1.
And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.
Jesus. App-98 .
preach = proclaim. App-121 . Continuing His mission (Matthew 4:17 ).
2.
Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
heard in the prison. John's arrest had been mentioned in Matthew 4:12 .
Christ = the Messiah. See App-98 .
he sent. Greek. pempo. Sent as envoys. See notes on Luke 7:3 and Luke 7:6 . This is not the same mission as that in Luke 7 .
(1) In this (the former) no number of those sent is given (see note on "two" below): in the latter there were "two" (Luke 7:19 ). The antecedents and consequents are different.
(2) In the former, the Twelve had just been appointed, which may have raised questions in John's mind; in the latter, the antecedent was the raising of the widow's son, before the calling of the Twelve.
(3) In the former case, the Lord called them to see and note what He was then doing, "which ye are hearing and seeing" (Matthew 11:4 ).
(NB., the tenses are all Present. See Matthew 11:5 .) In the latter case, they are to te11 John "what ye have seen and heard" (Matthew 11:22 ). The consequents are repetitions suited to the different circumstances. See App-97 .
two. All the texts read dia = by means of ( App-104 .Matthew 11:1; Matthew 11:1 ), instead of duo = two, as in Luke 7:18 .
3.
And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?
He That should come = He Who cometh, or the corning One: i.e. He Who was expected to come. Compare Matthew 3:11 ; Matthew 21:9 ; Matthew 23:39 . John 3:31 .Psalms 118:26 . Genesis 49:10 . Isaiah 35:4 .Ezekiel 21:27 . Zechariah 9:9 .
do we look for = are we to expect.
another = a different [one].
4.
Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:
Jesus = And Jesus. App-98 .
answered and said. A Hebraism. See note on Deuteronomy 1:41 .
shew = report.
again. Not in the Greek. in Matthew 11:7-8 .
5.
The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
The blind = Blind (no Art. in this verse, because only some of each kind are meant. Not all the blind, &c.) These were the miracles foretold of Him (Isaiah 35:5 , Isaiah 35:6 ; Isaiah 61:1 ). No others ( qua, miracles) would have sufficed as His credentials.
the dead = dead (persons). No Art. See App-139 .
raised up = raised to life.
have the gospel preached to them. This is one word in the Greek ( euangelizo ) = are told the good news or glad tidings (Isaiah 61:1 ).
6.
And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
blessed = happy. See note on Matthew 5:3 .
not be offended = find nothing to stumble at.
Me: i.e. in My Person, My teachings, My grace, &c.; as many did. Compare Luke 4:22 with Luke 4:28 .
7.
And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
departed = were going forward. See note on Matthew 11:1 .
concerning. Greek. peri . App-104 .
What . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis , and Anaphora. See verses: Matthew 8:9 .
to see = to gaze on. Greek. theaomai. App-133 .
with = by. Greek. hupo. App-104 .
8.
But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.
for to see = to see. Greek. eidon. App-133 .
soft raiment = soft, or effeminate [raiment]. Mantles are meant, made of silk or linen, as worn by the effendis or gentry, in the East, to-day.
behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .
9.
But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
prophet. See App-49 .
more than = far more than.
10.
For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
of = concerning. Greek. peri , as in Matthew 11:7 .
it is written = it standeth written.
I send, &c. Quoted from Malachi 3:1 . See App-107 and App-117 . Compare Mark 1:2 .Luke 1:17 , Luke 1:76 ; Luke 7:27 .
messenger = angel. Greek. angelos.
11.
Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Verily. See note on Matthew 5:18 .
Among. Greek. en with plural
born of women = brought forth by women (see note on Matthew 1:2 , Matthew 1:16 , Matthew 1:18 ). A Hebraism ( yelud 'ishshah) . See Job 14:1 ; Job 15:14 ; Job 25:4 .
least = less: i.e. younger, meaning Himself.
the kingdom. John was only proclaiming it (but not "in" it). The kingdom was rejected both as announced by John (Matthew 3:2 ), by Christ (Matthew 4:17 ), and by Peter (Acts 2:38 ; Acts 3:19-26 ); and, since its final rejection in Acts 28:25 , Acts 28:26 , is postponed, and is now in abeyance. See Hebrews 2:8 ("not yet"). The possessor is greater than the proclaimer.
the kingdom of heaven. See App-114 .
heaven = the heavens (plural)
he: i.e. John.
12.
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
And = But.
suffereth violence = forceth itself upon men's attention. Greek. biazomai. Occurs only here and Luke 16:16 . Supposed to be only passive (as rendered here), but this agrees neither with the facts nor with the context. Deissmann ( Bib. Stud., p. 258) tells of the discovery of an inscription of Xanthus the Lycian, found near Sunium (E. Attica), containing the regulations as to approaching the healing divinity of the sanctuary of Men Tyrannos: "If any one forces himself in, his offering was not acceptable. "Those who fulfilled the conditions had the founder's good wishes. This last clause is conclusive and agrees with Luke 16:16 .
the violent = forceful ones. No Art. Greek. biastes. Occurs only here.
take it by force = lay hold of it.
13.
For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
all the prophets. See Acts 3:21 .
the law. See note on Matthew 5:17 .
until John. And all would have been fulfilled then had the nation repented.
14.
And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
if, &c. Assuming it as a fact. See App-118 ., as in verses: Matthew 11:21 , Matthew 11:23 .
will = are willing. Greek. thelo.
receive = to receive. Compare Acts 2:41 .
this is = he represents. Had the nation repented, John would have been reckoned as Elijah.
is = represents. Figure of speech Metaphor. App-6 .
Elias = Elijah.
was for to come = is about to come. See Malachi 4:5 , and Luke 1:17 .
15.
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
He that hath ears to hear. A Hebraism. Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6 . Used only by the Lord, and marking a dispensational crisis (as this was) on fourteen different occasions. See App-142 .
16.
But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,
this generation? A significant expression, occurring sixteen times (Matthew 11:16 ; Matthew 12:41 , Matthew 12:42 ; Matthew 23:36 ; Matthew 24:34 .Mark 8:12 , Mark 8:12 ; Mark 13:30 . Luke 7:31 ; Luke 11:30 , Luke 11:31 , Luke 11:32 , Luke 11:50 , Luke 11:51 ; Luke 17:25 ; Luke 21:32 ). Characterized by other epithets, "evil" and "adulterous" (Matthew 12:39 , Matthew 12:45 ; Matthew 16:4 .Mark 8:38 . Luke 11:29 ); "faithless and perverse" (Matthew 17:17 . Mark 9:19 . Luke 9:41 ); "untoward" (Acts 2:40 ). All this because it was the particular generation that rejected the Messiah.
children = little children. Dim. of pais . App-108 .
fellows = companions. Greek. hetairos. Some of the texts read "others" (i.e. heteros for hetairos) . Occurs only here; Matthew 20:13 ; Matthew 22:12 ; and Matthew 26:50 ("friend").
17.
And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.
have not = did not. danced . . . lamented. Figure of speech Paronomasia ( App-6 ) in the Greek orchesasthe . . . ekopsasthe ; but Figure of speech Parechesis, also in Ararnaic = rakkedton . . . arkkedton. In Eng. "ye did not leap . . . did not weep"; or "stept not . . . wept not". A common custom to this day; such response on the part of the audience being greatly appreciated.
18.
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
came. In the Greek this is the Figure of speech Hyperbaton (put out of its place by commencing the verse), causing the Figure of speech Anaphora ( App-6 ).
eating nor drinking. Supply the Ellipsis , eating nor drinking [with others].
devil = demon.
19.
The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
The Son of Man. See App-98 .
winebibber = drinking to excess.
publicans and sinners. See notes on Matthew 5:46 ; Matthew 9:10 .
But = And: i.e. And [for all that] Wisdom was [in each case] vindicated by her children; so with Messiah (the Wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:24 , 1 Corinthians 1:30 . Compare Matthew 23:34 with Luke 11:49 ).
of = by. Greek. apo. App-104 .
children. App-108 . Tr. reads "work".
20.
Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:
Then. Marking another stage of His rejection. Figure of speech Chronographia.
cities. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject) for their inhabitants. App-6 .
wherein = in which. Greek. en , as in Matthew 11:1 .
mighty works. Greek plural of dunamis ( App-172 .) See note on John 2:18 .
were done = had taken place.
repented. Greek. metanoeo. App-111 .
21.
Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
Woe, &c. Figure of speech Maledictio. App-6 . A testimony as to His rejection.
Chorazin. Not named elsewhere, and no miracles recorded as performed there, or at Bethsaida. See App-169 .
been done = taken place.
Tyre and Sidon. No mention of the Lord's having been there.
Tyre. Now es Sur.
Sidon. The Zidon of the O.T.; now Saida, twenty-five miles south of Beirout.
22.
But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.
at = in, as in Matthew 11:1 .
the day, &c. Now drawing near. See note on Matthew 16:23 .
23.
And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
Capernaum. See note on Matthew 4:13 , and App-169 .
art = wast.
heaven = the heaven. Sing, because in contrast with the earth. See note on Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .
hell. Gr . Hades. See App-131 .
24.
But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
25.
At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
that time. Of His rejection. Figure of speech Chronographia ( App-6 ), emphasizing the lesson.
time = season.
answered and said = prayed and said. A Hebraism. See note on Deuteronomy 1:41 .
I thank Thee = I openly confess to Thee.
Father. See App-98 .
earth = the earth. App-129 .
hast hid = didst hide.
the wise = wise ones (no Art.)
prudent = prudent ones: i.e. in their own eyes.
26.
Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
seemed good = became well-pleasing. Occurs with ginomai, only here and Luke 10:21 .
27.
All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
are delivered = were [at some definite time] delivered.
of = by. Greek. hupo.
No man = no one. Greek. odes, or compound of. App-105 .
knoweth = fully knoweth.
will reveal = intendeth (Greek. boulomai) to reveal.
reveal = unveil. Greek. apokalupto.
28.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Come, &c. Here Christ refers, not to sins, but to service; not to guilt, but to labour; not to the conscience, but to the heart; not to repentance, but to learning; not to finding forgiveness, but to finding rest.
all. Here limited to those seeking "rest".
labour = toil.
heavy laden = burdened.
give. His rest is given. Ours must be found in His gift. We have none to give.
29.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
your souls = your own selves (emph.)
30.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.