come. Therefore, after having related the birth of Christ, before proceeding to His teaching and baptism, (wherein he received such testimony,) he first premises somewhat of the Baptist and forerunner of the Lord. In those days, &c. Saint Remigius: In these words we have not only time, place, and person, respecting St. John, but also his office and employment. First the time, generally; In those days. Augustine: Luke describes the time by the reigning sovereigns (Luke 3:1.) But Matthew must be understood to speak of a wider space of time by the phrase ‘those days’ than the fifteenth year of Tiberius. Having related Christ's return from Egypt, which must be placed in early boyhood or even infancy, to make it agree with what Luke has told of His being in the temple at twelve years old, he adds directly, In those days, not intending thereby only the days of His childhood, but all the days from His birth to the preaching of John. Saint Remigius: The man is mentioned in the words came John, that is, showed himself, having abode so long in obscurity. Chrysostom: But why must John thus go before Christ with a witness of deeds preaching Him? First; that we might hence learn Christ's dignity, that He also, as the Father has, has prophets, in the words of Zacharias, And thou, Child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Highest. (Luke 1:76.) Secondly; That the Jews might have no cause for offence; as He declared, John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a gluttonous man. (Luke 7:33.) It needeth moreover that the things concerning Christ should be told by some other first, and not by Himself; or what would the Jews have said, who after the witness of John made complaint, Thou bearest witness of thyself, thy witness is not true. (John 8:13.) Saint Remigius: His office; the Baptist; in this he prepared the way of the Lord, for had not men been used to be baptized, they would have shunned Christ's baptism. His employment; Preaching; Rabanus Maurus: For because Christ was to preach, as soon as it seemed the fit time, that is, about thirty years of age, he began by his preaching to make ready the way for the Lord. Saint Remigius: The place; the desert of