The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 100

Vers. 16, 17.-The heavenly attestation of the Sonship of Jesus. The singular and thrilling event recorded in these verses is recorded also by St. Mark (i. 9-11) and by St. Luke (iii. 21, 22) in an equally full manner, while it is distinctly alluded to by St. John (i. 32, 33). It is remarkable that, though nothing is said either way, we are left to conclude that the vision was confined to the two only-Jesus himself and John the Baptist. From that time John, who had_pe'l"sonally long known Jesus, knew him for certain as the Messiah ; and not only heralded the Christ, but could point to him as the Christ (John i. 29, 30). Notice- I. THE CRISIS AT WHICH THIS GLORIOUS ATTESTATION OCCURRED, The first profound act of pnblic, spontaneous self-humiliation is alighted upon by the visit of a supernatural glorification. Immediately the act of baptism was over, the heavens opened, the Dove sped down, the voice of the Majesty himself of all the universe uttered itself forth, and - glory was poured on Jesus. Il. THE CONSTITUENT PABTB OF IT. 1, The "heavens opened.n We are certainly entitled by Scripture warrant, to say the least, in order to help our weaker under- standing and thought, to consider heaven as a place, that place being the abode of God, These helps to human imaginings of the Unknown will not discredit our faith in the Divine omnipresence and in the fact that he is perfect Spirit; but they are needful to our present limitations of apprehension of the dim, vast, uncomprehended. 2. The Spirit descended, and in the form of a dove. No doubt it was now that an enormous accession of the Spirit was made to the human nature of Jesus Christ. And the" bodily form" of the dove was to betoken alike the soft flight and that tenderest gentleness of the Spirit, and the peace and love of him who was now more fully replenished with the Spirit. 3. A voice from heaven speaks. It is here said "a" voice. But the words spoken prove that it was none less than the voice of Heaven, the voice of the majesty of the Father, of the Glory-God himselfI (1) Great is the impression of voice, (2) Great may be the absolute charm of voice. (3) Great beside all else is the fixed, distinct certainty of voice, as e.g. compared with vision or wilh ima11:ination. God speaks in all creation with ten thousand voices, it is true. But when he speaks with that voice which utters words, the ear hears as in its own right. The words uttered by the voice of God assert (a) the Sooship of Jesus; (b) that he ie the object of the Father's uoqualifiecl complacence; and (c) because that might be the complacence of feeling chiefly, by the analogy of human relationship, the voice asserts the Father's perfect approbation as well. III. Tim GREAT OBJE<n' OF THIS ATTESTATION, It appears to have been vouchsafed for the absolute warranting of the faith of John the Baptist. 'l'he simplicity, and what should seem in some light the narrowness, of this object invest it to a very large extent with its greatness. 1. What a testimony of condescending graciousness to that one man! He is to live for Christ, to work for Christ, to die for Christ. And to furnish him with exactly the enough satisfaction of evidence, faith, growing into kr,owledge, all OD, m.1-17.J THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 89