Matthew 11:4-5

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 11:2-6

The Baptist ' s question , and its answer. Parallel passage: Luke 7:18-23 . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 11:2-24

JESUS THE ONE THAT SHOULD COME . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 11:2-35

The forearming against a foreseen unbelief. Note in introduction that St. Luke's placing of this narrative is the preferable one. it was during the period of absence of the twelve, after they had been "commanded," that John was beheaded. The entire current of tiffs chapter, that seems so exceptional in its character in some respects, is blown upon and troubled, as it were, by that presence, an ever-disturbing one, the phenomenal one, of unbelief. Notice— I. A PROPHET 'S FORESEEING ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 11:4

Jesus ; and Jesus (Revised Version, with even the Received Text). Answered and said unto them . He makes no verbal self-defence, but appeals to the effects of his work. Observe that a similar appeal to effects of the same character as those mentioned here—restoration to normal powers and bringing spiritual truths home to the poorest—is still the great argument for the Messiahship of Jesus. Go ; go your way (Revised Version); πορευθέντες (cf. Matthew 11:7 ). And show John... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 11:5

The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear ( and , Revised Version), the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. The first and the last of the examples selected by our Lord are fulfilments or' prophecy ( Isaiah 61:1 ). Observe that read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 11:5

The classes Christ helped. The point of the answer sent by our Lord to John is usually thought to be the proof he was giving of his Divine power ; he was opening the eyes of the blind; he was making the lame walk; he was cleansing the lepers; he was unstopping the ears of the deaf; he was raising the dead. Must he not, then, be the Messiah? Nicodemus properly argued, "Rabbi, we know that thou art a Teacher come from God, for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 11:4-5

Go and show John again ... - Jesus referred them for an answer to these miracles. They were proof that he was the Messiah. Prophets had indeed performed miracles, but no prophet had performed so many, or any so important. Jesus, moreover, performed them “in his own name” and by his own power. Prophets had done it by the power of God. Jesus, therefore, performed the works which none but the Messiah could do, and John might easily infer that he was the Christ.The poor have the gospel preached to... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 11:2-6

Matthew 11:2-6. Now when John had heard in the prison (into which he had been cast by Herod Antipas, a little after he began his public ministry, chap. Matthew 4:12, and Matthew 14:3, &c.) of the works of Christ That is, of some of his many miracles, &c. He sent two of his disciples Not, as is probable, because he doubted himself, but to confirm their faith. And said, Art thou he that should come Namely, the Messiah? Or look we for another Under that character? “Considering... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 11:1-19

49. Messengers from John the Baptist (Matthew 11:1-19; Luke 7:18-35)Shut up in prison, John the Baptist received only irregular and possibly inaccurate reports of Jesus’ ministry. These reports must have caused him to wonder whether Jesus really was the Messiah he foretold. Jesus sent back the message that he was carrying out a ministry of relief to the oppressed, which was the sort of ministry foretold of the Messiah in the Old Testament (Matthew 11:1-5; cf. Isaiah 35:5-6; Isaiah 61:1). Many... read more

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