Matthew 11

Matthew 11:1

OF commanding his twelve disciples] Of giving them precepts how to carry themselves in their journey and preaching, chap. 10. and had sent them away furnished with those instructions.

in their cities] In the cities of Galtlee. See chap. 9. 35. and 12. 9.

Matthew 11:2

Now when] Luke 7. 18.

John had heard] By his disciples: as in Luke.

in the prison] Gr. in the place where men were kept in bonds.

he sent two of his disciples] Not for his own information, who was assured by Gods Spirit, and a signe from heaven, that Jesus was the true Messias, John 1:33. and bare record of it, John 1:29; John 1:34. but for the information of his disciples, who, out of zeal to their master, stood ill-affected to Christ, as appears, John 3:26. Chap. 9. 14. and, very likely, now did not acquaint John of Christs great works, out of love to him, but out of envie, and respect of their masters credit.

Matthew 11:3

And said unto him] By his disciples whom he sent; for John was now in prison, v. 2. See chap. 8. 5, 6.

Art thou he that should come] The Messias promised in the prophets, and expected by the Jews, Genesis 49:10. Isaiah 35:4. Acts 26:6-7.

Matthew 11:4

again] Or, from me.

these things] He doth not answer Johns message by words, but by deeds and miracles, and such as the prophets had foretold of the Messias, and so really proves himself to be the Christ.

Matthew 11:5

The blinde receive their sight] Isaiah 35:6.

the poor have the Gospel preached] Isaiah 61:1. Christ doth not, as worldly princes do, bestow his favours on great ones onely, but sends the good tidings of salvation to the poorest, 1 Corinthians 1:26, &c.

Matthew 11:6

whosoever shall not be offended in me] At my mean estate and sufferings, chap. 26. 31. 1 Corinthians 1:34. Or, at my familiarity with sinners, differing from Johns austere course of life, v. 18, 19.

Matthew 11:7

as they departed] Christ would not commend John, before his disciples, lest they should still prefer him before himself, or, the people should think he flattered John, and spake so well of him before his disciples, that they might tell it to their master: but after Johns disciples were gone, Luke 7. 24. he commends him to the people, who might now think more meanly of John, because of his imprisonment.

into the wildernesse] Of Judea, where John preached, chap. 3. 1.

A reed shaken with the winde?] Why went ye into the wildernesse in such multitudes? sure ye would not go to see reeds that are shaken to and fro by the windes, or such other base things as the wildernesse affords: and great men in fine clothing ye could not go to see there, for they abide in kings courts. Nothing was there to be seen worth your labour, but John, whom ye thought then to be a great prophet; and ye have no reason to think more meanly of him now, because of his imprisonment. Or, by a reed, may be meant, an unconstant person: by one in fine apparell, a flatterer; which are to be found in courts, not in deserts.

Matthew 11:8

A man clothed in soft raiment?] In silken apparell. See more on v. 7.

Matthew 11:9

A prophet?] See on v. 7.

more then a prophet] A man preferred by God to an higher office then ever any prophet was.

Matthew 11:10

Behold, I send] See on chap. 3. 1. Malachi 3:1.

my messenger, &c.] He sheweth a reason why John was greater then the prophets, Because they onely foretold of Christs coming; but he was the harbinger designed by God, in the prophets, to proclaim Christ now come into the world, and to prepare the people to receive him, as the king of the Church, whom he also pointed out unto them with the finger, Luke . 15, 16, 17, 74, 75. John 1:29.

Matthew 11:11

Among them that were born of women] He prefers John not onely before the prophets, as v. 9. but also before all others that were born before him.

there hath not risen] Or, been raised, as chap. 9. 25. Luke 7:16. John 7:52. None, greater then he, hath appeared among men. So Job 14:1. and Job 15:14. and Job 25:4.

a greater then John] In dignity of office, and clearnesse and fulnesse of doctrine, in publishing the entire performance of all things foretold of Christ; as his death, resurrection, ascension, calling of the Gentiles, which John saw not.

he that is least in the kingdom of heaven] The least in the ministery of the Gospel hath a more excellent function, in regard of the clearnesse of doctrine to be taught by him.

Matthew 11:12

And from the days of John] Luke 16. 16. The scribes aught the people coldly before, but John hath kindled in their hearts a fervent desire of the preaching of the Gospel.

untill now] This great desire lasts in them still, although John be cast in prison, and cannot now preach unto them.

suffereth violence] Or, is gotten by force] Men run to hear the Gospel preached, as souldiers violently run upon a rich town belieged, to get the wealth of it, Isaiah 60:4; Isaiah 60:8; Isaiah 60:11.

and the violent] Or, and they that thrust men. As in storming a town one thrusts another, to get before him into it; so the people were so encouraged by Johns ministery to come to Christ, that they sought every one to come before others.

Matthew 11:13

prophesied untill John] The things they foretold of Christ, and the types of him in the law, began to be fulfilled in Johns time. There needed now no more predictions, but a manifestation of the Messias, which was Johns work.

Matthew 11:14

if ye will receive it] If ye can endure to have the truth told you.

this is Elias, &c.] Malachi 4:5. This is he which should come in the spirit of Elias, Luke 1:17. Not Elias himself, whom the Jews fondly expected, John 1:21.

Matthew 11:15

He that hath ears] See on chap. 13. 9.

But whereunto] Luke 7:31.

this generation] The men of this age, chap. 24. 34.

It is like unto children, &c.] An allusion to childrens sports; who finde fault with the surlinesse of some of their companions, who would not keep company with them in their sports, though they did trie all ways they could to give them contentment: one while they sung chearfull songs, or imitated nuptial-feasts, to make them merry; another while, seeing the former way prevailed not, they sung heavie notes, or imitated funeral-solemnities, to please them; yet that course offended them also. See the application, v. 18, 19.

Matthew 11:17

We have piped, &c.] See on v. 16.

Matthew 11:18

neither eating nor drinking] He lived in an austere and solitary manner, abstaining from feasts, and the society of men in eating and drinking.

He hath a devil] Johns austere course was so far from winning many of them, that it incensed them the more. They thought he hated mankinde, as Satan doth.

Matthew 11:19

eating and drinking] Conversing with men in a more familiar and sociable course of life. His course differed from Johns, but they both aimed at the same end; yet could not either way effect it, such was the fampoldnesse of the people.

a man gluttonous, &c.] A man given to excesse in the use of the creatures, and keeping company with persons noted for bad and loose life.

wisedom is justified of her children] Though there be many that scoff at all means of grace, yet the wise counsel of God, Luke 7:30. in calling sinners home by Johns austerity, and Christs familiarity, is approved, as Psalms 51:4. Romans 3:4. Luke 7:29. by the followers of it, as Luke 10:6. to shew, that neither Johns nor Christs labours had been fruitlesse.

Matthew 11:20

Then began he] Luke 10. 13.

to upbraid the cities] He had found fault with the stubbornnesse of the nation before, v. 18, 19. now he upbraids those cities in particular, where he had been most conversant.

because they repented not] Not because they did not commend him and his preaching, but because they did not amend by it. Gods preachers must look more for amendment in the people, then for commendation from them.

Matthew 11:21

Wounto thee, Chorazin, &c.] These were cities upon the lake of Gennesaret, where Christ conversed much, and taught often.

the mighty works] The great miracles.

in Tyre and Sidon] Cities of great traffick by the sea.

in sackloth and ashes] Repenting, and manifesting their repentance by such outward signes of humiliation, Job 42:6. These means had been sufficient to have kept them from opposing the Gospel, and to have humbled them externally, which yet they cannot work in you.

Matthew 11:22

It shall be more tolerable] As there is diversity of punishments in hell, which men are appointed to at the day of Judgement: so ye, that have refused the Gospel, shall be worse handled then they that never heard it, though they lived more profanely then you do, Heb. 2. 2, 3. and 10. 28, 29.

Matthew 11:23

which art exalted unto heaven] By my abode in thee, frequent preaching, and great miracles wrought in thee.

for if the mighty works] See on v. 21.

in Sodom] Which was so wicked, that it was destroyed by fire from heaven.

it would have remained] The Sodomites would not have been so wicked, as to bring such an extraordinary judgement upon themselves.

Matthew 11:24

It shall be more tolerable] See on v. 22.

Matthew 11:25

At that time] This is said to be when the seventy were returned, and had told our Saviour what good successe they had, Luke 10. 17, 21.

Jesus answered] To the report of the seventy disciples in Luke: or, answering is put for the beginning of a speech, as often in Scripture.

I thank thee] Or. I confesse unto thee. Confession is an acknowledgement of Gods mercy, with praising him for it, Hebrews 13:15.

these things] The mysteries of thy kingdom.

and prudent] Gr. intelligent, or, understanding. That is, from the Scribes and Pharisees.

hast revealed them] By the ministery of me, and such as I have sent to teach.

unto babes] To ignorant persons, who know no more in such things, then children do in worldly affairs.

Matthew 11:26

Even so] Gr. Yea.

for so it seemed good] Gods pleasure ought to give us satisfaction, though no reason be delivered: For he is Lord of heaven and earth, verse 25. and may do with his own what he will, Chap. 20. 15.

Matthew 11:27

All things] John 3. 35. Not persons, but things: so great is the power of Christ, Matthew 28:18. Others, understand it of the knowledge of the mysteries, mentioned, ver. 25.

are delivered] Christ then, as man, had not this power and knowledge of himself.

no man knoweth the Son] His divine nature, and eternall generation: Or, no man knows what he is to do or suffer, but the Father, who hath designed him to both.

neither knoweth any man] John 6:46.

the Father] His essence, or person. Or, how he will have the calling of Jews and Gentiles to embrace the Gospel, to be dispensed and disposed. For prophets saw but little of it to speak of, 1 Pet. 10. 12.

to whomsoever the Son will reveal him] His deity, or what he will have the Son to do, or suffer, as before. None else can know, nor they any further then Christ will reveal it to them, Chap. 13. 11. Mark 4:11. Luke 8:10. 1 Corinthians 2:7. Ephesians 3:5. Colossians 1:26.

Matthew 11:28

Come unto me] Trust in me, ye that are troubled in conscience for sin, and I will bring you to true rest in Gods favour; which ye trouble your selves in vain to seek by other means, John 6. 35.

all ye that labour] Christ calls all to faith, excluding none that are prepared by sense of sin.

and are heavy laden] Because ye feel the burden more and more, and can finde no way to remove it, Psalms 38:4.

I will give you rest] I will ease you of the burden of sin past, Psalms 32:1. and free you from servitude of it hereafter, Romans 6:14.

Matthew 11:29

Take my yoke upon you] Obeying my commandments for time to come, Acts 15:10. 1 John 5:3.

learn of me, for I am meek] Imitate me in gentle and humble carriage. Or, because I am meek. That is, ye may be willing to learn of me, for I am not a surly and proud teacher, like the Pharisees, but I will teach you meekly and humbly.

ye shall finde rest] Jeremiah 6:16.

unto your souls] Your bodies may be exercised with many outward troubles, but ye shall have inward peace.

Matthew 11:30

For my yoke] 1 John 5:3.

is easie] The trouble of a yoke is not the weight, but the uncasinesse of it. The trouble of a burden is the weight of it. Christ will free us from all spirituall incoveniences.

my burden] The word primarily signifies, the fraight or balast of a ship, which cuts thorow the waves as if it had no burden, and never goes safe nor steadily without some such burden or balast.

is light] Regenerate men consent to Gods law, Romans 7:22. and so it is light to them, because, by Christs strength, they have overcome the world. The yoke of the law is hard, Acts 15:10. and the burden of the Pharisees, heavie, chap. 23. 4. and of princes, Isaiah 9:4. and Isaiah 10:27. Hosea 8:10. But love makes Christs yoke easie, and his burden light, 1 John 5:3-4.