{"id":3819,"date":"2026-01-10T01:02:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-10T01:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/?p=3819"},"modified":"2026-01-19T11:17:07","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T11:17:07","slug":"commentary-on-baptism-of-the-lord-a","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/commentary-on-baptism-of-the-lord-a\/","title":{"rendered":"Commentary on Baptism of the Lord (A) 11.01.2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

TEXT<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Jesus\u2019 request<\/strong><\/p>\n

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, \u201cI need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

15 But Jesus answered him, \u201cLet it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness.\u201d Then he consented.<\/em><\/p>\n

Heavens opened<\/strong><\/p>\n

16 And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him; 17 and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, \u201cThis is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

\n

EXPLANATION<\/strong><\/h3>\n

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, \u201cI need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThen Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, \u201cI need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?<\/em>\u201d \u2014 The baptism of John was not a sacramental baptism conferring absolution of sins but a sign of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The model was the baptism of Ezechiel (Ez. 18: 30\u201332; 36: 25\u201328).<\/p>\n

John recognised Jesus as the expected Messiah and so says that he cannot baptise Jesus who, in fact, should baptise him. Jesus is the greater; John, as he already said, is not worthy to be his slave.<\/p>\n

\n

15 But Jesus answered him, \u2018Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness.\u2019 Then he consented.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cBut Jesus answered him, \u2018Let it be so now;<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 Jesus does not deny John\u2019s remarks but says that it is better, at this time, to do what he (Jesus) asked and let John baptise him.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness.<\/em>\u2019 Then he consented<\/em>.\u201d \u2014 He links John as an equal with him in this decision (\u201cIt is fitting for us<\/em>\u201d). He does not try to force him; he allows him make a free choice. His reason for this has to be explained: The early Church found it embarrassing that John, the lesser, baptised Jesus, the greater, and that Jesus, the sinless, came to be baptised from sins. Matthew deliberately does not say this but he adds verses 14 and 15 to show that John did not wish to baptise the Messiah and did so only when he said that he saw his baptism as fulfilling his Father\u2019s will. Jesus\u2019 remarks mean the following: We are going to make an exception now in this case because I wish to identify myself with sinners, and what they do, I will do. For example, I allowed myself to be circumcised and that means that I would do everything which the Law prescribed, such as being presented in the Temple, and also whatever would identify me with the people. I associated and ate with serious sinners, so why not undergo John\u2019s baptism?<\/p>\n

\u201cRighteousness<\/em>\u201d (or \u201cjustice<\/em>\u201d) has a very deep meaning in the Bible; it refers to the plan which God had marked out for man\u2019s salvation. Consequently, \u201cto fulfill all righteousness<\/em>\u201d should be understood as fulfilling God\u2019s will and designs. Thus, we could translate \u201cfulfill all righteousness<\/em>\u201d as \u201cfulfill everything laid down by God including Jesus\u2019 baptism.\u201d<\/p>\n

These are the first words of Jesus in Matthew\u2019s Gospel. They are humble words as he identifies himself with sinners. That is the purpose of his coming into this world. His public ministry commences with his baptism and so he, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity Incarnate, identifies with sinners from his first appearance.<\/p>\n

\n

16 And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him; 17 and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, \u2018This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.<\/em><\/strong>\u2019\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove<\/em> and alighting on him<\/em>;\u201d \u2014 The heavens had been closed with the sin of the first man, Adam, and his wife, Eve. Now they are opened with the baptism of the second Adam, an act of doing God\u2019s will perfectly as he carried on his own shoulders the sins of the world to be purified. This is how he can refer to his death on the cross as his second baptism (Lk. 12: 50).<\/p>\n

Jesus was the only person who saw the Spirit descend on him.<\/p>\n

By the Spirit descending on him, Jesus was anointed as Messiah.<\/p>\n

\u201cthe Spirit descending like a dove<\/em>\u201d \u2014 It was not a dove that descended but \u201clike a dove\u201d. The dove is the symbol of gentleness and meekness. It is possible that the reference to the dove recalls the dove hovering over the waters at creation (Gn. 1: 2) to indicate that the dove, symbol also of the Holy Spirit, is present in a similar manner at the new beginning of Jesus\u2019 public ministry and work of redemption.<\/p>\n

\u201cand lo, a voice from heaven, saying, \u2018This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 Obviously the voice belongs to the Father who speaks about his Son. These words are repeated at the Transfiguration (Mt. 17: 5).<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my beloved Son<\/em>\u201d is a quotation from Psalm 2; 7. It refers to the Messiah.<\/p>\n

\u201cwith whom I am well pleased<\/em>\u201d is a quotation from Isaiah 42: 1, referring to the Suffering Servant.<\/p>\n

The Trinity is present here with the Father and Spirit present to the Incarnate Son. The Father tells of his intimate relationship with his Son. The Incarnate Son mentions his identity with sinners. The Holy Spirit declares how he anointed Jesus as the promised Messiah. Jesus\u2019 baptism is the model of Christian baptism. By Christian baptism one is related to each of the members of the Blessed Trinity and becomes a child of God, is anointed by the Holy Spirit, and obtains the forgiveness mediated through the Messiah.<\/p>\n

The actual baptism of Jesus is not described; we are told that \u201cwhen he was baptised<\/em>\u201d. This means that the baptism has not been highlighted. What is emphasised is that his Father in heaven identifies Jesus as his Son. Jesus now commences his public ministry, identified by the Holy Spirit as the Anointed Messiah, by the Father as the Son of God and he identifies himself with sinners.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my beloved Son<\/em>\u201d \u2014 These words were not addressed to Jesus exclusively, otherwise they would have been, \u201cYou are my beloved Son<\/em>\u201d, as Mark records them. They show that Isaiah 42: 1 and 61: 1 were fulfilled.<\/p>\n

\n

APPLICATION<\/strong><\/h3>\n

There are only five verses in today\u2019s Gospel passage but these afford a very good example of the importance of little words and phrases that could be glossed over as unimportant and yet are full of meaning. These examples can be a reminder of the importance of looking carefully at each word, no matter how commonplace. It teaches us the importance of \u201cpondering<\/em>\u201d Mary\u2013like. Here are three examples:<\/p>\n

(i)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cit is fitting for us<\/strong>\u201d<\/em> \u2014 Jesus is speaking to John. He is the greater yet he includes John in his action, not by commanding but by inviting him to join in doing God\u2019s will. This shows Jesus\u2019 attitude to working with others.<\/p>\n

(ii)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHe saw<\/em><\/strong> the Spirit<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Only Jesus saw the Spirit descend on him after his baptism. The first point is that only Jesus saw the Spirit, no one else. Second, the Spirit descended on him after<\/em><\/strong> not during<\/em> the baptism. Third, the Spirit was not in the form of a dove but \u201clike a dove<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n

(iii)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThis is my beloved Son<\/strong>\u201d<\/em> \u2014 This statement is the highpoint of the narrative, not the baptism. Here God the Father identifies his Son who is commencing his public life and informing listeners and readers who Jesus really is.<\/p>\n

The above three examples are given to show how carefully each word must be examined and prayed over to understand the full meaning of a passage.<\/p>\n

Here now are ten, of many, texts in Matthew\u2019s Gospel which indicate that the theme of \u201cthe Son of God<\/em>\u201d is a major theme in this Gospel.<\/p>\n

The first two are linked because they say exactly the same, are spoken by God the Father and so are most important coming from such an authority, the highest: Mt. 3: 16\u201317, the Baptism of Jesus, and Mt. 17: 5, the Transfiguration on the Mount.<\/p>\n

Mt. 3: 16\u201317 \u2014 \u201cAnd when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, \u2018<\/em>This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased<\/em><\/strong>.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Mt. 17: 5 \u2014 \u201cHe was still speaking, when lo, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, \u2018This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased<\/strong>; listen to him<\/em>.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

In Mt. 11: 25\u201327 \u2014 Here Jesus identifies himself as the Father\u2019s special Son in three ways: he has received everything from his Father; only the Father knows the Son; only the Son knows the Father and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.<\/p>\n

Mt. 14: 31\u201333 \u2014 Having seen Peter walk on the water during the storm, then doubt and begin to sink and Jesus rescue him, the other disciples recognised the miracle, plus the calming of the sea, and worshipped Jesus, saying \u2018Truly you are the Son of God.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Mt. 16: 16 \u2014 When Jesus asked Peter, \u2018who do you say that I am?\u2019 Simon Peter replied, \u2018You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.\u2019 And Jesus answered him, \u2018Blessed are you, Simon Bar\u2013Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.<\/em>\u2019\u201d Again a reference to the Father\u2019s authority and will. After this Peter was appointed head of the apostles and the Church. This confession of faith by Peter shows that the first requirement for a person joining the Church must be faith in Jesus as the Son of God.<\/p>\n

Next there are two parables, Mt. 21: 33\u201346, which tells of the tenants killing the son of the owner of a vineyard, and Mt. 22: 1\u201310, which tells of the father who prepared a feast for his son\u2019s wedding but the guests refused to attend. The mention of father and son obviously refer to the heavenly Father and his Son.<\/p>\n

The next two examples are taken from the Passion Narrative where the high priest demanded that Jesus tell if he were the Son of God (Mt. 26: 63\u201366) and where the passersby mocked Jesus on the cross and challenged him to come down if he were the Son of God as he claimed (Mt. 27: 39\u201343).<\/p>\n

Finally, Mt. 27: 54 \u2014 \u201cWhen the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe, and said, \u2018Truly this was the Son of God!\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

These are not the only references in Matthew\u2019s Gospel to Jesus as Son of God. There are many more. The Infancy Narrative has many references. Subsequent narrative continues these. The culmination is the centurion\u2019s declaration. Two are the Father\u2019s voice from heaven; there could be no greater, indisputable authority claiming that Jesus is the Son of God.<\/p>\n

Lest anyone claim that there is no difference between the sonship of Christians and that of Jesus, The Catechism of the Catholic Church <\/em>states, \u201cHe distinguished his sonship from that of his disciples by never saying \u201cour Father,\u201d except to command them: \u201cYou, then, pray like this: \u2018Our Father<\/em>,\u2019\u201d and he emphasized this distinction, saying \u201cmy Father and your Father<\/em>\u201d. (Mt. 5: 48; 6: 8\u20139; 7: 21, CCC<\/em>, 443).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

TEXT Jesus\u2019 request 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, \u201cI need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?\u201d 15 But Jesus answered him, \u201cLet it be so now; for thus it is fitting for<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1602,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3819","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3819","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3819"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3819\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8504,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3819\/revisions\/8504"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1602"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3819"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3819"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3819"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}