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Explanation for:
Matthew
3
:
16
And Jesus being baptized, forthwith came out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened to him: and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him.
11
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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":"The community naturally esteemed John above Christ. John dedicated his life to the wilderness, was the son of a bishop, donned remarkable garments, called all to repentance through baptism, and was born to a woman who had been barren. In contrast, Jesus came from an unremarkable young girl—at that time, the virgin birth was not widely known. He grew up in a household, interacted with everyone, and wore simple attire. Since the profound mysteries of the heavenly kingdom were not yet revealed, Christ was regarded as lesser by the people. John's baptism further solidified this view among the Jews, who had no other reasons to believe otherwise. They saw Jesus as one of their own; if He were ordinary, they reasoned, He wouldn’t have needed to be baptized like everyone else. In their eyes, John was far more significant and extraordinary.\\n\\nTo counteract this misconception among the crowd, after Jesus was baptized, the heavens opened up, the Spirit descended like a dove, and a voice declared Jesus’ divine sonship. The voice proclaimed, \\"This is my beloved Son\\" (Matt. 3:17), which many mistakenly interpreted as referring to John because it was simply stated, ‘this one.’ Given John’s esteemed position and the circumstances surrounding the event, the people naturally attributed this declaration to the one who performed the baptism rather than the one who received it. Thus, the Holy Spirit manifested in the form of a dove to redirect the attention to Jesus, clarifying that the proclamation was about Him, not John.\\n\\nOne may question why, despite such an event, the Jews did not embrace belief in Him. The answer lies in their hardened hearts. Even during Moses' time, miracles occurred, albeit of a lesser nature; yet the people, in the aftermath of miraculous signs, turned to create a golden calf and embraced Beelphegor. Those who were eyewitnesses of Lazarus’s resurrection not only refused to believe in Jesus, who performed this miracle, but also repeatedly sought to kill Him. If these witnesses, witnessing the resurrection of the dead, persisted in their wickedness and disbelief, how surprising is it that they did not heed the divine voice from above? When a soul is dull and corrupted, overwhelmed by the illness of envy, no miracle can convince them. Conversely, when a soul is receptive, it embraces all things in faith, even without the need for miracles. Thus, rather than questioning why they did not believe, one ought to consider whether everything necessary was done to lead them to faith. God Himself affirms this through the prophet, defending all He has done for their benefit. When the Jews face impending destruction and final judgment, to prevent anyone from blaming divine Providence for their corruption, He states, \\"What shall I do to My grapes, and I will not do it?\\" (Isaiah 5:4). Therefore, consider what could have been done differently, for in discussions of God’s Providence, let this serve as a rebuttal to accusations against Him regarding human vices. Behold the miracles performed and the revelations of future grace; the heavens were opened, revealing not merely paradise but the kingdom of heaven itself.\\n\\nLet us set aside the discourse on the Jewish response for now, and with God's help, focus on the subsequent events. After Jesus was baptized, He rose from the water, and the heavens were opened to Him. Why were the heavens opened? It signifies that this same event occurs at your baptism—the call to ascend to a higher place, urging you to detach from earthly ties. While you may not perceive this, do not doubt its reality. The sensory experiences of miraculous and spiritual events serve primarily the unrefined who cannot comprehend the immaterial realm and are captivated only by the visible. Thus, such occurrences were designed to establish a foundation through miracles that should later be accepted by faith, even when miracles are not present.\\n\\nAt the gathering of the apostles, there was a sound like a mighty wind and visions of fiery tongues—sights not intended for the apostles themselves, but for the Jews present with them. Thus, we also embrace what has been established by miracles, even in the absence of visible signs. During Jesus’ baptism, the dove symbolically pointed to Him as the Son of God and indicated that the Holy Spirit descends upon you at baptism. However, we do not require sensory confirmation, for our faith alone suffices in place of signs; signs are designated for non-believers.\\n\\nWhy did the Holy Spirit manifest in the form of a dove? Because the dove represents meekness and purity—both attributes of the Holy Spirit. This appearance evokes the ancient narrative of the flood, when our world was close to complete annihilation; during that calamity, the dove appeared, signaling the flood's end and bringing back the olive branch, symbolizing peace. This was a foreshadowing of what was to come. Humanity then was in a dire state, deserving far greater punishment. Therefore, even in their hopelessness, Scripture calls us to remember this deliverance from catastrophe and restoration. In that context, it was a reprimand; now, it is through Grace and the unuttered gift of salvation that we find hope. The dove does not return with an olive branch this time; instead, it points us to the Savior who frees us from all evils and brings hope to humanity. The divine promise is not limited to individual salvation but extends to all creation, bringing it into the heavenly realms, replacing the olive branch with the adoption of sons for all humanity.\\n\\nIn contemplating the magnificence of this gift, do not diminish the dignity of the Holy Spirit simply because He appeared in a dove's form. Some mistakenly claim there is a disparity in dignity between Christ and the Holy Spirit akin to that between a man and a dove due to Christ’s human nature and the Spirit’s dove-like manifestation. However, it is critical to note that the Son of God took on human nature, whereas the Holy Spirit did not adopt dove’s nature, appearing instead in its form. The Evangelist clearly states “in the form of a dove” rather than implying He took on that nature.\\n\\nIf one were to judge the Holy Spirit’s worth based solely on this, one might as well argue that cherubim are superior to Him because they have appeared in the form of an eagle, and angels are greater as they can present as men. But this reasoning must not prevail; there is a significant difference between being truly human and appearing in a given form. Therefore, one should not show ingratitude to the Benefactor or repay kindness with disregard toward Him who has bestowed upon you the source of your joy.\\n\\nWhere there is the promise of adoption, there also resides the removal of all ills and the granting of God’s riches. This is the reason why Jewish baptism has been abolished while ours has been inaugurated. The situation with the Passover serves as a parallel to baptism; as Christ fulfilled the Passover, rendering it obsolete and instigating a new beginning, He has likewise completed Jewish baptism, paving the way for the Church's baptism in the New Covenant. Just as at the Last Supper, He simultaneously unveiled the shadow and revealed the truth in one event, so too in the river, He both dispelled the shadow and presented the reality of baptism. Only our baptism possesses the grace of the Holy Spirit; John's baptism was devoid of such gifts. This is why no extraordinary manifestations occurred in the baptism performed by others; it was reserved for Him who had the authority to impart grace, emphasizing that the merit did not lie with the one baptizing, but with the power of the one being baptized.\\n\\nWhen the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended, Christ transitioned us from our former way of living into a new existence, while opening the gates of heaven and sending the Holy Spirit down to summon us to the higher calling. Not only does the Spirit call us forth, but He also endows us with the highest honor: He makes us beloved sons of God, elevating us to this exalted status."},{"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":"The Holy Spirit, who descended upon Him during His baptism, affirmed that He was indeed the Shepherd: for through John, He obtained both the prophetic and priestly roles. His royal lineage from the house of David was received through His birth, as He was born from that lineage; however, the priesthood from the house of Levi was conferred upon Him through His spiritual rebirth in the baptism performed by the son of Aaron. Those who acknowledge that He underwent a spiritual rebirth while on earth should not hesitate to accept that this second birth, occurring during John’s baptism, granted Him the priesthood associated with John. Although many were baptized on that occasion, the Spirit descended and came to rest on just one individual, so that He who may not have seemed different in outward appearance was marked out from all others by this divine sign. The Spirit's descent at His baptism signified that the Spirit was bestowed through His baptism."},{"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":"The passage raises an intriguing question: why does it state that He immediately emerged from the water? What significance would it have held if He had done so at a later time? The evangelist could have simply stated, \\"When Jesus was baptized, He emerged from the water.\\" However, this act of Christ seems to hold a profound connection to all who would be baptized thereafter. Thus, the term \\"immediately\\" is used intentionally, and it is noted that He \\"rose up\\" rather than \\"went out.\\" This implies that all who are righteously baptized in Christ, participating in and practicing righteousness, likewise rise directly from the waters, achieving the fulfillment of virtues and rising to a divine status. Those who enter the waters as fallen, earthly descendants of Adam, upon emerging, are transformed into spiritual children of God."},{"author-name":"Cyrill of Alexandria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88a8ea5c988a4fc073480_Cyrill%20of%20Alexandria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"In the time before Christ, individuals baptized in water were kept until they admitted their wrongdoings. However, Christ, who was without sin, emerged from the water without delay. His baptism was not that of a repentant individual, but rather an act of cleansing sin and sanctifying the waters."},{"author-name":"Nilus of Sinai","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c896139a28b91cf72655d2_Nilus%20of%20Sinai.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"The Holy Spirit manifested by ‘descending’ upon Jesus ‘like a dove’ (Matt. 3:16). Within us, through Baptism, resides the initial and certain assurance of the Divine, while in Christ dwells the totality of the Divine presence (Col. 2:9). Do not believe that Christ, lacking the Spirit, received Him; for as God, He sent the Spirit from the heavenly realm, and as Man, He embraced the Spirit on earth. Thus, the Spirit descended upon Him from His own Divinity and from His Godhead to His humanity."},{"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":"Some believe that the Baptist fully immersed each person he baptized in water until they confessed their sins, releasing them only after their confession. However, since Christ was without sin, He was not submerged in the water, prompting the evangelist to state that He immediately rose from it. The disobedience of the first Adam barred us from paradise, yet the obedience of the new Adam has granted us access to heaven, offering even greater blessings than those we lost. Notice how profoundly and majestically Christ made Himself known to the people. Although John had previously testified about Him, captivating the crowd's attention, many remained uncertain as they observed His baptism alongside the others. Consequently, the heavens were opened, revealing a descending dove and a voice. The voice was sent down so that those present could recognize the true identity of the One being baptized, while the dove signified that the voice was not a testimony of John alone. God the Father bore witness to the Son from on high, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him as if pointing Him out as the One who was to be revealed. He appeared in the form of a dove, a creature that symbolizes the Holy Spirit in numerous ways. The dove is gentle and slow to anger, exhibiting patience in the face of adversity, and does not retaliate against those who harm it. It embodies purity and delights in the aroma of incense. The original dove is reminiscent of the one that brought news to Noah of the flood's end. Just as that deluge was composed of water, our present flood consists of sin; as the dove announced the end of the former, this dove proclaims an end to the latter. With the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descending upon the One being baptized, we learn that the heavens are similarly opened for every baptized individual, inviting them to the heavenly realms and the Holy Spirit descending upon them as well. Although we may not perceive this with our physical senses, we should resist disbelief. Signs are meant for the unconvinced; for us, faith itself suffices. Furthermore, note that just as He fulfilled and transformed the Jewish Passover during the final meal, at His baptism in the river, He completed both the opening of the heavens and the descent of the Holy Spirit, which are the blessings bestowed in Christian Baptism."},{"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":"After being baptised at the age of thirty, Jesus the Lord took on this significant milestone, for this age encompasses the weight of all transgressions. In youth, there is much folly; in adolescence, passion and anger can be ardent; and in adulthood, desires for material gain can dominate. Thus, the Lord chose this age to fulfill the law and sanctify humanity throughout all periods of life. Upon emerging from the water, some, like the Manichaeans, claim that He cast aside His physical form in the Jordan to assume a spectral body. However, they are corrected, as it states, \\"Jesus came forth,\\" indicating that it was He, the same one who entered the water. Moreover, the heavens opened before Him. Adam had shut them, yet Christ opened them, so that you may understand that when you are baptised, you too gain access. The Spirit descended to affirm that he who is baptised surpasses the one performing the baptism. The Jewish people revered John, thinking him significant, while they undervalued Christ. All witnessed the Spirit resting upon Jesus to assure them that the proclamation, \\"This is my beloved Son,\\" was meant for Him, not John, and that the presence of the Spirit signified divine confirmation. It descended \\"As a dove,\\" symbolizing gentleness and purity, as the dove avoids places of impurity—reflecting the nature of the Holy Spirit. In the time of Noah, the dove symbolically announced the end of the flood by bringing back an olive branch; similarly, here, the Holy Spirit signifies the forgiveness of sins, represented by the olive branch as the grace of God."},{"author-name":"Nestor the Chronicler","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8957796bafed91045c916_Nestor%20the%20Chronicler.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":12,"exegesis-text":"The transformation through water was achieved during the era of Noah when the transgressions of humanity had greatly increased. In response, God sent a deluge upon the earth that caused the drowning of mankind; thus, God proclaimed, ‘As I brought destruction upon humans through water due to their wrongdoings, so now I will purify them once more through water, cleansing them from their sins through the water of renewal.’ The Israelites also experienced purification in the sea, escaping from the wickedness of the Egyptians. Water holds a primordial significance, as it is written, ‘The Spirit of God moved over the waters,’ which is why they continue to be baptized in water and by the Spirit."},{"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":"Did the Baptist express anything during this event? Likely, he remained silent. What words could adequately express the act of baptizing the Son of God? This was not a moment for speech, but rather for reverence and reflection. The sinless one had no transgressions to confess; thus, after being baptized, Jesus promptly emerged from the water. He gazed toward heaven and prayed to His divine Father, seeking His blessing upon the commencement of His ministry for the salvation of humanity, that through His pure baptism, cleansing would be made available to all sinful people. In these profound moments, as the holy Fathers indicate, the world's Redeemer articulated before the Heavenly Father those heartfelt words once revealed to the inspired prophet David: \\"Behold, I go... to do Thy will, O God\\" (Psalm 39:7-9; Hebrews 10:7). Before His humble prayer was even complete, the heavenly Father responded to His beloved Son, and the heavens were opened to Him. The sky above appeared as if split open, reminiscent of a powerful, bright flash of lightning, and He observed both Jesus and the Spirit of God descending upon Him like a dove. The Forerunner recognized Christ as the Savior, calling Him the Lamb of God, for He, gentle and humble in spirit, was destined to be led to His crucifixion. The Holy Spirit’s descent in the form of a dove signifies purity and innocence, embodying gentleness and meekness. This dove once brought news to Noah of the flood's end, and now the Holy Spirit heralds the forgiveness of sins. Noah’s dove prefigured the Spirit of God that descended upon Christ. Yet, did not the Spirit of God reside in Jesus from the moment of His conception in the womb of His virgin mother? In His divinity, the Son is inseparable from the Father and the Spirit. In His humanity, He was perpetually filled with the Spirit of God. Why then does the Holy Spirit visibly descend upon Him now? To fulfill the prophecy given to John, \\"On whom you see the Spirit descending and abiding on Him, He is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit\\" (John 1:33). This is so that through Jesus, humanity might recognize the Son of God, the Savior of the world. At the outset of the New Testament, the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity, concealed since the dawn of time, was unveiled for the perception of humanity."},{"author-name":"Kochomski S.W.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"When Jesus was baptized, He emerged from the water. Unlike others who confessed their sins during the baptism, the sinless Jesus had no such confessions to make and therefore rose from the water immediately. In the account given by the Evangelist Luke, it is noted that while Jesus was being baptized, He prayed, and the heavens opened to Him (Luke 3:21). This opening of the heavens was for His benefit, signifying a profound connection between this miraculous event and Him. He witnessed the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon Him. It is important to note that in the original Greek, the phrase indicates that the Spirit came upon Him in the third person, implying that John saw this event, even though it was also evident to Jesus and those present around Him. This miracle served the purpose of revealing the Son of God to humanity through Christ, who would fulfill their salvation through His teachings and deeds. On the day of the Lord's baptism, the Holy Church proclaims, \\"Hast Thou appeared unto the universe today?” In John the Baptist's words to the crowds about Jesus (John 1:32-33), the phrase \\"and came upon Him\\" is expressed as \\"and remained upon Him,\\" indicating that the divine dove lingered over Christ until it eventually vanished."},{"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":"\\"The heavens were opened,\\" not just in a spiritual sense but also in a profound and tangible manner, revealing the vault of heaven from which the Spirit descended in the form of a dove, accompanied by a voice. This was directed 'to him,' referring specifically to Jesus, upon whom the Holy Spirit was to alight. 'And he saw' pertains to John (John 1:33-34), referring to \\"the Spirit of God,\\" the third person of the holy Trinity. 'Like a dove' carries significant meaning, as in Jewish tradition, the dove symbolizes purity, innocence (Matt. 10:16), and gentleness (Ps. 54:7). The Spirit descended in dove-like form due to the kindness and humility associated with doves. Additionally, the dove is known as the purest of birds, avoiding places of defilement, which parallels the nature of the Holy Spirit. Moreover, just as the dove signaled the end of the flood during Noah's time by bringing back an olive branch, the Holy Spirit now signifies the forgiveness of sins in the form of a dove. There, the olive branch; here, the mercy of our God."}]}
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