SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #77Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan, unto John, to be baptized by him. But John stayed him, saying: "I ought to be baptized by thee, and comest thou to me?" And Jesus answering, said to him: "Suffer it to be so now. For so it becometh us to fulfill all justice." Then he suffered him. And Jesus being baptized, forthwith came out of the water: (Matt. 3:13-16)
WHY JESUS LET HIMSELF BE BAPTIZED BY JOHN: 1. He did not require to do penance, because He was without sin; but He had taken our sins upon Him to atone for them; therefore He humbled Himself, placed Himself on a level with sinners, and obediently subjected Himself to be baptized, as He had submitted before to be circumcised, and presented in the Temple. 2. He gave us thereby a lesson in humility and obedience, and has taught us that we too must fulfill all justice, i. e. promptly obey all the ordinances of God. 3. By His baptism He sanctified water, and gave to it the power of purifying and sanctifying the soul of man. In other words, He instituted the Sacrament of Baptism by which, under the outward sign of water, we receive remission of our sins.
WHY JESUS LET HIMSELF BE BAPTIZED BY JOHN: 1. He did not require to do penance, because He was without sin; but He had taken our sins upon Him to atone for them; therefore He humbled Himself, placed Himself on a level with sinners, and obediently subjected Himself to be baptized, as He had submitted before to be circumcised, and presented in the Temple. 2. He gave us thereby a lesson in humility and obedience, and has taught us that we too must fulfill all justice, i. e. promptly obey all the ordinances of God. 3. By His baptism He sanctified water, and gave to it the power of purifying and sanctifying the soul of man. In other words, He instituted the Sacrament of Baptism by which, under the outward sign of water, we receive remission of our sins.
[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)
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