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Explanation for:
Matthew
3
:
14
But John stayed him, saying: I ought to be baptized by thee, and comest thou to me?
13
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{"arr":[{"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":"John's baptism was intended for repentance, awakening individuals to their sins. To clarify that Jesus approached the Jordan for a different reason, John referred to Him as the Lamb and the Redeemer of the world from sin. The one who has the power to eliminate the sins of all humanity is Himself without sin. Therefore, John did not declare, ‘Behold, He is sinless,’ but rather emphasized, ‘Take away the sins of the world,’ to assure you of His unique purpose in seeking baptism. This is why when Christ approached him, John expressed, ‘I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?’ He refrained from asking, ‘Do You wish to be baptized by me?’ out of reverence. Instead, his question was simply, ‘And do You come to me?’"},{"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":"John maintained his spirit free from all transgressions, as he was destined to immerse the One who knew no sin. It should not astonish you, John, that you administer My baptism, for I shall undergo the anointing of oil by a woman. ‘For the day,’ He declared, ‘of My burial ... she shall keep this’ (cf. John 12:7), in which He referred to His death as a baptism."},{"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, underwent baptism by John for three primary reasons. First, as He was born as a human, He sought to embody perfect righteousness and humility in relation to the law. Second, through His baptism, He intended to affirm the importance of John's ministry. Lastly, by sanctifying the waters of the Jordan with the descent of the dove, He demonstrated the arrival of the Holy Spirit at the baptism of believers."},{"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":"He approached John to receive baptism, yet the purpose of John's baptism was the forgiveness of sins. John restrained Him and inquired, “I require baptism from You, and You come to me? How can You, who are sinless, seek baptism for the forgiveness of sins? A sinner seeks baptism, but why would the One without fault request it?” (cf. Is. 53:9, 1 Pet. 2:22)"},{"author-name":"Chromatius of Aquileia","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88a3df6d7a747a33b4f4a_Chromatius%20of%20Aquileia.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"In order to fulfill the requirements of the law, Jesus travels from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. However, John, recognizing his Lord through the Holy Spirit, feels unworthy even to untie His sandals and hesitates to perform the baptism. He believes it’s unnecessary for someone who has come to bear the sins of the world through His own baptism. Consequently, John questions, \\"I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?\\" Implicitly, he expresses: \\"I am merely a man, while You are divine; I am a sinner, but You are sinless. Why would You seek baptism from me? I do not refuse to comply, but I do not fully understand this sacrament. I baptize those who repent from their sins. Why would You, who are without sin, desire to be baptized like a sinner, especially when You have come to save us from sin?\\" This reflects John's profound inquiry to Jesus."},{"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":"However, John hesitated, ensuring that onlookers would not perceive Him as just another individual undergoing a baptism of repentance. The forerunner required purification from the Lord, for he himself, being of Adam's lineage, was tainted by the stain of disobedience; yet the incarnate Christ purified all. He would not ask, \\"Are you also baptized by me?\\" but rather, \\"Have you also come?\\" Such was his humility!"},{"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":"John recognized Him through the Holy Spirit residing within him. The Evangelist John recounts, \\"John saw Jesus coming towards him and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world'\\" (John 1:29). He then hesitated, proclaiming, \\"I need to be baptized by You, the one who is free from sin, while I, who am burdened by sin, stand in need of Your cleansing. He who immerses in water is in turn immersed by Him who pours out the Holy Spirit and fire. The servant is baptized by the Master; the mere man is baptized by God. Yet here You are approaching me.\\" Thus, some interpret his words as a question: \\"Are You coming to me?\\" However, Gregory the Theologian interprets it affirmatively, sensing a prophetic implication: \\"You pursue me, who is to be sacrificed; in other words, You, too, shall face death.\\""},{"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":"And now, the powerful accuser of humanity's wickedness, who boldly spoke the truth in front of the proud high priests and King Herod himself, humbled himself like a child before the Son of God, who had lowered Himself even to the likeness of a servant: JOHN HAD HIM HOLD HIM. And how could he, a servant, dare to touch the Lord? How could he administer a baptism of repentance to the One who was sent to save humanity from sin, judgment, and death? What would the people think if they chose to baptize Him? Would they regard Him as inferior? The divinely inspired interpreters of Scripture, the holy fathers Gregory of Neocaesarea, Theophylact, and John Chrysostom, artfully convey the mindset of the Forerunner of Christ during these moments, as well as the Lord's response to him. They contend that from the lips of the Forerunner flowed an expression of profound humility before the greatness of Christ who approached him, and he, who had received confessions from countless others, now humbly confessed to the Lord, saying: I MUST BE BAPTISED OF THEE. It is as though he conveyed: ‘I am merely human, a recipient of Your grace, while You are both God and Man; I am among the sinners, and You alone are Sinless; I am a descendant of Adam, burdened by his sin, I require purification from this impurity, and You are pure; I baptize with water, but You baptize with the Holy Spirit’ - AND THOU COME TO ME...? What is this, Lord? Why do You request of Your servant what is customary for servants? Why do You seek what You do not need? I require Your baptism - the lesser is blessed by the greater, not the other way around. The lamp is illuminated by the sun, not the sun by the lamp. The creation is transformed by the Creator, not the Creator by the creation.... Therefore, if it pleases You, O Lord, baptize me, O Baptist! Revive him whom You have brought forth. Extend Your right hand and bless my head with Your touch, so that I may proclaim the gospel to sinners, declaring: Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29)."},{"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":"According to John 1:33, the Baptist received a divine revelation indicating that the individual upon whom he observed the Spirit descending would be the Messiah, yet prior to this he did not recognize Him. Even ahead of the fulfillment of this revelation, John refrained from performing the rite of baptism for Jesus, deeming himself unworthy of such an act. This decision likely stemmed from a profound prophetic awareness within him, which led him to discern the Messiah in Jesus even before the Spirit descended upon Him, similar to how he leaped for joy in his mother’s womb when the Virgin Mary visited (Luke 1:41-44). John expressed, \\"I need to be baptized by you, as you are the most worthy.\\" The forerunner understood his own need for purification from the Lord, recognizing that, being a descendant of Adam, he carried the stain of disobedience, while Christ, in His incarnation, brought forth cleansing for all."},{"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":"When Jesus approached John for baptism, it was noteworthy that all those who came to him prior had first acknowledged their transgressions and subsequently received baptism. Jesus, the sinless one, presented Himself to John with a request for baptism. John, realizing this profound truth, responded by highlighting Jesus' divinity to the onlookers, stating, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” The crowd, aware from the prophet’s words that the one coming after John would immerse with the Holy Spirit, found it inconceivable that Jesus could be a sinner in need of baptism. Consequently, Jesus' request for baptism did not lessen His stature or significance in the eyes of the people."},{"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":"To many, he appeared as a resolute prophet, fearlessly confronting rulers and sternly denouncing the Pharisees. Yet in the presence of this enigmatic Galilean, the austere prophet from the wilderness was gripped by unexplainable trepidation. When Jesus requested that John baptize Him, this esteemed prophet was taken aback by the profound humility of the One he instantly recognized as the anticipated Messiah, and he respectfully replied, “I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”"},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"When Jesus Christ approached John, even prior to the arrival of the Holy Spirit, the Forerunner recognized Him as the Messiah and exclaimed: ‘I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?’ According to Blessed Theophylact, the Forerunner felt the necessity to be cleansed by the Lord, as he was also a descendant of Adam and bore the stain of disobedience. He acknowledged, ‘I am merely a man, a recipient of divine grace,’ as if to say, ‘but You are both God and man. How can You, the Great One, come to me, the least? I am aware of the magnitude of Your authority, and I openly admit my own lowliness and unworthiness. When I perform baptisms for others, I do so in Your name, leading them to believe in You. But as for You, whom should I invoke? In the name of the Father? However, You embody all the Father is within Yourself. In the name of the Son? Though, outside of You, there is no other Son of God by nature. In the name of the Holy Spirit? But He is always present with You, for You are of one essence with Him, equally exalted in authority, honor, and worship. Therefore, if it pleases You, O Lord, baptize me, the Baptist’ (St. Gregory of Neocaesarea)."},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"In his account of the baptism of Jesus Christ, Matthew provides a more comprehensive narrative compared to Mark and Luke. Notably, he emphasizes that John initially refused to baptize Jesus, deeming himself unworthy of performing the rite on the Sinless One, expressing a desire instead to be baptized by Him (Matthew 3:14-15). Luke’s portrayal, while concise, highlights significant elements: first, that Jesus prayed upon emerging from the water; and second, that the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus at His baptism in the form of a dove—a visible and tangible event. The Gospels do not clarify whether John the Baptist and Jesus ever met prior to this moment, nor do they provide insight into the circumstances of John's parents' early deaths. We cannot definitively ascertain whether they had imparted the spirit of devoutness to their son, reflecting their own piety, or conveyed his unique mission and the responsibilities tied to it, including recognizing Jesus as the Forerunner of the Messiah. \\n\\nHowever, it is reasonable to assume a kinship between the mothers of John and Jesus and that they maintained a close friendship prior to the births of their sons. Despite John's ascetic life in the Judean wilderness and Jesus residing in Nazareth, it would have been customary for John to visit Jerusalem during major Jewish feasts, where encounters between them could have occurred due to their familial relations. Thus, John could have known Jesus as the holy and blameless individual even before His baptism. This familiarity might have led John to sense through the Holy Spirit that Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah. It is plausible that John's parents had already signified to him the identity of Jesus as the Christ. Nonetheless, these avenues of knowing Jesus were insufficient for John's prophetic role; it was essential for him to receive a direct divine revelation of the Messiah. Consequently, God assured John that the One on whom he saw the Spirit descend and remain would be the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit (John 1:33). After receiving this divine confirmation, John understood that he did not recognize Jesus before His baptism (John 1:33). \\n\\nSome scholars suggest that the lives of Jesus and John unfolded separately by divine design to allow for more profound mutual testimony later. In this context, Matthew's account illustrates that when Jesus approached John, the Baptist, a seasoned observer of souls, immediately perceived Him as the pure and sinless One, filled with the conviction that this was the expected Messiah. John hesitated to baptize the Lord because he realized that his baptism symbolized repentance and cleansing from sin, which was unnecessary for the sinless Jesus; instead, John desired to be baptized by Christ. Jesus counseled him not to dwell on these thoughts, affirming that John's concerns were fundamentally valid. The rationale for the sinless Lord receiving baptism from John was to fulfill all righteousness—that is, to comply with God's commands. Thus, Jesus regarded John's baptism as part of the Old Testament's divinely ordained preparations for the coming of the Messiah. \\n\\nAs the Son and Savior of a sinful people, Jesus willingly accepted the law's requirements to redeem those who transgressed it (Galatians 4:4-5) and fulfilled all its demands perfectly. The Lord's stated purpose in receiving baptism does not exclude other divine intentions being realized simultaneously. John's words in the Gospel of John (1:31-34) indicate that Jesus was baptized to openly demonstrate His identity as the Son of God, first to John and subsequently to all of Israel. Additionally, this event was crucial for Jesus' anointing with the Holy Spirit for His messianic mission, as testified by John, who declared, “I have seen the Spirit descending from heaven and remaining on Him” (John 1:32). Some interpreters also suggest that Christ’s immersion in water symbolized His voluntary commitment to undertake a path of humiliation, a journey He embraced from the outset of His earthly ministry, culminating in His death for the sins of humanity."}]}
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