Matthew 3:16 Commentary - Abbott's Illustrated New Testament
Verse 16Like a dove. But why in this form? The Scripture use of this emblem will be our best guide here. "My dove, my undefiled, is one," says the Song (Song of Solomon 6:9). This is chaste purity. Again, Be ye harmless as doves," says Christ himself (Matthew 10:16). Further, when we read the Song (Song of Solomon 2:14) "O my dove that art in the clefts of the rocks in the secret places of the stairs (see Isaiah 60:8), let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice and thy countenance is comely,"--it is shrinking modesty, meekness gentleness, that is thus charmingly depicted. In a word, when we read (Psalms 68:13), "Ye shall be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold," it is beauteousness that is thus held forth. And was not such that "Holy, harmless, undefiled One," the "Separate from sinners"? And when with John 1:32-34 we compare the predicted descent of the Spirit upon Messiah (Isaiah 11:2), "And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him," we cannot doubt that it was this permanent and perfect resting of the Holy Ghost upon the Son of God--now and thenceforward in his official capacity--that was here visibly manifested.
Consult other comments:
Matthew 3:16 - Abbott's Illustrated New Testament
Matthew 3:16 - The Greek Testament
Matthew 3:16 - Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Matthew 3:16 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Matthew 3:16 - Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
Matthew 3:16 - Calvin's Complete Commentary
Matthew 3:16 - The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Matthew 3:16 - Adam Clarke's Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Matthew 3:16 - Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Matthew 3:16 - Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Matthew 3:16 - Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
Matthew 3:16 - Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Matthew 3:16 - The Expositor’s Greek Testament by Robertson
Matthew 3:16 - Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
Matthew 3:16 - Geneva Bible Notes
Matthew 3:16 - John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
Matthew 3:16 - Gnomon of the New Testament
Matthew 3:16 - Henry Alford's Greek Testament
Matthew 3:16 - Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Matthew 3:16 - Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Matthew 3:16 - Jamieson, Fausset and Brown's Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Matthew 3:16 - The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Matthew 3:16 - Lightfoot Commentary Gospels
Matthew 3:16 - Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer's New Testament Commentary
Matthew 3:16 - Church Pulpit Commentary
Matthew 3:16 - Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Matthew 3:16 - English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Matthew 3:16 - Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament
Matthew 3:16 - A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Matthew 3:16 - Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Matthew 3:16 - John Trapp's Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Matthew 3:16 - The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Matthew 3:16 - Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament
Matthew 3:16 - Whedon's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Abbott's Illustrated New Testament

The electronic edition of John S. C. Abbott and Jacob Abbott's The New Testament of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; Translated Out of the Original Greek, and with the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised; with Explanatory Notes has been produced from a copy of the printed text published by O. A. Browning and Company (Toledo, OH, 1878). The title on the spine of the book is Abbott's Illustrated New Testament, and on the half-title page, The Pictorial New Testament; with Notes; by Jacob and John S. C. Abbott.