Jesus was baptized not because he had sin to confess, but because this was the fitting act of obedience to God's will at that point in his saving plan. At his baptism, the Father and the Spirit publicly identified him as the beloved Son and marked the beginning of his public mission.

Matthew moves quickly from John's preaching to Jesus' arrival, and that is intentional. John had announced that one greater than himself was coming, and now that greater One appears.

Jesus comes from Galilee to the Jordan for the specific purpose of being baptized by John. John strongly objects, and his objection matters. It shows that he recognizes Jesus is not like the crowds who were confessing their sins. In one sense, John says the roles should be reversed: John needs what comes from Jesus. So Matthew is not presenting Jesus as a sinner seeking cleansing.

Jesus replies, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Both “now” and “it is fitting” are important. Jesus is not giving a general rule about baptism in every situation. He is speaking about what is proper in this particular moment of God's saving plan. The words “for us” show that both Jesus and John have appointed roles to carry out in obeying God here.

To “fulfill all righteousness” means to do what accords with God's will. It does not mean that Jesus lacked righteousness and needed to obtain it, nor that he was repenting of personal sin. Rather, Jesus is fully obeying the Father in this appointed moment and entering into the mission given to him. In this way, he identifies with the people he came to save while still remaining distinct from them in his sinlessness.

After John yields, Jesus is baptized. As he comes up out of the water, heaven opens. This signals divine revelation. God himself is showing how this event is to be understood.

Then the Spirit of God descends on Jesus like a dove. Matthew's point is not to invite elaborate speculation about the dove imagery, but to show that the Spirit came upon Jesus visibly. This marks both divine approval and divine enabling for the mission ahead, which leads directly into the wilderness testing.

Then a voice from heaven says, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” In Matthew's Gospel, this is a public declaration. The Father openly identifies Jesus as the beloved Son in whom he delights. These words echo both the royal Son theme of Psalm 2 and the Servant theme of Isaiah 42. Jesus is therefore presented as both Messiah-King and obedient Servant. Significantly, the Father declares his pleasure in Jesus before Matthew records any miracle or public teaching ministry.

This scene also displays the coordinated action of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. The Son is baptized, the Spirit descends, and the Father speaks. Matthew's immediate emphasis, however, is that Jesus' mission begins under divine approval and divine enabling.

This event should be read in connection with both what comes before and what follows. John's earlier preaching explains why his objection is so strong, and the temptation narrative that follows shows that the Father's declaration at the Jordan will soon be tested in the wilderness. Divine approval does not mean exemption from trial.

Key Truths: - Jesus was baptized by deliberate choice, not by accident. - His baptism does not imply personal sin, repentance, or moral need. - “Fulfill all righteousness” here means doing what is fitting according to God's will at this stage of God's saving plan. - Jesus identifies with the people he came to save while remaining sinless. - The opened heavens, the Spirit's descent, and the Father's voice publicly authenticate Jesus. - The Father's words present Jesus as the beloved Son and also echo the Servant theme of Isaiah. - The baptism marks the outset of Jesus' public mission and leads directly to his testing in the wilderness.