“Let it be so now,” Jesus replied. “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness in this way.” Then John permitted Him.
Parallel translations
- WEB But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him.
- 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.
- 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.
- NASB But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he *allowed Him.
- NLT But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus insists on baptism to "fulfill all righteousness," and John consents. He identifies with sinners and obeys the Father's will.
Overview
By being baptized, Jesus fully identifies with the people he came to redeem and fulfills God's righteous plan. Though sinless, he takes his place among sinners, foreshadowing the cross where he would bear their sin. His obedience here is the pattern of the perfect righteousness he provides for his people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- John 4:34Jesus explained, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.
- Isa 42:21The LORD was pleased, for the sake of His righteousness, to magnify His law and make it glorious.
- John 15:10If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.
- John 13:15I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you.
- Luke 1:6Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.
- Phil 2:7–8but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness.
- Ps 40:7–8Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—it is written about me in the scroll:
- John 8:29He who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.”
- John 13:7–9Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
- 1 Pet 2:21–24For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:
- 1 Jn 2:6Whoever claims to abide in Him must walk as Jesus walked.
- Heb 7:26Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 3:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.