Matthew 3:14 kjv
But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
Matthew 3:14 nkjv
And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?"
Matthew 3:14 niv
But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
Matthew 3:14 esv
John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
Matthew 3:14 nlt
But 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?"
Matthew 3 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 3:11 | I indeed baptize you with water... but He who is coming... | John knew Jesus was the mightier one. |
| Matt 3:15 | But Jesus answered him, "Permit it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness." | Jesus's purpose: fulfilling righteousness through this act. |
| Lk 1:43 | And why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? | Elizabeth's similar humble recognition of Jesus's preeminence. |
| Jn 1:27 | It is He who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie. | John's repeated acknowledgment of unworthiness before Christ. |
| Jn 1:30 | This is He of whom I said, 'After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.' | John's testimony about Jesus's eternal pre-existence. |
| Acts 19:4 | John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in Him who would come after him, that is, in Christ Jesus. | John's baptism points solely to Jesus, not for Jesus. |
| 2 Cor 5:21 | For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. | Jesus's sinlessness is foundational to John's objection. |
| Heb 4:15 | For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. | Reinforces Jesus's absolute purity. |
| Heb 7:26 | For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens. | Jesus's intrinsic holiness contrasts with human sin. |
| 1 Pet 2:22 | "Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth." | Apostolic confirmation of Jesus's sinless life. |
| 1 Jn 3:5 | And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. | Purpose of Jesus's manifestation, highlighting His lack of personal sin. |
| Phil 2:6-8 | Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant... and became obedient to the point of death. | Jesus's humble condescension in taking human form and submitting to God's will. |
| Lk 22:42 | Saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." | Jesus's pattern of submitting to the Father's will. |
| Isa 40:3 | The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God." | John the Baptist as the prophetic forerunner of the Messiah. |
| Mal 3:1 | "Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me..." | Prophecy of the messenger preparing the way for the Lord's coming. |
| Jn 1:33 | "I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'" | John's recognition guided by divine revelation, foreshadowing Jesus's greater baptism. |
| Acts 1:5 | For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. | Distinction between John's water baptism and Jesus's Spirit baptism. |
| Acts 11:16 | Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, 'John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' | Peter recalling Jesus's promise, further separating the baptisms. |
| Eph 4:24 | and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. | What "all righteousness" looks like from the human side, contrasted with Christ's perfect righteousness. |
| Gal 4:4-5 | But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. | Jesus's humble entry into the human condition, including submission to legal observances. |
Matthew 3 verses
Matthew 3 14 Meaning
Matthew 3:14 captures John the Baptist's profound spiritual discernment and humble recognition of Jesus's absolute superiority. John, understanding his role as a precursor and foreseeing Jesus's divine identity, resists baptizing Jesus, declaring his own need to be baptized by Jesus instead. This moment highlights John's deep reverence for Christ and underscores the stark contrast between their spiritual standings, making it clear that Jesus was unique and not merely another individual in need of John's baptism of repentance.
Matthew 3 14 Context
Matthew chapter 3 opens with John the Baptist's ministry, emphasizing his call for repentance ("Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"). He preaches judgment for sin and baptizes those who confess their sins in the Jordan River. His attire and diet recall Old Testament prophets, signaling his prophetic authority. He directly confronts the Pharisees and Sadducees, denouncing their self-righteousness. He then introduces the "Stronger One" coming after him, who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire, highlighting Jesus's immense superiority and different kind of baptism. It is in this setting, after John has established himself as the divinely appointed herald, that Jesus arrives to be baptized. John's objection in verse 14 stems directly from his understanding of Jesus's identity as the Christ, the sinless Lamb of God, who stood above the need for a baptism of repentance from sin. The historical context confirms John's reputation and the widespread nature of his baptism as a sign of covenant renewal and preparation for the Messiah.
Matthew 3 14 Word analysis
- But: De (δὲ) – A conjunction marking a transition or opposition. It signifies a counter-response, emphasizing John's unexpected action against the ordinary flow of his ministry.
- John: Iōannēs (Ἰωάννης) – Refers to John the Baptist, the cousin and forerunner of Jesus. His identity as "the voice crying in the wilderness" (Matt 3:3) adds weight to his recognition of Jesus.
- forbad: diekōlyen (διεκώλυεν) – From diakōlyō, meaning "to prevent, hinder, forbid through," with emphasis on opposition. The imperfect tense in Greek indicates a continuous or repeated attempt by John to prevent Jesus, suggesting a persistent or earnest resistance rather than a mere refusal. It conveys his deep reluctance.
- Him: Auton (αὐτόν) – Refers to Jesus, the Son of God, who despite His divine status, presents Himself in humility.
- saying: legōn (λέγων) – "Speaking," introduces John's direct protest and explanation.
- I have need: Ego chreian echō (Ἐγὼ χρείαν ἔχω) – Emphasizes John's personal and urgent spiritual requirement. Ego (I) is placed for emphasis, highlighting his own unworthiness in contrast to Jesus. Chreian echō means "I have need" or "I am in need."
- to be baptized: baptisthēnai (βαπτισθῆναι) – Aorist passive infinitive, indicating the action of being baptized. John expresses his desire to receive the baptism from Jesus, anticipating the greater baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire.
- of Thee: hypo sou (ὑπὸ σοῦ) – Literally "by you." This clarifies the agent of the baptism, specifying Jesus as the one John wishes to perform the spiritual washing. It underscores Jesus's authority as the divine giver of true cleansing.
- and comest Thou: kai sy erchē (καὶ σὺ ἔρχῃ) – A rhetorical question expressing astonishment, incredulity, and profound respect. The placement of kai sy (and you) emphasizes the paradox: the greater coming to the lesser for a rite meant for the repentant. It highlights the divine reversal of expectations.
- to me: pros me (πρός με) – "Towards me." Emphasizes John's feeling of utter inadequacy to perform a spiritual rite on the Son of God.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "But John forbad Him": This phrase immediately establishes the unexpected turn of events. John, despite his mission to baptize everyone, makes a strong exception for Jesus, demonstrating his immediate recognition of Jesus's unique identity.
- "saying, I have need to be baptized of Thee": John’s confession of his own unworthiness and need is a profound theological statement. He grasps the true hierarchy – that Jesus is the giver of cleansing and grace, not in need of it himself. It anticipates Jesus’s spiritual baptism.
- "and comest Thou to me?": This rhetorical question underlines the scandalous humility of Jesus, presenting himself to a mere man for a symbolic act of purification. It reveals John's awe and disbelief that the infinitely greater would approach the incomparably lesser.
Matthew 3 14 Bonus section
- John's protest serves an apologetic function within Matthew's narrative, preempting any misunderstanding that Jesus was a sinful man or merely a disciple of John who needed repentance. It explicitly establishes Jesus's distinct and superior status from the outset of His public ministry.
- The paradox of the Greater being baptized by the lesser encapsulates the "humiliation" aspect of Christ's incarnation. While His baptism did not remit His sins, as He had none, it aligned Him with humanity and fulfilled the requirement of righteousness for all people.
- John's prophetic spirit allowed him to recognize Jesus's pre-existence and divine nature even before the Holy Spirit's visible descent or audible affirmation from the Father, reinforcing his role as the true forerunner.
- This interaction highlights the proper response to divine authority: immediate, humble recognition, and yielding. John exemplifies this reverent awe, providing a model for all believers.
Matthew 3 14 Commentary
Matthew 3:14 presents a critical juncture where John the Baptist, standing at the zenith of his preparatory ministry, publicly affirms Jesus's divine nature and unassailable authority. John's diekōlyen (persistent prohibition) is not defiance but humble submission to revealed truth. He immediately discerns that Jesus, being sinless, requires no baptism of repentance; indeed, it is the inverse that is proper—John needs Christ's cleansing power. This verse foreshadows the deeper theological reality that Christ came not to be served but to serve, embodying humility from the very beginning of His public ministry. It is a testament to John's integrity and spiritual discernment, rejecting self-aggrandizement and instead elevating the Messiah as divinely superior. His objection thus serves to highlight the extraordinary character and mission of Jesus, setting the stage for Jesus's pivotal statement in the following verse concerning the "fulfillment of all righteousness."