Scripture:
Matthew 11:2-15 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
2 When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent [a message] by his disciples (A) 3 and asked Him, "Are You the One who is to come, or should we expect someone else?" (B)
4 Jesus replied to them, "Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 the blind see, the lame walk, those with skin diseases are healed, [a] the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news. (C) 6 And if anyone is not offended because of Me, he is blessed." (D)
7 As these men went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? (E) 8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? Look, those who wear soft clothes are in kings' palaces. 9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet. (F) 10 This is the one it is written about:
Look, I am sending My messenger ahead of You; [b]
he will prepare Your way before You. (G) (H)
11 " I assure you: Among those born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared, [c] but the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been suffering violence, [d] and the violent have been seizing it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John; 14 if you're willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who is to come. (I) 15 Anyone who has ears [e] should listen! (J)
Footnotes:
Matthew 11:5 Lit cleansed
Matthew 11:10 Lit messenger before Your face
Matthew 11:11 Lit arisen
Matthew 11:12 Or has been forcefully advancing
Matthew 11:15 Other mss add to hear
Cross references:
Matthew 11:2 : Lk 7:18-35;
Matthew 11:3 : Ps 118:26; Jn 6:14; 11:27; Heb 10:37;
Matthew 11:5 : Is 35:5; 61:1; Lk 4:18; Jms 2:5;
Matthew 11:6 : Is 8:14-15; Mt 13:21; Jn 6:61; 16:1;
Matthew 11:7 : Mt 3:1; Eph 4:14;
Matthew 11:9 : Mt 14:5; 21:26; Lk 1:76;
Matthew 11:10 : Mal 3:1; Mk 1:2;
Matthew 11:10 : Mal 3:1;
Matthew 11:14 : Mal 4:5; Mt 17:10-13; Mk 9:11-13; Lk 1:17; Jn 1:21;
Matthew 11:15 : Mt 13:9; Mk 4:23; Lk 8:8; 14:35; Rv 2:7;
Reflection:
Who is the greatest in the kingdom of God? Jesus praised John the Baptist as the greatest person born. Who can top that as a compliment? But in the same breath Jesus says that the least in the kingdom of God is even greater than John! That sounds like a contradiction, right? Unless you understand that what Jesus was about to accomplish for our sake would supercede all that the prophets had done and foreseen in the past. John is the last and greatest of the prophets of the old covenant. He fulfilled the essential task of all the prophets: to be fingers pointing to Christ, God's Anointed Son and Messiah. John prepared the way for the Messiah and he pointed others to Jesus the Messiah at the River Jordan when he exclaimed, Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29) John saw from a distance what Jesus would accomplish through his death on the cross -- our redemption from bondage to sin and death and our adoption as sons and daughers of God and citizens of the kingdom of heaven.
John the Baptist bridges the Old and New Testaments. He is the last of the Old Testament prophets who point the way to the Messiah. He is the first of the New Testament witnesses and martyrs. He is the herald who prepares the way for Jesus the Messiah. Jesus confirms that John has fulfilled the promise that Elijah would return to herald the coming of the Messiah (Malachi 4:5). Jesus declares that John is nothing less that the great herald whose privilege it was to announce the coming of the Messiah. Jesus equates the coming of his kingdom with violence. John himself suffered violence for announcing that the kingdom of God was near. He was thrown into prison and then beheaded. Since John's martyrdom to the present times the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence and persecution at the hands of violent men. The blood of the martyrs throughout the ages bear witness to this fact. The martyrs witness to the truth -- the truth of Jesus Christ and his saving plan for the world. Their testimony and death prove victory rather than defeat for the kingdom of God. Through Christ's victory on the cross they obtain the glorious crown of victory and everlasting life with Christ. Are you ready to witness to Christ and to suffer violence if necessary for his sake?
Why did John, while in prison, send his disciples to question Jesus? John wanted them to hear and see firsthand from the Messiah himself before John would meet his fate, martyrdom at the hands of King Herod. Jesus says that his miracles and message about the kingdom or reign of God are proof enough for John and his disciples to recognize as the fulfilment of Isaiah's prophecy foretelling the signs and wonders which the Messiah would perform (Isaiah 35). Jesus in his characteristic fashion also returned one question with another. What do you see in John the Baptist? And why does Jesus contrast John with a reed? Unlike a reed which is spineless and can be bruised easily, John stands as a pillar of truth which no demonic force can overtake because his heart is set on God and burns with the fire of God's truth and love. Someone who is tepid -- careless, half-hearted, and lukewarm -- is easily swayed by whatever hits his or her fancy. If our heart is not filled with the love of God is easily grows cold and our faith wanes. If the heart feels emptied of God it seeks to fill the void with other things, which not being God, cannot bring true satisfaction. If we want to be like John the Baptist, then we must set our heart, mind, soul, and strength on one thing, and one thing only -- the Lord Jesus Christ and his kingdom of everlasting peace, joy, and righteousness. There is no room for compromise. We are either for Jesus and his kingdom or against it. We either give him our full allegiance and submission or we hold on to the reigns of running life as we want it to go.
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