The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 11:7-15
Jesus ' recognition of the greatness of John as herald. Verses 7-11: parallel passage: Luke 7:24-28 . read more
Matthew-11:7-15-nkjv,nlt
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 11:7-15
The greatest of the prophets. Two of John's disciples came to Jesus with the inquiry, "Art thou he that cometh, or look we for another?" Having replied to this inquiry and sent the men away, Jesus seized the opportunity to discourse to the multitude concerning John. Note: Jesus improved every opportunity. In this, as in everything, we should endeavour to follow him. In the description of John we see— I. THE FEATURES OF A GREAT CHARACTER . 1 . Deep and earliest conviction. ... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 11:7-19
The Lord's testimony to John the Baptist. I. HIS CHARACTER . 1 . He was no reed shaken by the wind. The multitudes who had now heard John's message and the Lord's answer had once gone into the wilderness to see the Baptist, drawn thither by the powerful attraction of his preaching and character. What had they found there? Were they disappointed? Was he unlike the report which they had heard of him? Was he weak, vacillating, wavering hither and thither like the reeds that grew on... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 11:7-19
John and Jesus: children in the market-place. After dismissing the messengers of John, there appeared to our Lord urgent need of indicating with precision the merits and defects of the Baptist's work, so that the people might understand hew it was the Baptist was disappointed in the Messiah he had so enthusiastically heralded, and what were the relations mutually held by the Baptist, the Messiah, and the people. In doing so our Lord touches on— I. THE GREATNESS OF JOHN AND HIS... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 11:8
Behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses . Menahem the Essene was by the wish of Herod the Great made deputy to Hillel in the Sanhedrin, but afterwards left his office. "Whither did he go out? Abai said. He went out to destruction. Rabba said, He went out for the service of the king. There is also a Baraitha [ i.e. an 'uncanonical' Mishna] to this effect, that Menahem went out for the service of the king, and there went out with him eighty pairs of disciples clothed in... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 11:9
But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? But wherefore went ye out ? To see a prophet ? (Revised Version). Yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet . Our Lord accepts their estimate of John, but says that it is insufficient. He thus passes on to show the relation in which John stood to himself. John was more than a prophet such as they thought of, for he was "the subject as well as the vehicle of prophecy" (Alford), and was the immediate forerunner of the great King. More than ... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 11:10
For . Omitted in the Revised Version. It is here an explanatory gloss, though genuine in Matthew 3:3 . This is he, of whom it is written . Our Lord justifies his assertion of John's unique position. Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. , Malachi 3:1 , not from the LXX ., but freely from the Hebrew, which runs, "Behold, I send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me. " Observe in Matthew read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 11:11
Verily . Matthew only. This solemn asseveration ( Matthew 5:18 , nine) would the more remind them of their duty towards John; and, if its force may be extended to the next clause, call their attention the more forcibly to his being only the herald of better things. I say unto you, Among them that are born of women ( Job 14:1 ) there hath not risen . These last words have the emphasis in the Greek, οὐκ ἐγήγερται , i.e. to work and energy as a prophet ( Luke 7:16 ; Matthew... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 11:11
The greatness of the least Christian. These words of our Lord read like a paradox. They are alter the manner of his strong startling sayings that arrest attention and dart surprising thoughts into our mind. Nevertheless, understood as he meant them to be, they contain no exaggeration. I. THE GREATNESS OF JOHN THE BAPTIST . All parties of Jews had agreed in honouring the wonderful prophet of the wilderness. He had now passed from his popular work to the seclusion of a dungeon,... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 11:7
And as they departed ; and as these went their way (Revised Version). Fulfilling his command ( Matthew 11:4 ). It' we may combine the language of St. Matthew and St. Luke ("when the messengers of John were departed"), we may say that they had left the circle immediately round our Lord, but were hardly further than the outskirts of the crowd. What went ye out into the wilderness to see? to behold (Revised Version); θεάσασθαι (cf. θέατρον ,) . It almost suggests that they... read more