17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son,
17 And along with the Spirit, a voice: "This is my Son, chosen and marked by my love, delight of my life."
17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy."
13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his
13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
13 God rescued us from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He's set us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much,
13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,
(Read Colossians 1:9-14)
The apostle was constant in prayer, that the believers might be filled with the knowledge of God's will, in all wisdom. Good words will not do without good works. He who undertakes to give strength to his people, is a God of power, and of glorious power. The blessed Spirit is the author of this. In praying for spiritual strength, we are not straitened, or confined in the promises, and should not be so in our hopes and desires. The grace of God in the hearts of believers is the power of God; and there is glory in this power. The special use of this strength was for sufferings. There is work to be done, even when we are suffering. Amidst all their trials they gave thanks to the Father of our Lord Jesus, whose special grace fitted them to partake of the inheritance provided for the saints. To bring about this change, those were made willing subjects of Christ, who were slaves of Satan. All who are designed for heaven hereafter, are prepared for heaven now. Those who have the inheritance of sons, have the education of sons, and the disposition of sons. By faith in Christ they enjoyed this redemption, as the purchase of his atoning blood, whereby forgiveness of sins, and all other spiritual blessings were bestowed. Surely then we shall deem it a favour to be delivered from Satan's kingdom and brought into that of Christ, knowing that all trials will soon end, and that every believer will be found among those who come out of great tribulation.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 3:17
Commentary on Matthew 3:13-17
(Read Matthew 3:13-17)
Christ's gracious condescensions are so surprising, that even the strongest believers at first can hardly believe them; so deep and mysterious, that even those who know his mind well, are apt to start objections against the will of Christ. And those who have much of the Spirit of God while here, see that they need to apply to Christ for more. Christ does not deny that John had need to be baptized of him, yet declares he will now be baptized of John. Christ is now in a state of humiliation. Our Lord Jesus looked upon it as well becoming him to fulfil all righteousness, to own every Divine institution, and to show his readiness to comply with all God's righteous precepts. In and through Christ, the heavens are opened to the children of men. This descent of the Spirit upon Christ, showed that he was endued with his sacred influences without measure. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. At Christ's baptism there was a manifestation of the three Persons in the sacred Trinity. The Father confirming the Son to be Mediator; the Son solemnly entering upon the work; the Holy Spirit descending on him, to be through his mediation communicated to his people. In Him our spiritual sacrifices are acceptable, for He is the altar that sanctifies every gift, 1 Peter 2:5. Out of Christ, God is a consuming fire, but in Christ, a reconciled Father. This is the sum of the gospel, which we must by faith cheerfully embrace.