Matthew 3:6
and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Matthew 3:6
and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The confession here wasn't just a general admission of being a sinner; it was an open, active acknowledgment connected directly to the baptism. This public declaration, possibly detailing specific sins, signified a deep, personal repudiation of their past and a heartfelt embrace of a new, pure path forward.
Crowds are flocking to John the Baptist by the Jordan River, not just listening to his message of repentance but actively responding to it. This baptism isn't a casual ceremony; it's a public declaration and a turning away from sin that marks their preparation for the coming Messiah. The act of baptism in the Jordan, alongside their confessed sins, signifies a profound cleansing and a commitment to a new way of life as they await Jesus.
John the Baptist's baptism wasn't just a splash in the Jordan River. It was a powerful public declaration of a heart turned back to God.
John's baptism was a distinct ritual, signifying a turning away from sin and a readiness for the coming Kingdom of God. It wasn't the same as the baptism later instituted by Jesus for His followers, which marked entry into the Christian church and was administered in Christ's name.
A Symbol of Cleansing:
While the exact method of baptism (immersion vs. pouring/sprinkling) is debated, its meaning is clear: it was a visible sign of an inward cleansing. It represented washing away past impurities and a commitment to a new, pure life.
For Jews and Gentiles Alike:
This practice built on existing Jewish traditions of ritual washing, especially for proselytes converting to Judaism. John applied this familiar ritual to the Jewish people themselves, calling them to repentance and signaling a significant spiritual shift.
More than just a ritual, baptism here is tied to an active, open admission of wrongdoing. What does this teach us about facing our sin?
The confession connected to John's baptism was crucial. It wasn't a quiet, private whisper but an open acknowledgment, likely vocal and public, of personal sin.
Owning Your Sins:
This confession meant taking full responsibility for their actions and failures. It was a declaration that their sins were their own, not God's fault or anyone else's. This ownership is the bedrock of true repentance.
A Bridge to God's Mercy:
By confessing their sins, individuals showed they recognized their need for God's cleansing and forgiveness. This open admission prepared their hearts to receive the spiritual washing that baptism symbolized and the forgiveness that awaited them in the Messiah.
Understand the original words
baptizō · Greek Verb
The ritual act of immersion in water, symbolizing identification, purification, and initiation into a new community or spiritual state, often associated with repentance and the forgiveness of sins.
exomologeomai · Greek Verb
The act of acknowledging and admitting wrongdoing before God or others; it signifies a humble agreement with God regarding the reality and guilt of one’s transgressions.
hamartia · Greek Noun
Any action, thought, or condition that violates God’s law, misses the mark of His righteousness, or involves rebellion against His authority.
John the Baptist adapted existing Jewish purification rites, giving them new meaning to call all Israelites, not just proselytes, to repentance. This public confession and baptism in the Jordan was a radical call to prepare the nation for the imminent arrival of the Messiah.
c. 20 BC - 10 AD
Jewish Proselyte Baptism Practiced
Jewish tradition included baptizing converts (proselytes) from other nations into Judaism, symbolizing purification and a new life. This established practice likely influenced John the Baptist's ministry.
c. AD 28
John the Baptist Begins Ministry
John the Baptist starts preaching a baptism of repentance in the Judean wilderness, calling people to prepare for the coming Messiah.
c. AD 28-30— this verse
Mass Baptisms in the Jordan River
Vast crowds from Jerusalem, all Judea, and the surrounding region flocked to John. They were baptized by him in the Jordan River as a public confession of their sins and a sign of their repentance.
c. AD 30
Jesus is Baptized by John
Jesus himself comes to the Jordan River and is baptized by John, an event marking the public beginning of Jesus' ministry.
This passage echoes Matthew 3:6 by highlighting John the Baptist's ministry in the wilderness, specifically focusing on his call for repentance and baptism, which aligns with the public confession of sins mentioned in Matthew.
Acts 19:4Paul's interaction with disciples in Ephesus clarifies the nature of John's baptism, emphasizing it was a baptism of repentance that pointed towards Jesus, directly relating to the act of confessing sins in Matthew 3:6 as a precursor to faith in Christ.
Hebrews 9:14This verse speaks of Christ's blood cleansing consciences from dead works, offering a spiritual parallel to the outward washing of baptism and the confession of sins in Matthew 3:6, showing the deeper spiritual reality that John's baptism prefigured.
Isaiah 1:16The prophet Isaiah calls for washing and making oneself clean, coupled with putting away evil deeds. This Old Testament call for repentance and purification resonates deeply with the act of confession and baptism seen in Matthew 3:6.
1 John 1:9This verse provides a foundational truth for confession: if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us. This directly supports the act of confessing sins as a necessary step towards forgiveness, as seen in the baptismal context of Matthew 3:6.
barnesMatthew 3:6: "And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins."
Were baptized - The word "baptize" βαπτίζω baptizo signifies originally to tinge, to dye, to stain, as those who dye clothes. It here means to cleanse or wash anything by the application of water. See the notes at Mark 7:4 . Washing, or ablution, was much in use among the Jews, as one of the rites of their religion, Numbers 19:7 ; Hebrews 9:10 . It was not customary, however, among them to baptize those who were convert…
bensonMatthew 3:6: "And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins."
Matthew 3:6 . And were baptized of him in Jordan — Namely, those that were awakened to repentance. It has been questioned by many, whether John baptized these immense multitudes by dipping them in Jordan? In answer to which it has been observed, “that such prodigious numbers could hardly be baptized by immerging their whole bodies under water: nor can we think they were provided with change of raiment for it, which was sc…
The confession here wasn't just a general admission of being a sinner; it was an open, active acknowledgment connected directly to the baptism. This public declaration, possibly detailing specific sins, signified a deep, personal repudiation of their past and a heartfelt embrace of a new, pure path forward.
Crowds are flocking to John the Baptist by the Jordan River, not just listening to his message of repentance but actively responding to it. This baptism isn't a casual ceremony; it's a public declaration and a turning away from sin that marks their preparation for the coming Messiah. The act of baptism in the Jordan, alongside their confessed sins, signifies a profound cleansing and a commitment to a new way of life as they await Jesus.
Crowds are flocking to John the Baptist by the Jordan River, not just listening to his message of repentance but actively responding to it. This baptism isn't a casual ceremony; it's a public declaration and a turning away from sin that marks their preparation for the coming Messiah. The act of baptism in the Jordan, alongside their confessed sins, signifies a profound cleansing and a commitment to a new way of life as they await Jesus.
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c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Ministry and Commissioning of Disciples
Following Jesus' baptism, he begins his public ministry. He later commissions his own disciples to baptize others, now in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
"and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins." — The confession here wasn't just a general admission of being a sinner; it was an open, active acknowledgment connected directly to the baptism. This public declaration, possibly detailing specific si…