Matthew 3
Share
This resource is exclusive for PLUS Members
Upgrade now and receive:
- Ad-Free Experience: Enjoy uninterrupted access.
- Exclusive Commentaries: Dive deeper with in-depth insights.
- Advanced Study Tools: Powerful search and comparison features.
- Premium Guides & Articles: Unlock for a more comprehensive study.
Not strictly a sect, but rather those amongst the Jews who denied the existence of angels or other spirits, and all miracles, especially the resurrection. They were the religious rationalists of the time Mark 12:18-23 ; Acts 5:15-17 ; 23:8 and strongly entrenched in the Sanhedrin and priesthood ; Acts 4:1 ; 5:17 . They are identified with no affirmative doctrine, but were mere deniers of the supernatural.
Suffer it to be so
Why one who needed no repentance should insist upon receiving a rite which signified confession ( Matthew 3:6 ) and repentance ( Matthew 3:11 ) is nowhere directly explained. It may be suggested:
(1) That Jesus was now to receive His anointing with the Holy Spirit ( Matthew 3:16 ) unto His threefold office of Prophet, Priest, and King. In the Levitical order Exodus 29:4-7 the high priest was first washed, then anointed. While Christ's priestly work did not begin till He "offered Himself without spot to God" Hebrews 9:14 and His full manifestation as the King- Priest after the order of Melchizedek awaits the kingdom (See Scofield "Genesis 14:18") yet He was then anointed, once for all.
(2) But John's baptism was the voice of God to Israel, and the believing remnant responded ( Matthew 3:5 ). It was an act of righteousness on the part of Him who had become, as to the flesh, an Israelite, to take His place with this believing remnant.
righteousness (See Scofield "1 John 3:7") .
Jesus
For the first time the Trinity, foreshadowed in many ways in the O.T., is fully manifested. The Spirit descends upon the Son, and at the same moment the Father's voice is heard from heaven.