Righteousness in fulfilment
Posted by vincevincevince on August 10, 2009
Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.
It is fitting and proper; that all that is just should be fulfilled. In this Christ shows that he is to fulfil all the ordinances and requirements given by the Heavenly Father in fulfilling his commission. Although John may be unworthy to give baptism to Jesus, the righteousness of it being given supercedes any such concerns. This has a striking parallel with Matthew 26:10 in which Mary’s act in anointing Christ with oil is declared good without a judgement of righteousness being expressed upon the woman herself.
In our service to God therefore it is not we who are made righteous by our service but that our service is made acceptable to God through Christ, for how else can a sinful man be fit to serve a sinless and infinite God?
Calvin notes further than righteousness here has likely reference to the law; that having voluntarily taken observance of the law upon himself, it was an act of obedience to submit to baptism through God’s servant, John. Therefore, perhaps there Christ states that it is right for him to be obedient; an observation certainly congruous with the former comment.
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