Matius 3:13-14

The Baptism of Jesus

3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John to be baptized by him in the Jordan River. ¹  3:14 But John ²  tried to prevent ³  him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?”

Matius 9:14

The Superiority of the New

9:14 Then John’s ⁴  disciples came to Jesus ⁵  and asked, “Why do we and the Pharisees ⁶  fast often, ⁷  but your disciples don’t fast?”

[3:13]  ¹ tn “River” is not in the Greek text but is supplied for clarity.

[3:14]  ² tc ‡ The earliest mss (א* B sa) lack the name of John here (“but he tried to prevent him,” instead of “but John tried to prevent him”). It is, however, clearly implied (and is thus supplied in translation). Although the longer reading has excellent support (Ì⁹⁶ א¹ C D^s L W 0233 0250 Ë^1,13 33 Ï lat[t] sy mae bo), it looks to be a motivated and predictable reading: Scribes apparently could not resist adding this clarification.

[3:14]  ³ tn The imperfect verb has been translated conatively.

[9:14]  ⁴ sn John refers to John the Baptist.

[9:14]  ⁵ tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

[9:14]  ⁶ sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.

[9:14]  ⁷ sn John’s disciples and the Pharisees followed typical practices with regard to fasting and prayer. Many Jews fasted regularly (Lev 16:29-34; 23:26-32; Num 29:7-11). The zealous fasted twice a week on Monday and Thursday.