The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 11:1-11
John's inquiry. I. THE MOTIVE OF THIS INQUIRY OF JOHN 'S is not at once apparent. What was causing him perplexity, if not disappointment, about our Lord? He was disappointed because the works he heard of were not the kind of works he had himself expected the Messiah to perform. His own work had been to denounce prevailing iniquities, and to predict the advent of One who should cleanse with fire where he cleansed with water; who would come in the same spirit as himself, but... read more
The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 11:1-6
The credentials of Messiah. The precepts of the charge which Jesus had given to his disciples are here called his commands. Christ's commissions are commands (cf. Psalms 105:8 ; 1 Corinthians 9:16 ). He "made an end of commanding." The instructions of Christ are complete. Then "he departed to teach," more privately, "and preach," publicly, "in their cities." His ministry leaves men without excuse. "Now when John had heard in prison," etc. We have here— I. THE INQUIRY OF JOHN... read more