Thou art My beloved Son.
Humiliation and exaltation
It will be well for us to remember that our great Example was most highly exalted just when His humiliation was deepest; that it was when He had made Himself one with the sons of men that He was declared to be the Son-the beloved Son-of God. It is a pledge that the lowly, submissive spirit will be greatly sanctified, and that there is no surer way to win the approval of God than by yielding our wills to the authority of those set over us by the Lord, and striving to carry out the rules of the Church in the spirit of Him who accepted at once what His Father had appointed. “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.” (H. M. Luckock, D. D.)
“My beloved Son”
I. An expression of affection and approval. The Father bore witness to the Son. Not for Christ’s sake only, but for ours, came that voice, approving the character and authenticating the mission of the Son of God.
II. An implicit and authoritative appeal for human faith, attachment, and obedience. He of whom the Father thus speaks, is worthy of all our honour, gratitude, and devotion. (Family Churchman)