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Explanation for:
Matthew
3
:
13
Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan, unto John, to be baptized by him.
12
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The Saviour, Jesus, had three purposes for being baptised by John. First, as He was born into humanity, He aimed to fulfill all righteousness and demonstrate humility in relation to the law. Second, through His own baptism, He intended to validate the importance of John's baptism. Finally, by sanctifying the waters of the Jordan with the descent of the dove, He revealed the arrival of the Holy Spirit during the baptisms of those who believe."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The Lord, in His divine role, approaches baptism alongside His ministers, standing with the guilty as their Judge. Yet, we should not be perturbed by this act; for in His lowliness, His greatness radiates. What reason do we have to be astonished? Here is one who, having been baptized and joining those in need, chose to dwell within a virgin’s womb for an extended period, assuming our humanity, experiencing suffering, and enduring the trials He faced. It is indeed remarkable that He, the Almighty, chose to take on human form, and all other events flow from this profound decision. This is why John proclaimed in advance that he was unworthy to loosen the thong of His sandal (Luke 3:16). He affirmed that Christ is the Judge who will bestow just rewards upon all and pour out the fullness of the Spirit. Therefore, when you witness Him approaching for baptism, do not deem Him as diminished. In fact, when He approached John, the latter hesitated, exclaiming, ‘I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?’ (Matthew 3:14)."},{"author-name":"Ephraem the Syrian","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88b589fc3e99eb7bb1839_Ephraem%20the%20Syrian.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"He approached John to receive baptism, a deliberate act aimed at exposing the Marionites. If he had not taken on human form, there would have been no purpose for him to submit to baptism, as the Divine essence is not in need of such a practice."},{"author-name":"Anonymous Commentary (Opus Imperfectum)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":4,"exegesis-text":"He came to affirm the truth of John's witness, demonstrating that at His baptism, the heavens were opened, the Holy Spirit descended, and the Father spoke from above. The revelation made it clear that He who was baptized by John held a higher status than John himself. Just as light does not await the morning star's departure, but shines while it still graces the sky, surpassing its brilliance; similarly, John prepared the way before Christ, yet Christ did not wait for John to complete his mission but approached the people directly. He manifested Himself while John was still teaching, ensuring it was understood that John's words and deeds were not the ultimate truth. Thus, as Jesus began to proclaim the message to the multitudes that gathered around Him, John's influence diminished. When John proclaimed, \\"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand\\" (Matt. 3:2), Jesus came to validate John's testimony, declaring, \\"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world\\" (John 1:29), confirming John's prophecy. This was so that those observing would ponder, \\"If He, to whom the Baptist testified as sinless, chooses to be baptized as though He were a sinner, how can we, who are burdened by our transgressions, disregard the call to repentance?\\" Likewise, John testified, \\"I baptize you in water, but He who comes after me is mightier than I; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire\\" (Matthew 3:11)."},{"author-name":"Hilarius of Poitiers","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88cb92f12b3278598f946_Hilarius%20of%20Poitiers.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"In Jesus Christ, the embodiment of the ideal man was manifested, and thus the physical form He embraced, in submission to the Spirit, encompassed the entirety of our salvation's mystery. He approached John, born of a virgin, who was governed by the law, and became incarnate through the Word. Yet, He had no requirement for cleansing, as it is stated that He committed no sin (1 Pet. 2:22), and where sin does not exist, the concept of remission loses its significance. Although He adopted a body and identity from our humanity, there was no need for Him to be cleansed; instead, He was meant to experience sanctification through the waters of our baptism. \\n\\nThe baptism of Jesus by John posed challenges for early interpreters: why would Jesus, who was sinless and vastly superior to John, choose to engage in an act of repentance? This excerpt from Hilary and the subsequent interpretations provide various explanations aimed at clarifying this conundrum."},{"author-name":"Ambrose of Milan","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88871ceef8c96e0998cd0_Ambrose%20of%20Milan.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Jesus approaches John, and you are already familiar with the subsequent events (refer to interpretations of Luke chapter 3)."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"The holy undergo baptism to purify us and to demonstrate that if we desire to receive baptism, we must first be made clean, so that we do not taint the sacrament by quickly succumbing to sin through negative habits."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"Alongside the servants arrives the Lord; they came seeking repentance, while He came to reveal Himself to the nations. Therefore, John proclaimed, \\"Let Him appear to Israel\\" (John 1:31)."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"At that time, when John proclaimed the arrival of the Messiah and baptized the people, Jesus came from Galilee. Having returned from Egypt, He established His home in Nazareth of Galilee and approached John around the age of thirty. His decision to receive baptism differed from the reasons the people had, as the sinless Savior had no sins to confess or repentance to express. He underwent baptism to (1) set apart this practice as a holy sacrament, marking the entry into the Christian Church; (2) to reveal Himself to Israel and the world as the authentic promised Messiah, confirmed by the testimony of God the Father, the descent of the Holy Spirit, and the affirmation of John the Baptist; (3) baptism serves as a purification, reminding us that we must first be cleansed before approaching it, in order to avoid tainting the act of baptism through sinful behaviors."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"In becoming a genuine human being for our salvation, Christ our Savior journeyed through every stage of life, from the innocence of childhood to the maturity of manhood. He willingly complied with human authorities and meticulously met all the stipulations of the Law of Moses. As St. John Chrysostom remarked, “No one will assert that He abolished the ceremonial law because He could not adhere to it; indeed, He did not violate any of its commandments.” The Jewish law prohibited priestly service and public teaching before the age of thirty, thus Jesus spent three decades in the little-known town of Nazareth, engaging in humble carpenter work, anticipating the moment appointed for Him to reveal His presence to the world and embark on His mission of redemption. The Synaxar recounts that “Jesus Christ was baptized at the age of thirty, an age at which a man might easily succumb to sin. For, as taught by St. Chrysostom and Theophylact, the first stage of life, childhood, is marked by ignorance and folly, while the second stage, youth, is inflamed by lust. Likewise, the age of thirty, representing the uniqueness of a complete man, is not free from greed, pride, anger, and various other sins.” Until this point, the Lord delayed His baptism to fully embody all ages, sanctifying our entire human nature and empowering us to triumph over our passions and avoid mortal sins.\\n\\nAt thirty, as John the Baptist began to unveil the identity of Christ to the people of Judea, Jesus of Galilee, the long-anticipated Messiah from an unremarkable region where Israelites mingled with Gentiles, approached John at the Jordan in meekness, like any ordinary man seeking baptism. St. John Chrysostom reflects on this scene, stating, “With the common people, the Lord, the Judge, seeks to be baptized! The sinless One had no need for repentance or baptism. Yet, in His humility, His greatness is revealed. Why should we marvel at His choice to be born as a man, to receive baptism, to suffer, and to carry the cross?” St. Gregory of Neocaesarea marvels at “the meekness and humility of the Lord,\\" noting how the heavenly King presented Himself to John, not with an entourage of angels, but as a mere human. The Redeemer and Judge stands among the captives, while the Good Shepherd, who descended from heaven for the lost sheep, remains yet in heaven; the heavenly Wheat, appearing among the tares.\\n\\nWhy was our Lord Jesus, the purest of the pure, baptized? He voluntarily answered John to fulfill all righteousness. What righteousness? The righteousness of the Law, which He obeyed so strictly that He challenged His adversaries, saying: “Which of you will convict Me of sin?” (John 8:46). Who will accuse Me of lawbreaking? The Law mandated purification with water for both the sacrifice and the priest who offered it. Jesus united Himself with sinners, humbling Himself to make the ultimate sacrifice for humanity’s sins on the cross. Thus, the Eternal High Priest, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, was baptized by John, the son of the priest Zacharias, in the waters of the Jordan. Under the Mosaic Law, outsiders were required for cleansing, but who could be more worthy to perform this sacred act than the righteous son of Zacharias? Was it not in preparation for such a profound honor that John spent his youth in the wilderness, preserving his innocence and purity from the moral corruption of the world?\\n\\nConsequently, through the immersion of His holy body in the waters, the Lord Jesus fulfilled the Law and sanctified the very essence of water, imparting it with the divine authority necessary to cleanse human sins. This act not only established but also consecrated the New Covenant Sacrament of Baptism. In the baptism of our Savior, His divine love for mankind was publicly demonstrated, as He took upon Himself the sins of all humanity, representing humanity itself as He cleansed them in the Jordan, thereby opening the gates of heaven and revealing the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity. Just as He completed the Old Covenant Passover at the Last Supper and instituted the New Covenant Sacrament of Communion, so, in His baptism, He fulfilled the Old Covenant rite, thus establishing the New Covenant Sacrament.\\n\\nIn His baptism, He submerged the sin of Adam. Approaching John at the Jordan for baptism, John, though related to the Lord, had lived in solitude in the wilderness and did not know Him personally. As he himself stated, “I did not know Him” (John 1:31, 33). But the one who had recognized the approach of the Lord while still in his mother’s womb could undoubtedly sense with his prophetic spirit that the Lord Jesus was no ordinary man, but the promised Messiah. Through divine revelation, he acknowledged that the very Christ he proclaimed was before him, standing as a simple man humbly seeking baptism. Awe filled the soul of the Forerunner as he beheld his Lord and God, the Sovereign of the universe, the true Light who enlightens all, the Holiest Sanctifier, and the Supreme Judge, the genuine Messiah for whom he had cried out while still in the womb."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Jesus approached John at the Jordan River, coming from Galilee to receive baptism from him (Matthew 3:13). As noted by Matthew, Mark further specifies that Jesus originated from Nazareth in Galilee. Why did the faultless Jesus seek baptism from John? This inquiry is addressed by both John the Baptist and Jesus Himself. According to the account provided by John the Evangelist, John declared to those sent from the Sanhedrin, ‘I... for this purpose I came to baptise in water, that He (i.e. Christ) might be manifested to Israel' (John 1:31). For thirty years, Jesus had lived a humble life in Nazareth, including a brief period in Bethlehem and Egypt. Now, He was ready to begin His public ministry in accordance with the will of the Father who had commissioned Him. This was His moment to reveal Himself to the people, allowing them to hear the proclamation of Him as the long-awaited Messiah. His public revelation and John's witness occurred at the Jordan River. However, one might wonder why baptism was necessary. Jesus could have revealed Himself and shared His message without undergoing baptism; in fact, by being baptised, He risked diminishing His stature in the eyes of the onlookers, who might mistakenly perceive Him as a sinner."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Even those from the distant regions of Galilee traveled to hear John proclaim his message and to receive the baptism of repentance. Among them was Jesus, who had just reached ‘about thirty years old’, embodying the peak of his sinless humanity. Though John was related to Him, life’s circumstances had created a significant separation between them. John grew up in the home of his devout father, a priest residing in one of the priestly towns (Utah), located in the southern part of the tribe of Judah, close to Hebron. In contrast, Jesus lived in solitude, working in his father’s carpenter shop in Galilee. When Jesus first approached the banks of the Jordan, John the Baptist, as he later stated, ‘knew Him not’; yet His mere presence profoundly impacted John’s spirit. To others, John was a formidable prophet, unafraid to confront kings and sternly criticize the Pharisees, but when he faced this enigmatic Galilean, the once resolute prophet of the wilderness was overwhelmed by a mysterious reverence."}]}
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