New Living Translation
Matthew 3:15
15But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize 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 went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?” But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him. 16After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”
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 replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”
- Psalms 40:7Then I said, “Look, I have come. As is written about me in the Scriptures:
- Isaiah 42:21Because he is righteous, the Lord has exalted his glorious law.
- Luke 1:6Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations.
- John 4:34Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.
- John 8:29And the one who sent me is with me—he has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him.”
- John 13:15I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.
- John 15:10When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
- Philippians 2:7Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,
- Hebrews 7:26He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honor in heaven.
- 1 Peter 2:21For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.
- 1 John 2:6Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.
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
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries