Matthew 11:7-11

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 11:7-15

We have here the high encomium which our Lord Jesus gave of John the Baptist; not only to revive his honour, but to revive his work. Some of Christ's disciples might perhaps take occasion from the question John sent, to reflect upon him, as weak and wavering, and inconsistent with himself, to prevent which Christ gives him this character. Note, It is our duty to consult the reputation of our brethren, and not only to remove, but to obviate and prevent, jealousies and ill thoughts of them; and... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 11:1-30

Matthew 11:1-30 is a chapter in which Jesus is speaking all the time; and, as he speaks to different people and about different things, we hear the accent of his voice vary and change. It will be of the greatest interest to look one by one at the six accents in the voice of Jesus. The Accent Of Confidence ( Matthew 11:1-6 ) 11:1-6 And when Jesus had completed his instructions to the twelve disciples, he left there to go on teaching and to go on making his proclamation in their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 11:7

And as they departed ,.... That is, the messengers of John, Luke 7:24 when they returned to their master, to give an account to him of what they had heard and seen, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John ; he took this opportunity before the whole company, who had heard what passed in conversation between him and the disciples of John, to say some things concerning his character and ministry: and which he did, partly to rectify and remove any wrong opinion they might... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 11:8

But what went ye out for to see? .... Since it cannot be thought it was to see the reeds in the wilderness blow to and fro by the wind, or a man like one of them, either in gesture or doctrine; was it to see a man clothed in soft raiment? In raiment made of soft materials, as fine wool, cotton, silk, &c.; such as Mecaenos wore, and who was therefore called Malacinus F25 Alex. ab Alex. Genial Dier. 1. 5. c. 18. : one finely dressed, and richly apparelled, draws the eyes of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 11:9

But what went ye out for to see? .... Since it was not any thing so mean as a shaking reed, or so grand as a man in gay clothing, pray what was it you went out to see? A prophet? This was the truth of the matter, they expected to see a prophet, and they believed he was one; this was the common voice of the people; all held John to be a prophet. This made Herod afraid to put him to death, and the Pharisees to speak against his baptism: now, though this was giving him a great character, to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 11:10

For this is he of whom it is written ,.... Malachi 3:1 Behold I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee . That these words belong לעולם הבא , to the world to come, or the times of the Messiah, that is, the Gospel dispensation, the Jews F26 Bemidbar Rabba, sect. 15. fol. 219. 4. themselves own; but as to the particular person meant by the "messenger", or "angel", because they are not willing to acknowledge the right person, are at the utmost... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 11:11

Verily I say unto you ,.... What Christ had before said, he proved from a testimony of Scripture; what he was about to say depending on his word, he asseverates in the most solemn manner: among them that are born of women, there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist . The phrase, "them that are born of women", is a "periphrasis", of men born into the world by ordinary generation; see Job 14:1 and the sense is, that of all the prophets that have been in the world, since the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 11:7

What went ye out into the wilderness to see? - The purport of our Lord's design, in this and the following verses, is to convince the scribes and Pharisees of the inconsistency of their conduct in acknowledging John Baptist for a divinely authorized teacher, and not believing in the very Christ which he pointed out to them. He also shows, from the excellencies of John's character, that their confidence in him was not misplaced, and that this was a farther argument why they should have... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 11:8

A man clothed in soft raiment? - A second excellency in John was, his sober and mortified life. A preacher of the Gospel should have nothing about him which savours of effeminacy and worldly pomp: he is awfully mistaken who thinks to prevail on the world to hear him and receive the truth, by conforming himself to its fashions and manners. Excepting the mere color of his clothes, we can scarcely now distinguish a preacher of the Gospel, whether in the establishment of the country, or out of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 11:9

A prophet? yea - and more than a prophet - That is, one more excellent ( περισσοτερον ) than a prophet; one greatly beyond all who had come before him, being the immediate forerunner of Christ, (see below), and who was especially commissioned to prepare the way of the Lord. This was a fourth excellency: he was a prophet, a teacher, a man divinely commissioned to point out Jesus and his salvation; and more excellent than any of the old prophets, because he not only pointed out this... read more

Group of Brands