Years have passed since the return of Joseph and his family to Nazareth. The string of prophetic references, numbering five to this point, continues with a sixth citation, this on the lips of John the Baptist, quoting from the prophet Isaiah. What follows is the prophetic witness of John himself, including both a rebuke against the religious leaders and also a recognition of his cousin Jesus as one greater than he
The chapter begins with the call to repentance and the announcement that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. In response to this call, many from various regions were coming into the wilderness where John was baptizing them as they confessed their sins.
By contrast, the approach of the Pharisees and Sadducees is met with John’s stern rebuke: “You brood of vipers . . . .” They too, we are told, came to be baptized, and we have no reason to doubt their intentions to do so. What is in doubt is the sincerity of their repentance and the authenticity of their faith. John has not so questioned any of the others who came to be baptized, but the judgment of John against these apparently self-righteous religious leaders is withering.
By contrast, once again, the scene shifts to the arrival of Jesus who, we are told, also came to be baptized by his older cousin. This is perplexing to John, who objects that Jesus should baptize him instead. But Jesus insists that John “fulfill righteousness” by baptizing him, just as he did the unrighteous who came before him confessing their sins. We don’t presume that Jesus had sins to confess, in fact we have every reason to insist that he didn’t, but righteousness there was to be fulfilled.
If it seems odd that a righteous one must be baptized, it surely seems even more troubling that a righteous one must be crucified. But a righteous one had to come if the baptism of the unrighteous was to amount to anything, and so the righteous Jesus submits to baptism, identifying with sinners this first time. What is initiated in water will be sealed in blood at a time yet to come. Foreshadowing the resolve with which Jesus, knowing death awaits, will set his face to Jerusalem, Jesus here, in the face of John’s objection, insists on baptism: “Let it be so now . . . .”
John consents, and where previously in Mathew’s text we have heard the word of God through prophets and angels and dreams, now is heard the unmediated voice of God. God speaks for himself, announcing that this Jesus, baptized like so many others, is his beloved Son in whom He is pleased. This is clear evidence that the kingdom of heaven is indeed at hand.
By contrast, the approach of the Pharisees and Sadducees is met with John’s stern rebuke: “You brood of vipers . . . .” They too, we are told, came to be baptized, and we have no reason to doubt their intentions to do so. What is in doubt is the sincerity of their repentance and the authenticity of their faith. John has not so questioned any of the others who came to be baptized, but the judgment of John against these apparently self-righteous religious leaders is withering.
By contrast, once again, the scene shifts to the arrival of Jesus who, we are told, also came to be baptized by his older cousin. This is perplexing to John, who objects that Jesus should baptize him instead. But Jesus insists that John “fulfill righteousness” by baptizing him, just as he did the unrighteous who came before him confessing their sins. We don’t presume that Jesus had sins to confess, in fact we have every reason to insist that he didn’t, but righteousness there was to be fulfilled.
If it seems odd that a righteous one must be baptized, it surely seems even more troubling that a righteous one must be crucified. But a righteous one had to come if the baptism of the unrighteous was to amount to anything, and so the righteous Jesus submits to baptism, identifying with sinners this first time. What is initiated in water will be sealed in blood at a time yet to come. Foreshadowing the resolve with which Jesus, knowing death awaits, will set his face to Jerusalem, Jesus here, in the face of John’s objection, insists on baptism: “Let it be so now . . . .”
John consents, and where previously in Mathew’s text we have heard the word of God through prophets and angels and dreams, now is heard the unmediated voice of God. God speaks for himself, announcing that this Jesus, baptized like so many others, is his beloved Son in whom He is pleased. This is clear evidence that the kingdom of heaven is indeed at hand.
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