Baptism & Temptation

Baptism and Temptation

Matthew 3:13-4:11

Matthew 3:13–4:11 ESV

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John 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. And 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; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ” Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

As we continue in our study of the Gospel of Matthew, the ex-tax collector, we come to two significant events in our Lord’s life: His baptism and temptation. We know very about the early life of our Lord. We know about the time He as a boy stayed behind in Jerusalem on His parents visit. We know He grew up in a carpenter’s house. We can make the assumption that He worked along side Joseph. It was arduous work. They had to cut the trees and ready them for their construction as well as gather the rock. You can imagine that Jesus was very strong physically. The next time we see Him is when He presents Himself for baptism by John at the Jordan.

I. Jesus’ baptism. Vs. 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John recognized Jesus and no doubt knew Him because his mother Elizabeth was Mary’s cousin. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” John’s objection to baptizing Jesus was not that he saw Him as the Messiah, but as superior. John did know that Jesus was the Messiah until the heavenly sign revealed it. (ESV) I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance so it doesn’t make sense that Jesus who was sinless should submit to baptism. Many have tried to explain this, but we have no Scripture explanation. In verse 15 we see Jesus response. But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fill all righteousness.” Then he consented. We know Jesus came to fulfill the law not to abolish it.()

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.

15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.

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But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.

14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” John objected to baptizing Jesus not that he saw Him as the Messiah, but as superior. John did know that Jesus was the Messiah until it the heavenly sign revealed it. (ESV) I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance so it doesn’t make sense that Jesus who was sinless should submit to baptism. Many have tried to explain this, but we have no Scripture explanation.

We know that Jesus came to identify with us. In our baptism we are identified with Jesus in his death and resurrection so that His death becomes our death and His resurrection our resurrection. In Jesus’ baptism by John, Jesus identified Himself with us in our humanity, thereby taking on Himself the obligation to fulfill all righteousness so that He might be a perfect Savior and substitute for us.

31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance so it doesn’t make sense that Jesus who was sinless should submit to baptism. Many have tried to explain this, but we have no Scripture explanation.