ACC ~ Matthew 3 v15

JESUS WAS BAPTIZED FOR US

CHROMATIUS: The Lord here is testing the faithful deference of service on the part of his servant, but he reveals the mystery of his dispensation by saying, “Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness,” showing this to be true righteousness, that he the Lord and Master should fulfill in himself every sacrament of our salvation. Therefore the Lord did not want to be baptized for his own sake but for ours, in order to fulfill all righteousness. Indeed, it is only right that whatever someone instructs another to do, he should first do himself. Since the Lord and Master of the human race had come, he wanted to teach by his example what must be done for disciples to follow their Master and for servants their Lord. TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 13.2-3. [1]

[1] CCL 9a:244-45.

THE LAW’S CURSE MADE VOID

CHRYSOSTOM: To this Jesus did not merely reply “Let it be so,” but he added pointedly, “now.” The implication: It will not be so forever. You will not always see the One for whom the prophets have longed. But for the present, permit this. And then he shows how this baptism is fitting. Why? “For thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” The whole law is fulfilled by “all righteousness,” by which all the commandments are performed. He is in effect saying, “Since then we have performed all the rest of the commandments, this baptism alone remains. I have come to do away with the curse that is appointed for the transgression of the law. So I must therefore first fulfill it all and, having delivered you from its condemnation, bring it to an end. It is fitting for me therefore to fulfill the whole law by the same rule by which it is fitting for me to do away with the curse that is written against you in the law. This is the very purpose of my assuming flesh and coming to you.” THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 12.1. [1]

[1] PG 57:203; NPNF 1 10:76**.

ALL THAT BELONGS TO HUMAN NATURE

ANONYMOUS: How did Christ fulfill the righteousness of baptism? Without doubt according to the demands of human nature: people need to be baptized, for according to carnal nature they are all sinners. Even as he fulfilled the righteousness of baptism, he fulfilled also the righteousness of being born and of growing, of eating and drinking, of sleeping and relaxing. He also fulfilled the righteousness of experiencing temptation, fear, flight and sadness, as well as suffering, death and resurrection: that is, according to the requirement of the human nature he took upon himself, he fulfilled all these acts of righteousness. INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY 4. [1]

[1] PG 56:658.

PERFECT IN THE LAW

THEODORE OF HERACLEA: When he who is perfect according to the law was baptized with the baptism of John, he became the first to achieve the perfection of the law. For this reason even Christ, who was perfect in the law, was baptized with the baptism of John. For this reason he says, “For thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” FRAGMENT 21. [1]

[1] MKGK 63.

MAKING US FIT TO RECEIVE THE PERFECT ONE

THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: The baptism of John was at one and the same time perfect and imperfect. It was perfect according to the precept of the law, but it was imperfect in that it did not supply remission of sins but merely made people fit for receiving the perfect one. For this reason, even Christ, since he was perfect with regard to the law, was baptized with this baptism, that is, the baptism of John. And he makes this clear, saying, “For thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” FRAGMENT 13. [1]

[1] MKGK 100.