Matthew 11:6-10
Mat 11:6 (KJB)
And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in
me.
Jesus had specifically pronounced a blessing on those
who were not offended by Him. If you recall the disciples of John and the
Pharisees had taken offense at Jesus and His disciples since they were not
fasting on a specific day. (Mat 9:14 KJV) Then came to him the disciples of
John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
So Jesus might have been aiming this statement toward them as well as generally
to all those who would not be offended by Him and His ministry. Only those who
were open to the Gospel would not be offended. Those who were sticklers for
keeping the law and all the added rituals and ceremonies would take offense at
the ministry of Grace because it did not require the keeping of the law. One who
is not offended by the Lord Jesus is normally one who is saved.
Mat 11:7 (KJB)
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?
When the disciples of John had departed from there,
Jesus began a discourse concerning John. Apparently, there were many present who
heard the questions that John’s disciples had and now Jesus wanted to set the
record straight concerning John, since no doubt, there were probably many in
attendance that were baptized by John and may have also been confused by these
questions. First Jesus asks the people when they heard of John, what did they
expect when they saw him in the wilderness? Jesus uses the example of a reed
shaken by the wind. This would symbolize a person who would change beliefs with
every different teaching they encounter. (Eph 4:14 KJV) That we henceforth
be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of
doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in
wait to deceive; John had the specific ministry of introducing the Messiah
in fulfillment of Malachi 4:5. (Mal 4:5 KJV) Behold, I will send you Elijah the
prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: John did
not lose faith but desired confirmation.
Mat 11:8 (KJB)
But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft
raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.
Jesus then poses a second question to the crowd. Did
they expect to see some government official dressed in fine upscale clothing?
Those who dress in the best robes or today in suits, are found in the palace of
the kings. John was not a man who represented the king but he was an ambassador
of Heaven. (Mat 3:4 KJV) And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair,
and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
He did not have fine clothes but the clothes which was fit for the desert
ministry and now fit for prison. He was not a fickle individual because he spoke
boldly about the sin of Herod Antipas. John was in prison, not because he
committed a crime, but because of his testimony to truth.
Mat 11:9 (KJB)
But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say
unto you, and more than a prophet.
The people had gone to see John whom they regarded as
a prophet. (Mat 14:4-5 KJV) For John said unto him, It is not lawful for
thee to have her. {5} And when he would have put him to death, he feared the
multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. As a prophet, John had
the privilege of doing something no other prophet before him did. The prophets
of old had prophesied and written about the coming Messiah but John was the only
Old Testament Prophet who had the privilege of introducing the Messiah in
person. The people might have thought John to be a failure because he was now in
prison but the fact is, his ministry was now completed as He spoke the message
God gave him to speak concerning the Messiah. Being a prophet of God did not
necessarily mean that one had a long ministry. It varied by the plan of God.
Mat 11:10 (KJB)
For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send
my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
(Mal 3:1 KJV) Behold, I will send my messenger,
and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall
suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight
in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. Malachi 3:1 gives us
another insight that Jesus is the Great “I Am” of Sinai and the author of the
Scriptures. Notice what the first part of the verse states. “Behold, I will send
my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me:” Malachi states that the
messenger will prepare the way before me. Jesus Himself is stating in Malachi
that the messenger will prepare the way before Him. John the Baptist prepared
the way for the coming of the Messiah. John was in the physical presence of the
people of Israel when He fulfilled the Scripture the Scripture of introducing
the Messiah, making him “more than a prophet.”