And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
Ver. 31. And I knew him not] By face not at all; lest the people should think that this was done and said by consent or compact beforehand between them. Nor did John ever know Christ so fully till now: his former knowledge was but ignorance, in comparison; none are too good to learn. The very angels know not so much of Christ, but they would know more, Ephesians 3:10, and therefore look intently into the mystery of Christ, as the cherubims did into the ark, 1 Peter 1:12 .
But that he should be manifested] Ministers must hold up the tapestry, as it were, and show men Christ. They are the mouth of the Holy Ghost, whose office it is to take Christ's excellencies, and hold them out to the world, John 16:14 .