God’s Word Translation
Matthew 3:15
15Jesus answered him, “This is the way it has to be now. This is the proper way to do everything that God requires of us.” Then John gave in to him.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he 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.
Context of Matthew 3:15
13Then Jesus appeared. He came from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14But John tried to stop him and said, “I need to be baptized by you. Why are you coming to me?” Jesus answered him, “This is the way it has to be now. This is the proper way to do everything that God requires of us.” Then John gave in to him. 16After Jesus was baptized, he immediately came up from the water. Suddenly, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down as a dove to him. 17Then a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love—my Son with whom I am pleased.”
Read all of Matthew 3Matthew 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 Peter, “You don’t know now what I’m doing. You will understand later.”
- Psalms 40:7Then I said, “I have come! (It is written about me in the scroll of the book.)
- Isaiah 42:21The Lord is pleased because he does what is right. He praises the greatness of his teachings and makes them glorious.
- Luke 1:6Zechariah and Elizabeth had God’s approval. They followed all the Lord’s commands and regulations perfectly.
- John 4:34Jesus told them, “My food is to do what the one who sent me wants me to do and to finish the work he has given me.
- John 8:29Besides, the one who sent me is with me. He hasn’t left me by myself. I always do what pleases him.”
- John 13:15I’ve given you an example that you should follow.
- John 15:10If you obey my commandments, you will live in my love. I have obeyed my Father’s commandments, and in that way I live in his love.
- Philippians 2:7Instead, he emptied himself by taking on the form of a servant, by becoming like other humans, by having a human appearance.
- Hebrews 7:26We need a chief priest who is holy, innocent, pure, set apart from sinners, and who holds the honored position—the one next to God the Father on the heavenly throne.
- 1 Peter 2:21God called you to endure suffering because Christ suffered for you. He left you an example so that you could follow in his footsteps.
- 1 John 2:6Those who say that they live in him must live the same way he lived.
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
In the dictionaries
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
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