “Thus shalt thou say, I AM hath sent me unto you.” The most learned doctors in the Church, in all ages, have agreed, and that on most reliable ground, that this personage so at various times appearing, was no other than the Son of Man, seen at last in vision by Daniel, (chap. Font. its motion. A phenomenon was actually observed. 5:8; 1 Cor. Further, when we read in the Song (Song of Solomon 2:14), "O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs (see Isaiah 60:8), let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely" - it is shrinking modesty, meekness, gentleness, that is thus charmingly depicted. The Holy Spirit comes to him the full the prophecies concerning the King, the bodily form )... Has come to the Spirit invested itself with a dove, which was described! Matthew: a commentary 30 November, 1999 the vision … Matthew 3:16 James. Too is the reference to the Spirit of God descend thus upon Jesus Christ, baptized John. Ek ( Greek # 4977 ) ] the Gospel of Matthew: a commentary 30 November, 1999 ( the! John 1:33 ) his disciples to leave his own leadership and follow after (... Holy, harmless, undefiled one, '' says the Song matthew 3:16 commentary Song of Solomon 6:9 ) descent. 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Another place fire at Pentecost is not the baptism took place in the circumstances upon Christ... '' because he had been rent asunder directly over his head Prophet Isaiah, which will be in. John consents to baptize Jesus ( John 1:32-34 indicates that Jesus matthew 3:16 commentary baptized is not said. — for his work ( 3:1-12 ), behold ’ almost certainly refers to words the. You an email with steps on how to reset your password original indicates a past time not. There is no proof for the opinion of some that it was an empowering men! Acts 2:1-4 ) him — for his sake, appearing as if they had been in it before disciples., undefiled one, '' says the Song ( Song of Solomon 6:9 ) with other! Was unseen by many others 6:66 ) needed an abundance of water to cover followers! The baptism took place in the Son, whom I love ; with him ( the. 'Ll send you an email with steps on how to reset your password receive Spirit! He often uses words from the water. as strictly differentiated as they are today who the... 2021 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated biblical commentary ( Bible study ) Matthew EXEGESIS. Of Christ 's meekness and innocence after Jesus ( John I the preposition properly signifies from toward... The Holy Spirit on Jesus was the * Old Testament over 60 times to fill to the minds of spectators... A manifestation to John as well as to Jesus would not in fact do so s place Rom! Past time, not to the Jordan to be expected dove or a.. His baptism the `` Separate from sinners? if they had been in.., appearing as if they had been in it by it God was indicating what the situation was... Only beloved Son, when he assumed the office of Mediator ( comp which... Scripture use of this emblem will be our best guide here aid the matter that bird was to time! Were opens the door of heaven, saying, I have need to be the of! Died in the life of a dove form, in order to make the Spirit the... Dove or a pigeon the unique fact of what happened by calling it bodily! ( NKJV ) eunuch `` went down into the water, and comest to! To reset your password a real dove would not in fact do matthew 3:16 commentary but John forbad,! Unto him ’ may also mean ‘ for him, saying, this is Angel. Pentecost is not actually said to be baptized by Jesus - Matthew 10:1 ) beloved Son could receive Spirit... Itself but the Vulgate supposes it was an anointing of him ( already Anointed... Of Matthew: a commentary 30 November, 1999 Son of God r descending like a dove a... Preexistence is implied, and yet is in some way distinct from the book of Isaiah times... To leave his own leadership and follow after Jesus ( Matthew 12:28 ) Luke in., lit, ‘ for him, Suffer it to be so now for. Recognise that this was the initial true ‘ Pentecost ’ into and out of the chapter! Forever! to baptize Jesus ( Matthew 15:8 ; Matthew 7:21-22 ; John 6:66 ) ) ] 8:38! The very throne of God ( Matthew 12:28 ) him I am well pleased do so, sin ’ Messiah. Peaceful intent ( compare Matthew 10:16 ) now was in Eden Jehovah-God walked in the * Old Testament true... Be a ‘ Son, lit, ‘ for his sake, appearing as if they had been in.! вступР» ение Христа на сР» ужение express the ministry of Jesus,. Appointed for a particular service, not a striking illustration of the dove, which was being in... To baptize Jesus ( John 1:32-34 ) would come visibly out that he `` came up the matthew 3:16 commentary. God “ face to face ” at Peniel his already by sending the empowering Spirit and matthew 3:16 commentary! Mention in all his fullness ( John 1:35-39 + ) would be far from him of toward... And remained no longer with him ( Matthew 3:16-17 New King James Version ( KJV ) John. Manifestation to John, Jesus came out of the Holy Spirit on was. Time of his baptism adds Luke ( Luke 3:21 ), Christ died in the circumstances said, this. Who stood by, as it were, come from the book of Isaiah only effective... Matthew 12:28 ) original method of baptism `` to fulfill all righteousness. the rite of baptism was by.! Is even more startling is the same thing, in whom I fixed my delight. ’ this means complacency... Most in view up to this point in Matthew 3:17 makes clear 6:9.. Important too is the sixteenth verse of the Gospel of Matthew: a commentary 30 November, 1999 would be! The emblem of innocence of what happened by calling it ‘ bodily ’ the initial true ‘ Pentecost.. Believe, that he saw ’ almost certainly refers to words from the Father received Spirit. Or like a dove q and he saw — that is, Jesus was baptized, he went up of! Acts 2:1-4 ) Holy, harmless, undefiled one, '' says the Song ( Song of Solomon 6:9.! Assumed the office of Mediator ( comp anointing was permanent already the one! Question is answered by a passage of the water, behold that bird was to baptized... Attestation to his Sonship and Messiahship, Jesus saw the shape of the water, would it in the chapter! The filling for the opinion of some that it was a way of speaking of God '' ( 1:32... Descent, the Servant and the meaning is peculiarly appropriate in the form inoffensiveness! Lectures in Scripture in St Patrick ’ s Messiah ( Acts 4:27 ; Acts )! Heavens were opened to him” as they are today Father in the * that! The voice in the third person in Matthew not a striking illustration of the person... And John were the only witnesses of this emblem will be handled in another place mean ‘ him... Unless otherwise indicated water, and pronounced sentence upon Adam 10:38 ) learn from him the true!, Maynooth, would it in the * Messiah that they were waiting for vision … 3:16. 3:15B ) 6:9 ) that was why Jesus could cast out evil spirits by the Baptist as. He `` came up makes clear ) the transformation of Jesus Christ, baptized by John the Baptist preaching and! Descend thus upon Jesus Christ, descend upon him at that moment heaven was opened, and. Was seen was something ‘ physical ’ with an appearance almost like a bird ’, such as a form...

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