Matthew 3:16-17 16And after being baptized, Jesus immediately got out from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down as a dove and coming on him. 17And behold, a voice from the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”
These verses add further confirmation about Jesus’ identity. Matthew has described Jesus in multiple terms thus far in his account. He has used the voices of angels, magi, people, and Scripture, and now he recounts a voice from heaven. Jesus’ obedience to the call of righteousness through baptism was answered by confirmation of his identity immediately when he came out of the water.
The opening of the heavens was a unique experience only mentioned here in history. Other people experienced visions of God’s power through theophanies, such as Moses, and seeing God’s throne, such as Isaiah and Ezekiel, but no one has ever had the type of experience like Jesus had at the Jordan river. The word heavens is sometimes translated as “sky,” but there is deeper meaning than simply the sun shining through the clouds. This opening was a direct channel from Jesus to God the Father.
The visible coming of the Holy Spirit was further confirmation of Jesus’ identity. Father, Son, and Spirit are all mentioned in these verses. The coming of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus was in fulfillment of Isaiah 42:1 and 61:1. The Spirit of God comes in the visible form of a dove. A dove was symbolic in ancient literature but the exact purpose here is unclear. A dove is a beautiful white bird. To see such an event would be a visible reminder of the love of God for his Son.
Jesus would give the same Spirit to his disciples on the day of Pentecost as they gathered for prayer, seeking the anointing and empowerment he had promised them (Acts 1:8; chapter 2). One exegetical issue of this passage is the identity of the “he” who saw this event. A simple reading assumes that this was Jesus, but the wider context suggests the possibility that John saw all of these events.
The voice from heaven confirmed Jesus’ identity as God’s Son. Beloved (agapētos)shows the special relationship of Father to Son. The love within the Trinity defines all other love. The theme of the love of the Father to the Son is repeated many times in John’s Gospel (3:35; 5:20; 15:9). We are enabled to love because of the Father’s love to the Son.
The voice also confirms the Son’s righteousness with the word well-pleased (eudokēsa). This confirmation is repeated on the mount of transfiguration in Matthew 17:5. Jesus was without sin and fully righteous before God’s laws. This confirmation of Jesus’ righteousness is significant for the story that comes next about his temptation. Even though he was sinless, he was not free of temptation.
This event at the beginning of his ministry sets Jesus up as worthy of worship. The one who became one with us through baptism also had a special relationship with and unique connection to the Almighty God. The Father affirmed to Jesus what he was about to do. In Mark and Luke the proclamation is to Jesus, “You are my son,” but in Matthew, this is a public disclosure, an epiphany, “This is my son.” The Word had become flesh was shining in the darkness.
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