Luke 3:21-38

The Baptism of Jesus. The Genealogy

21. Now when all the people were baptized The expression (which is peculiar to St Luke) seems to imply that on this day Jesus was baptized last; and from the absence of any allusion to the multitude in this and the other narratives we are almost forced to conjecture that His baptism was in a measure private. St Luke's narrative must be supplemented by particulars derived from St Matthew (Matthew 3:13-17), who alone narrates the unwillingness of the Baptist, and the memorable conversation between him and Jesus; and St Mark (Mark 1:9-11) mentions that Jesus went into the river, and that it was He who first saw the cleaving heavens, and the Spirit descending.

Jesus also being baptized Our Lord Himself, in reply to the objection of the Baptist, stated it as a reason for His Baptism that "thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness;" i. e. that it was His will to observe all the requirements of the Mosaic law, which He came "not to destroy but to fulfil." Other reasons have also been suggested, as (i) that He baptized (as it were) the water "to sanctify water to the mystical washing away of sin" (Ignat. ad Eph.18; Maxim. Serm. 7, de Epiphan.; Ps.-Aug. Serm.135. 4); or (ii) that He was baptized as it were vicariously, as Head of His body, the Church (Just. Mart. c. Tryph.88); or (iii) as a consecration of Himselfto His work, followed by the special consecration from the Father; or (iv) as a great act of humility (St Bernard, Serm.47, in Cant.). See my Life of Christ, i. 117 n.

and praying This deeply interesting touch is peculiar to St Luke, who similarly on eight other occasions calls attention to the Prayers of Jesus after severe labours (Luke 5:16); before the choosing of the Apostles (Luke 6:12); before Peter's great Confession (Luke 9:18); at His transfiguration (Luke 9:28-29); for Peter (Luke 22:32); in Gethsemane (Luke 22:41); for His murderers (Luke 23:34); and at the moment of death (Luke 23:46). He also represents the duty and blessing of urgent prayer in two peculiar parables the Importunate Friend (Luke 11:5-13) and the Unjust Judge (Luke 18:2). See Introd. p. 24.