Luther's Kirchen Postille, on this passage, Fest. Epiph., Part II., ed. Spen., ff. 95, 96. — I/a/, /) It is probable that John himself had not been baptized : see Luke i. 15, fin. — xptiw, need) For it is elsewhere the part of the greater to baptize, of the less to be baptized, and to come on that account to one who baptizes. — Wo 2oD /Sa-rr/ffS^a/, to be baptized by Thee) sc. with Thy baptism of the Spirit and of fire. If either of us is to be baptized by the other, I am he. — 2o sp^y ; comest Thou ?) sc. seeking to be baptized.
15. "Atpsg, permit) He courteously reduces John to silence. The word ap/?]<r/i/, he permits, at the end of the verse, refers to this. — apTi, now) sc. without delay, this once. — olirw, thus) as I have come to thee. — vpsvov, becoming) That, which did not to John appear becoming, was in reality especially so, because it was righteous. The propriety which is manifested in all the counsels and works of God, claims our attention and admira tion. See Heb. ii. 10, vii. 26. The discourses and actions of Christ are pre-eminently conspicuous for that propriety, which, so well expressed by the Evangelists, affords a proof that they wrote under the impulse of the Holy Spirit, since it could not have been the product of human genius, however exalted. — ij/*a, to us) Our Lord speaks as if He were not yet fully known by John. It becomes Me, as the principal ; thee, as the minister. In the mind of Jesus it might also have this sense, " It becomes Me and My Father that I should fulfil all righteousness." See v. 17, and cf. Heb. ii. 10. — a-X^wc-a/, to fulfil) all righteousness. This is effected, not by John and Jesus, but by Jesus alone, who undertook that very thing in His baptism ; whence the appella tion, " baptism" is transferred also to His passion, Luke xii. 50. — Kaaav dixaioffwqv, all righteousness) i.e. all the component parts of righteousness ; and therefore this part also, the earnest of the other greater parts. In accordance with the particular view of righteousness, it would seem that John should be baptized by Jesus: in accordance with the universal compass of righteousness, the matter was inverted. Jesus uttered the words here recorded,
Subsequently, by reason of the sign which, in accordance with the promise of God, was added after the baptism, John was so much the more confirmed and fitted for bearing testimony of Jesus being the Son of GOD. — Harm., p. 146.