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Matthew 3 |
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| 3:1
In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of
Judaea, |
|
| 3:2
And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
|
| 3:3
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.
|
| 3:4
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. |
BOM: (3:2) The kingdom of heaven is at hand Alma 5:28,
5:50, 7:9
(3:4) A leathern girdle about his loins Mosiah 10:8
 St. John in the wilderness
(Veneziano Domenico, c. 1445)
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| 3:5
Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round
about Jordan,
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| 3:6
And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. |
"Were baptized of him in Jordan"
Where did John baptize?
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| 3:7
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? |
"O generation of vipers"
While insulting the Pharisees and Sadducees, John the Baptist calls an entire generation a "generation
of vipers."
(Jesus also liked to use this term. See 12:34)
(3:7-11) "When he saw many of the Pharisees ... come to his baptism he said unto
them ... Ye generation of vipers ... I indeed baptize you with water...."
Were the Pharisees baptized by John?
BOM: Alma 5:54, 9:30,
12:15, 13:13
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| 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
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| 3:9
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.
|
| 3:10
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. |
(3:10, 12)
Those who bear bad fruit will be cut down and burned "with unquenchable fire."
BOM: Jacob 5:42, 46,
49, 6:7;
Alma 5:35, 3 Nephi 27:17
|
| 3:11
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: |
 The appearance of Christ to the people
(Alexander Ivanov, 1837-1857)
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| 3:12
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.
|
| 3:13
Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. |
 The baptism of Christ
(Master of the life of John the Baptist,
1330-1340)
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| 3:14
But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and
comest thou to me?
|
| 3:15
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. |
 (3:14-15) "Comest thou to me?"
John has a good point in v.14. If Jesus is the sinless Son of God, then
shouldn't Jesus be baptizing John instead of the reverse? Isn't baptism supposed to forgive sins and be a sign of repentance?
If so, then why would Jesus need to be baptized? And what the heck is "it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness" supposed to
mean?
BOM: 2 Nephi 31:5
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| 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:
|
| 3:17
And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am
well pleased. |
"This is my beloved son"
In Matthew's gospel, God addresses those witnessing Jesus' baptism saying,
"This is my beloved son ...." But Mark (1:11) and Luke (3:22)
have God speak to Jesus directly" "Thou art my beloved son
...." But whatever the exact wording, it seems strange that after
witnessing this event, John the Baptist is still unsure about Jesus (see Mt.11:2-3).
How did God address Jesus at his baptism?
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