Matthew 3:13

KJV

¶ Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then {G5119} cometh {G3854} Jesus {G2424} from {G575} Galilee {G1056} to {G1909} Jordan {G2446} unto {G4314} John {G2491}, to be baptized {G907} of {G5259} him {G846}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then Yeshua came from the Galil to the Yarden to be immersed by Yochanan.

Berean Standard Bible

At that time Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.

American Standard Version

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 3:13 records the profound moment Jesus Christ journeyed from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John the Baptist, an event that marked the public inauguration of His earthly ministry. This pivotal act, though seemingly one of submission, was a deliberate step in fulfilling all righteousness, signifying Jesus' identification with humanity's need for cleansing and His divine anointing for the redemptive work He was sent to accomplish.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Matthew 3:13 immediately follows John the Baptist's powerful and uncompromising ministry of repentance and baptism in the wilderness of Judea. John has been presented as the prophetic forerunner, fulfilling the ancient prophecies of one preparing the way for the Lord. The narrative has established John's unique role, his ascetic lifestyle, and his bold proclamation against the religious establishment, emphasizing that his baptism was for repentance, not for the righteous. The sudden appearance of Jesus, traveling from His home region, sets up a dramatic encounter, as John himself recognizes the incongruity of baptizing the sinless Messiah, leading to the dialogue recorded in the subsequent verses (Matthew 3:14-15), which clarifies the divine purpose of this baptism. This event also serves as a crucial transition point, moving from John's preparatory ministry to the public commencement of Jesus' own work, culminating in the Trinitarian affirmation of Jesus' identity and mission in [Matthew 3:16-17](/matthew/3-16-17 "Matthew 3:16-17 - The Baptism of Jesus").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Galilee, Jesus' home region, was often viewed by Judean religious leaders as a less sophisticated or even religiously suspect area, a "Galilee of the Gentiles" as mentioned in [Isaiah 9:1](/isaiah/9-1 "Isaiah 9:1 - Galilee of the Gentiles"). Jesus' journey from this region to the Jordan River, a place of significant historical and spiritual weight, underscores His humble origins and universal mission. The Jordan River itself held deep symbolic meaning for Israel, being the boundary crossed by Joshua and the Israelites into the Promised Land ([Joshua 3](/joshua/3 "Joshua 3 - Crossing the Jordan River")), and later associated with prophetic acts and spiritual cleansing, such as Naaman's healing in [2 Kings 5:10-14](/2_kings/5-10-14 "2 Kings 5:10-14 - Naaman Healed in the Jordan"). John's baptism was a unique, eschatological call to repentance, signifying a radical break with past sins and a preparation for God's coming kingdom, distinct from traditional Jewish ritual washings.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several major themes in Matthew's Gospel. It highlights the theme of **divine humility**, as the Son of God, though sinless, submits to a baptism of repentance. It powerfully introduces the theme of **fulfillment of righteousness**, as Jesus explains in [Matthew 3:15](/matthew/3-15 "Matthew 3:15 - Jesus Explains His Baptism") that His baptism is necessary "to fulfill all righteousness," indicating His perfect obedience to God's will and His alignment with the divine plan for redemption. Furthermore, this event marks the **inauguration of Jesus' public ministry**, serving as the official divine commissioning for His work. The subsequent descent of the Holy Spirit and the Father's affirmation in [Matthew 3:16-17](/matthew/3-16-17 "Matthew 3:16-17 - The Divine Affirmation") underscore His divine anointing and identity as the Messiah, setting the stage for His teaching, healing, and ultimate redemptive mission.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **cometh (Greek, _paragínomai'_):** This word means "to become near, i.e., approach (have arrived); by implication, to appear publicly." Its use here emphasizes Jesus' deliberate and purposeful arrival, not a casual journey. He "appears publicly" at this significant moment, marking the beginning of His visible ministry.
* **Galilee (Greek, _Galilaía'_):** Of Hebrew origin, meaning "the heathen circle," referring to a region of Palestine. This highlights Jesus' origin from a region often looked down upon by the Judean religious elite, underscoring His humble beginnings and challenging preconceived notions of where the Messiah would come from.
* **baptized (Greek, _baptízō'_):** From a derivative meaning "to immerse, submerge; to make whelmed (i.e., fully wet)." In the New Testament, it specifically refers to ceremonial ablution, particularly the ordinance of Christian baptism. This term signifies a full immersion, emphasizing a complete identification with the cleansing and spiritual transformation symbolized by John's baptism of repentance, even though Jesus Himself had no sin to repent of.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"¶ Then cometh Jesus from Galilee":** This clause establishes the timing and origin of Jesus' arrival. "Then" (G5119, _tóte_) signifies a chronological progression from John's ministry, indicating that Jesus' appearance is a direct response to the preparatory work of the Baptist. Jesus' journey "from Galilee" underscores His humble, unexpected origin for the Messiah, challenging the expectations of many who anticipated a more prominent arrival from Jerusalem or Judea.
* **"to Jordan unto John":** This specifies Jesus' destination and the person He seeks. He travels to the Jordan River, the site of John's active ministry, directly seeking out John. The preposition "unto" (G4314, _prós_) denotes a movement "towards" John, indicating a purposeful encounter and a direct engagement with John's ministry.
* **"to be baptized of him.":** This states the explicit purpose of Jesus' journey. Despite His sinless nature, Jesus comes with the intention of undergoing John's baptism. This act is not for His own repentance, but as the subsequent verse clarifies, "to fulfill all righteousness," signifying His identification with humanity and His submission to the Father's will in inaugurating His redemptive mission.

#### Literary Devices
Matthew 3:13 employs several significant literary devices. **Foreshadowing** is prominent, as Jesus' deliberate act of coming to be baptized by John sets the stage for His public ministry and the subsequent divine affirmation, hinting at the profound events to follow. The verse also utilizes **Symbolism**, with Jesus' journey from "Galilee," a region associated with Gentiles and perceived as less significant, symbolizing His mission to all people, not just the religious elite. The "Jordan" itself is a powerful symbol, recalling Israel's entry into the Promised Land and acts of spiritual cleansing, thus imbuing Jesus' baptism with deep historical and theological resonance. Furthermore, there is a subtle **Irony** in the sinless Son of God submitting to a baptism of repentance, an irony immediately addressed by John's reluctance and Jesus' explanation in the following verses, which ultimately reveals a deeper divine purpose.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 3:13 is a foundational theological statement, revealing profound truths about Jesus' identity and mission. His willingness to submit to John's baptism, despite being without sin, demonstrates an unparalleled act of divine humility and solidarity with humanity. It underscores His perfect obedience to the Father's will, setting the pattern for all who would follow Him. This act fulfills God's righteous plan, not by cleansing Jesus, but by inaugurating His ministry in a way that perfectly aligns with divine expectation and prophecy. It is the moment when the Son of God, the Messiah, steps into the public arena, fully identifying with the very people He came to redeem, even in their brokenness and need for repentance.

* [Philippians 2:5-8](/philippians/2-5-8 "Philippians 2:5-8 - Christ's Humility")
* [Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus' Sinlessness")
* [1 Peter 2:21](/1_peter/2-21 "1 Peter 2:21 - Christ Our Example")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 3:13 offers a powerful model for believers, demonstrating the profound importance of obedience, humility, and identification with God's purposes. Jesus, though fully God, chose to step into the human experience, submitting to a ritual not for His own benefit, but to fulfill divine righteousness and identify with those He came to save. This challenges us to consider areas in our own lives where we might resist humble submission to God's will or to the processes He ordains, simply because we don't fully understand their purpose or because they seem beneath us. Jesus' example calls us to embrace a posture of obedience, trusting that God's ways are always perfect, even when they appear counter-intuitive. For Christians, baptism is a public declaration of our identification with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, and our commitment to walk in newness of life. It is an act of obedience that mirrors Jesus' own submission, signifying our repentance and faith, and our desire to follow His example of fulfilling all righteousness in our own lives.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways does Jesus' humility in seeking baptism challenge my own pride or reluctance to submit to God's will?**
* **How does Jesus' act of identification with humanity at His baptism inform my understanding of His love and sacrifice for me?**
* **What does "fulfilling all righteousness" mean for my daily walk as a believer, and how can I strive for greater obedience in my own life?**

### FAQ
**Why did Jesus, being sinless, need to be baptized by John?**

Answer: Jesus' baptism was not for the remission of His own sins, as He was completely sinless ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus Was Without Sin")). Instead, as Jesus Himself explained in [Matthew 3:15](/matthew/3-15 "Matthew 3:15 - Jesus' Explanation for Baptism"), it was "to fulfill all righteousness." This phrase encompasses several key aspects: it demonstrated His perfect obedience to the Father's will, even in seemingly paradoxical circumstances; it served as His public inauguration and anointing for ministry, marked by the descent of the Holy Spirit and the Father's affirmation ([Matthew 3:16-17](/matthew/3-16-17 "Matthew 3:16-17 - The Divine Affirmation")); and it signified His identification with humanity, stepping into the stream of those who recognized their need for repentance, thus foreshadowing His ultimate identification with sinners on the cross. It was a symbolic act, establishing His solidarity with humanity and setting the example for His followers.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 3:13, though seemingly a simple account of Jesus' arrival, is profoundly Christ-centered, serving as the dramatic prelude to His redemptive mission. Jesus' journey from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John is not merely a historical event; it is a deliberate act of the Son of God identifying with the very humanity He came to save. This act of humility and obedience foreshadows His ultimate identification with sinners on the cross, where He would become sin for us, though He knew no sin ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). His baptism, followed by the descent of the Holy Spirit and the Father's voice, marks His anointing as the Messiah, the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). It signifies the beginning of His public ministry, a ministry that would culminate in His death, burial, and resurrection, providing the true spiritual cleansing that John's baptism only symbolized. Thus, Jesus' baptism points forward to the new covenant established by His blood, where believers are united with Him in His death and resurrection through faith, experiencing true spiritual rebirth and newness of life ([Romans 6:3-4](/romans/6-3-4 "Romans 6:3-4 - United with Christ in Baptism")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

John 1:32

And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

John 1:34

And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

Mark 1:9

¶ And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

Mark 1:11

And there came a voice from heaven, [saying], Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Luke 3:21

¶ Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,

Luke 3:22

And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

Matthew 2:22

But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: