Christianity

Matthew 3John Baptizes Jesus

Summary

Matthew 3 introduces John the Baptist preaching repentance in the Judean wilderness, dressed in camel's hair and eating locusts and wild honey. Crowds come to be baptized in the Jordan, and John warns the Pharisees and Sadducees to bear fruit worthy of repentance. He announces one mightier than himself who will baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire. When Jesus is baptized, the heavens open, the Spirit descends like a dove, and a heavenly voice calls him beloved Son.

Key verse

“And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Matthew 3:17

Themes

Repentance
Baptism
Preparing the Way
Divine Sonship

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

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 lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Text: King James Version (1611/1769), public domain.

Across traditions

Judaism
Isaiah 40: A Voice in the Wilderness
Matthew 3:3 identifies John with Isaiah's voice calling to prepare the way of the LORD. In Isaiah the passage announces comfort and return to exiles in Babylon.
Islam
Surah Maryam (19): John, Son of Zechariah
The Quran honors John (Yahya) as given wisdom as a child, devout and dutiful (19:12 to 15), and 3:39 says he would confirm a word from God. It does not describe him baptizing Jesus.

Questions about Matthew 3

Why was Jesus baptized if he was without sin?

Matthew 3:14 to 15 records John's own objection, and Jesus answers that it is fitting to fulfill all righteousness. Christian interpreters commonly read the act as Jesus identifying with sinners and beginning his public mission.

What did John the Baptist eat?

Matthew 3:4 says his food was locusts and wild honey. Locusts were a permitted food under Leviticus 11:22.

Why is Jesus's baptism important for the Trinity?

Christian tradition notes that the Son is baptized, the Spirit descends like a dove and the Father speaks from heaven in one scene, so the passage is often cited in teaching about the Trinity.