Matthew 3:14

New English Translation

¹⁴But John^[a] tried to prevent^[b] him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?”

Matthew 3:14 tc ‡ The earliest mss (א* B sa) lack the name of John here (“but he tried to prevent him,” instead of “but John tried to prevent him”). It is, however, clearly implied (and is thus supplied in translation). Although the longer reading has excellent support (P⁹⁶ א¹ C D^s L W Γ Δ 0233 0250 ƒ^{1, 13} 33 565 579 700 1241 1424 M lat[t] sy mae bo), it looks to be a motivated and predictable reading. Nevertheless, in light of the strong external support for “John,” it is only slightly more likely that the autographic wording of this verse lacked his name.
Matthew 3:14 tn The imperfect verb has been translated conatively.

Matthew 3:15

New English Translation

¹⁵So Jesus replied^[a] to him, “Let it happen now,^[b] for it is right for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John^[c] yielded^[d] to him.

Matthew 3:15 tn Grk “but Jesus, answering, said.” This construction with passive participle and finite verb is pleonastic (redundant) and has been simplified in the translation to “replied to him.”
Matthew 3:15 tn Grk “Permit now.”
Matthew 3:15 tn Grk “he”; the referent (John the Baptist) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
Matthew 3:15 tn Or “permitted him.”

New English Translation (NET)