Matthew 11:3 - Exposition

And said unto him . The question was brought from John; the answer is sent back to him (verse 4). This points to the cause of the question lying ultimately, not with his disciples, but with himself. Although John might justly fear that they would follow him rather than Jesus (cf. Matthew 9:14 , note), yet he seems to have made this inquiry for his own sake. He who stood on the Jewish side of the threshold of the kingdom (verse 11) did not understand the methods by which the King was acting, and thus his faith was tried. In this he recalls his great prototype, whose plans seemed to have failed and his boldness to have done no good ( 1 Kings 19:13 , 1 Kings 19:14 ). To both the answer implied that success was assured to quiet spiritual work. Art thou (emphatic) he that should come? he that cometh (Revised Version); ὁἐρχόμενος (comp. Matthew 3:11 , note). The title was probably derived from Psalms 118:26 , and would become the more known from the LXX . of Habakkuk 2:3 (comp. Hebrews 10:37 ), and perhaps also from a directly Messianic interpretation of Genesis 49:10 . Or do we look for . The word ( προσδοκῶμεν ) contains no thought of looking about for, but only of earnest expectation. Another? ἕτερον , and so in Luke 7:19 ; but ἄλλον in Luke 7:20 . Observe that in both records the evangelist's own summary of John's message speaks of a difference in kind, but that in the form given by the messengers ( Luke 7:20 ) it is only a matter of a second person coming (comp. Galatians 1:6 , Galatians 1:7 ; 1 Corinthians 12:8 , etc.; 1 Corinthians 15:39 , etc.). John's disciples, that is to say, are represented as failing to catch the point of their master's question whether he must look, after all, for a Messiah who acts differently from the way in which Jesus acts.