Matthew 3:15

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.

Matthew 3:15 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 3:15

And Jesus answering, said unto him
This is an Hebrew way of speaking, often used in the Old Testament, and answers to (rmayw) (Ney) ; see ( Job 3:1 ) . He replied to John, who had made use of very forbidding words, after this manner,

suffer it to be so now;
let me have my request; do not go on to object, but comply with my desire; let it be done now, immediately, directly, at this present time; do not put me off with any excuse; it is a proper season for it, even "now", since the time is not yet come that I am to baptize with the Holy Ghost; and besides, thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. It became John to administer the ordinance of baptism to Christ, as he was his forerunner, and the only administrator of it, and that he might fulfil the ministry which he had received; and as it became Christ to fulfil all righteousness, moral and ceremonial, and baptism being a part of his Father's will, which he came to do, it became him to fulfil this also. And since it became Christ, it cannot be unbecoming us to submit to this ordinance; and since he looked upon it as a part of righteousness to be fulfilled by him, it ought to be attended to by all those who would be accounted followers of him. Christ having strongly urged the conveniency and equity of the administration of baptism to him, which showed his eager desire after it, and the lowliness of his mind; and John being convinced, and overcome by the force of his reasoning, agrees to his baptism;

then he suffered him,
i.e. to be baptized in water by him, as he had requested, and accordingly did administer it to him.

Matthew 3:15 In-Context

13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
14 But John forbad him, saying , I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
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.
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:
17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying , This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased .

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The King James Version is in the public domain.