VER 1. IN THOSE DAYS CAME JOHN THE BAPTIST, PREACHING IN THE WILDERNESS OF JUDAEA, 2. AND SAYING, "REPENT YE: FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND." 3. FOR THIS IS HE THAT WAS SPOKEN OF BY THE PROPHET ESAIAS, SAYING, "THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HI... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 4. AND THE SAME JOHN HAD HIS RAIMENT OF CAMEL'S HAIR, AND A LEATHERN GIRDLE ABOUT HIS LOINS; AND HIS MEAT WAS LOCUSTS AND WILD HONEY. Pseudo-Chrys.: Having said that he is the voice of one crying in the desert, the Evangelist well adds, "John had his clothing of camel's hair;" thus shewing what... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 5. THEN WENT OUT TO HIM JERUSALEM, AND ALL JUDAEA, AND ALL THE REGION ROUND ABOUT JORDAN, 6. AND WERE BAPTIZED OF HIM IN JORDAN, CONFESSING THEIR SINS. Pseudo-Chrys.: Having described the preaching of John, he goes on to say, "There went out to him," for his severe life preached yet more loudly... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 7. BUT WHEN HE SAW MANY OF THE PHARISEES AND SADDUCEES COME TO HIS BAPTISM, HE SAID UNTO THEM, "O GENERATION OF VIPERS, WHO HATH WARNED YOU TO FLEE FROM THE WRATH TO COME? 8. BRING FORTH THEREFORE FRUITS MEET FOR REPENTANCE: 9. AND THINK NOT TO SAY WITHIN YOURSELVES, 'WE HAVE ABRAHAM TO OUR FATH... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 11. "I INDEED BAPTIZE YOU WITH WATER UNTO REPENTANCE: BUT HE THAT COMETH AFTER ME IS MIGHTIER THAN I, WHOSE SHOES I AM NOT WORTHY TO BEAR: HE SHALL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY GHOST, AND WITH FIRE: 12. WHOSE FAN IS IN HIS HAND, AND HE WILL THOROUGHLY PURGE HIS FLOOR, AND GATHER HIS WHEAT INTO THE... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 13. THEN COMETH JESUS FROM GALILEE TO JORDAN UNTO JOHN, TO BE BAPTIZED OF HIM. 14. BUT JOHN FORBAD HIM, SAYING, "I HAVE NEED TO BE BAPTIZED OF THEE, AND COMEST THOU TO ME?" 15. AND JESUS ANSWERING SAID UNTO HIM, "SUFFER IT TO BE SO NOW: FOR THUS IT BECOMETH US TO FULFIL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS." THEN... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 16. AND JESUS, WHEN HE WAS BAPTIZED, WENT UP STRAIGHTWAY OUT OF THE WATER: AND, LO, THE HEAVENS WERE OPENED UNTO HIM, AND HE SAW THE SPIRIT OF GOD DESCENDING LIKE A DOVE, AND LIGHTING UPON HIM. Ambrose, Ambrosiaster, Serm. 12. 4: For, as we have said, when the Saviour was washed, then the water... [ Continue Reading ]
VER 17. AND LO A VOICE FROM HEAVEN, SAYING, "THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED." Aug., non occ.: Not as before by Moses and the Prophets, neither in type or figure did the Father teach that the Son should come, but openly shewed Him to be already come, "This is my Son." Hilary: Or,... [ Continue Reading ]