Matthew 3

Matthew 3:1-12 (Amplified)
(John The Baptist Prepares The Way)

- v8. "Bring forth fruit that is consistent with repentance [let your lives prove your change of heart];"

Matthew 3:13-17 (Amplified)
(John Baptises Jesus)

-v15. "...Permit it just now; for this is the fitting way for [both of] us to fulfill all righteousness [that is, to perform completely whatever is right]."

This is the FIRST time Jesus appears in person (as an adult) in the Bible, and these are His FIRST words in Matthew (and the New Testament), and He talks about "fulfill(ing) all righteousness".

I went back to my lecture notes again, and it talks about the "Fulfillment Theme" in Matthew:

The Fulfillment Theme

The central theme of Matthew’s gospel, according to France, is that of fulfillment. This is seen in the repeated use of formula quotations: ‘this was to fulfill…’ (cf. 1.22-23; 2.15,17-18,23; 4.14-16; 8.17; 12.17-21; 13.35; 21.4-5; 27.9,10; see also 13.14; 26.54,56).

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When Jesus comes to John the Baptist for baptism, John is at first reluctant to baptise Jesus. But Jesus persuades him that it is necessary in order to "fulfill all righteousness" (3.15). Jesus' teaching is concerned with the fulfilling of all righteousness, but Jesus does not offer teaching that legislates for the details of life, but rather gives broad principles of conduct.

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Although in this case, the Amplified Bible gives the impression that righteousness is a "performance", in the Greek Lexicon, it is still the word dikaiosune from dikaios which refers to righteousness as a state of being that is accepted by God.

The word "fulfill" here is the Greek word pleroo, which means:

- to carry into effect, bring to realisation, realise

1. of matters of duty: to perform, execute
2. of sayings, promises, prophecies, to bring to pass, ratify, accomplish
3. to fulfil, i.e. to cause God's will (as made known in the law) to be obeyed as it should be, and God's promises (given through the prophets) to receive fulfilment

Isn't it amazing that the very first thing that Jesus talks about is His fulfillment of ALL righteousness, to let us know that the gift of righteousness that we receive from Him has TOTALLY and PERFECTLY FULFILLED all of God's requirements so that we can have right standing with Him??

AMEN! Why do we seek our own lousy self-righteousness, when we can humble ourselves to receive His perfect righteousness, which is freely given to us as a gift?

Our self-righteousness can make us "feel good", but it cannot cause things to be added to us (Matthew 6:33).