John Calvin Commentary Matthew 3:14

"But John would have hindered him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?" — Matthew 3:14 (ASV)

I have need to be baptized by you. It is certain that John acknowledged Christ to be not only a distinguished prophet, as many foolishly dream, but the Son of God, as he really was; for otherwise John would have dishonored God by lowering his holy calling to a mortal man. The reader will learn how John came to know this by consulting John 1:15, 33. There was, no doubt, plausibility in this ground of refusal, that Christ had no need of John's baptism; but John was mistaken in not considering that it was for the sake of others that baptism was asked.²⁹⁴

And so Christ instructs him to consider what was suitable to the character of a servant (Philippians 2:7), which he had undertaken; for a voluntary subjection takes nothing from his glory. Though the good man²⁹⁵ remained ignorant for a time of some part of his public duty, this particular error did not prevent him from discharging his office of Baptist in a proper and lawful manner.

This example shows that we do not act rashly in undertaking the commission which the Lord has given us, according to the light we enjoy, though we do not immediately comprehend all that belongs to our calling or that depends upon it. We must also observe John's modesty in giving up his opinion and immediately obeying Christ.

²⁹⁴ “Que c'est pour le profit des autres, et non pas pour le sien, que Christ demande d'estre baptize.” — “That it is for the benefit of others, and not for his own, that Christ asks to be baptized.”.” — “That it is for the benefit of others, and not for his own, that Christ asks to be baptized.”

²⁹⁵ “Quelque excellent personnage qu'il fust.” — “However excellent a person he was.”.” — “However excellent a person he was.”