Matthew 3:15

Matthew 3:15 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.
• New Living Translation (NLT)But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him.

Context of Matthew 3:15

13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. 16And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17and behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

Matthew 3:15 word by word

ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτόν· ἄφες ἄρτι· οὕτως γὰρ πρέπον ἐστὶν ἡμῖν πληρῶσαι πᾶσαν δικαιοσύνην. τότε ἀφίησιν αὐτόν.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andδέde · thenG1161
• Jesusὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• answeringἀποκρίνωapokrinomai · to answerG611
• saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• untoπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• Sufferἀφίημιaphiēmi · to release: permitG863
• nowἄρτιarti · nowG737
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• thusοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
• it becomethπρέπωprepō · be properG4241
• it becomethεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• to fulfilπληρόωplēroō · to fulfillG4137
• allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• righteousnessδικαιοσύνηdikaiosunē · righteousnessG1343
• Thenτότεtote · thenG5119

Cross-references for Matthew 3:15

• John 13:7Jesus answered him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand."
• Psalms 40:7Then I said, "Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me:
• Isaiah 42:21The Lord was pleased, for his righteousness' sake, to magnify his law and make it glorious.
• Luke 1:6And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.
• John 4:34Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
• John 8:29And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him."
• John 13:15For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.
• John 15:10If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.
• Philippians 2:7but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
• Hebrews 7:26For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
• 1 Peter 2:21For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
• 1 John 2:6whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

Commentaries on Matthew 3:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15To fulfill all righteousness - That is, Every righteous ordinance: so I think the words should be translated; and so our common version renders a similar word, Luke 1:6. The following passage, quoted from Justin Martyr, will doubtless appear a strong vindication of this translation. "Christ was circumcised, and observed all the other ordinances of the law of Moses, not with a view to his own justification; but to fulfill the dispensation committed to him…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15Thus it becometh us - It is suitable and proper. And though you may feel yourself unworthy, yet it is proper it should be done. All righteousness - There was no particular precept in the Old Testament requiring this, but he chose to give the sanction of his example to the baptism of John, as to a divine ordinance. The phrase “all righteousness,” here, is the same as a righteous institution or appointment. Jesus had no sin. But he was about to enter on his…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-17Verses 13-17 Christ's gracious condescensions are so surprising, that even the strongest believers at first can hardly believe them; so deep and mysterious, that even those who know his mind well, are apt to start objections against the will of Christ. And those who have much of the Spirit of God while here, see that they need to apply to Christ for more. Christ does not deny that John had need to be baptized of him, yet declares he will now be baptized…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15“It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness in this way”: This means completing what the Old Testament required or prophesied (for example, Jeremiah 31:31–34). In Matthew, “righteousness” means acting according to God’s will (see Matthew 5:20; 6:1, 33; 21:32).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now--"Let it pass for the present"; that is, "Thou recoilest, and no wonder, for the seeming incongruity is startling; but in the present case do as thou art bidden." for thus it becometh us--"us," not in the sense of "me and thee," or "men in general," but as in Joh 3:11. to fulfil all righteousness--If this be rendered, with Scrivener, "every ordinance," or, with Campbell, "every institution,"…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 3:15

• Baptism
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• John
• Obedience

In the dictionaries

• Jesus
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Baptism of Christ
• Call
• Kingdom
• Meet
• Please
• Region
• Repentance
• Unquenchable

Commentaries on Matthew 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings