Matthew 11

Matthew 11:1

Encouragements

After His warnings to His disciples about the persecution to come, the Lord encourages them. The first encouragement is that all the slander that will be spread about them will at one time be brought to light. Then it will become clear that it really was slander. All who have spread these slanders, and all who have believed them, suffer the just punishment for it. We will in some cases already now, but certainly then, know the hidden reasons of the enmity of the people. It is also a great encouragement to know that the Lord was the First to enter the path of rejection.

Our performance should be very different from the underhand slandering of our opponents. The Lord instructs us to pass on loud and clear to others what He says to us personally in our private relationship with Him.

A second encouragement not to be afraid is our Father’s care. We should not be afraid of the people. They can do no more than kill the body. The killing of the soul is beyond their reach. The destruction of both body and soul in hell belongs only to God Who alone has the power to do so. We are not dealing with people, but with God. Someone who was well aware of this is the man of God John Knox (1514-1572). On his tombstone, it reads: ‘Here lies one who feared God so much that he never feared the face of any man’.

For the faithful follower of the Lord Jesus, God is a Father. His concern extends to little animals that are barely meaningful to man and to things that man does not think about at all, such as the number of hairs on his head. If God’s concern goes out to those things that are so completely unimportant to man, how much more does God’s concern go out to those who are connected to His Son and share in His fate on earth. Sparrows don’t worry and hair even less and God takes care of it. For God disciples surpass many sparrows. That’s why they don’t have to worry about whether or not God thinks of them when they encounter the hostility of the world.

Matthew 11:2

Encouragements

After His warnings to His disciples about the persecution to come, the Lord encourages them. The first encouragement is that all the slander that will be spread about them will at one time be brought to light. Then it will become clear that it really was slander. All who have spread these slanders, and all who have believed them, suffer the just punishment for it. We will in some cases already now, but certainly then, know the hidden reasons of the enmity of the people. It is also a great encouragement to know that the Lord was the First to enter the path of rejection.

Our performance should be very different from the underhand slandering of our opponents. The Lord instructs us to pass on loud and clear to others what He says to us personally in our private relationship with Him.

A second encouragement not to be afraid is our Father’s care. We should not be afraid of the people. They can do no more than kill the body. The killing of the soul is beyond their reach. The destruction of both body and soul in hell belongs only to God Who alone has the power to do so. We are not dealing with people, but with God. Someone who was well aware of this is the man of God John Knox (1514-1572). On his tombstone, it reads: ‘Here lies one who feared God so much that he never feared the face of any man’.

For the faithful follower of the Lord Jesus, God is a Father. His concern extends to little animals that are barely meaningful to man and to things that man does not think about at all, such as the number of hairs on his head. If God’s concern goes out to those things that are so completely unimportant to man, how much more does God’s concern go out to those who are connected to His Son and share in His fate on earth. Sparrows don’t worry and hair even less and God takes care of it. For God disciples surpass many sparrows. That’s why they don’t have to worry about whether or not God thinks of them when they encounter the hostility of the world.

Matthew 11:3

Confessing or Denying

A third encouragement is reward. Disciples of the Lord Jesus confess Him before the people, despite the hatred and mockery this entails. He rewards this by confessing them before His Father. This recognition by the Lord before the Father goes beyond the honor of people many times over.

But whoever denies Him before men will be denied by him before His Father. People who confess only with their mouths that they know the Lord, and call Him “Lord, Lord” (Matthew 7:21), arrive in situations where they deny Him. He will also deny them. The consequences of this are terrible. They will be denied by Him forever (Matthew 10:33; Matthew 7:22-23).

Peter’s denial is of a different nature. It is a shameful act. Against his better judgment, he denies that he knows the Lord (Matthew 26:69-74). We know for sure that Peter is a believer, for he has confessed this sin and the Lord has forgiven him. This sin can be committed by any believer. If that happens, the Lord must deny that believer, just as He also had to deny Peter.

From the moment that Peter denied the Lord Jesus, the Lord told His Father that He did not know Peter. This does not mean that the Lord did not keep His eye on Peter. We know that He brought him to repentance (Luke 22:61). But until the moment of repentance the Lord denied before His Father that He knew Peter. This denial by the Lord also means that Peter lost the blessing and reward he would have received if he had not denied the Lord. The denial of the Lord has consequences for the present and for the future.

Matthew 11:4

Confessing or Denying

A third encouragement is reward. Disciples of the Lord Jesus confess Him before the people, despite the hatred and mockery this entails. He rewards this by confessing them before His Father. This recognition by the Lord before the Father goes beyond the honor of people many times over.

But whoever denies Him before men will be denied by him before His Father. People who confess only with their mouths that they know the Lord, and call Him “Lord, Lord” (Matthew 7:21), arrive in situations where they deny Him. He will also deny them. The consequences of this are terrible. They will be denied by Him forever (Matthew 10:33; Matthew 7:22-23).

Peter’s denial is of a different nature. It is a shameful act. Against his better judgment, he denies that he knows the Lord (Matthew 26:69-74). We know for sure that Peter is a believer, for he has confessed this sin and the Lord has forgiven him. This sin can be committed by any believer. If that happens, the Lord must deny that believer, just as He also had to deny Peter.

From the moment that Peter denied the Lord Jesus, the Lord told His Father that He did not know Peter. This does not mean that the Lord did not keep His eye on Peter. We know that He brought him to repentance (Luke 22:61). But until the moment of repentance the Lord denied before His Father that He knew Peter. This denial by the Lord also means that Peter lost the blessing and reward he would have received if he had not denied the Lord. The denial of the Lord has consequences for the present and for the future.

Matthew 11:5

No Peace, but a Sword

The Lord does not paint a bright future for His disciples on earth. He has not come to bring peace on the earth. He even says that twice. Certainly He originally came to bring peace. So it was proclaimed at His birth (Luke 2:14). Because of the rebellion of man who went so far as to reject the Prince of Peace, that peace could not be established on earth. Peace is there only for those who confess their sins. Peace comes in their hearts. At the same time, there is a separation between them and their unbelieving environment which persists in sin. New life is hated by the unbelievers just as the Lord Jesus was and is hated.

The sword of division brings separation in family relationships and between housemates. It causes situations that reveal whether there is real love for the Lord Jesus. The choices that are made will show whether the love for Him transcends any earthly love. He cannot be satisfied with second place. To Him belongs the place that surpasses everything and everyone. He who doesn’t want to give that to Him, but lets love for a family member predominate, is not worthy of Him. Christ must be more precious to His own than father or mother or even own life. The love for our own life can rob Christ of His place much more than the love for our family.

We are also not worthy of Him if we do not follow Him in His way of rejection. In our hearts we may want to give Christ the first place, but an open confession should also accompany that. This is seen in the taking up of our cross, that is, the taking of the place of contempt in the world. The cross is the place where Christ died as the despised One. There we lost our life, that life we lived for ourselves, and found new life.

Matthew 11:6

No Peace, but a Sword

The Lord does not paint a bright future for His disciples on earth. He has not come to bring peace on the earth. He even says that twice. Certainly He originally came to bring peace. So it was proclaimed at His birth (Luke 2:14). Because of the rebellion of man who went so far as to reject the Prince of Peace, that peace could not be established on earth. Peace is there only for those who confess their sins. Peace comes in their hearts. At the same time, there is a separation between them and their unbelieving environment which persists in sin. New life is hated by the unbelievers just as the Lord Jesus was and is hated.

The sword of division brings separation in family relationships and between housemates. It causes situations that reveal whether there is real love for the Lord Jesus. The choices that are made will show whether the love for Him transcends any earthly love. He cannot be satisfied with second place. To Him belongs the place that surpasses everything and everyone. He who doesn’t want to give that to Him, but lets love for a family member predominate, is not worthy of Him. Christ must be more precious to His own than father or mother or even own life. The love for our own life can rob Christ of His place much more than the love for our family.

We are also not worthy of Him if we do not follow Him in His way of rejection. In our hearts we may want to give Christ the first place, but an open confession should also accompany that. This is seen in the taking up of our cross, that is, the taking of the place of contempt in the world. The cross is the place where Christ died as the despised One. There we lost our life, that life we lived for ourselves, and found new life.

Matthew 11:7

No Peace, but a Sword

The Lord does not paint a bright future for His disciples on earth. He has not come to bring peace on the earth. He even says that twice. Certainly He originally came to bring peace. So it was proclaimed at His birth (Luke 2:14). Because of the rebellion of man who went so far as to reject the Prince of Peace, that peace could not be established on earth. Peace is there only for those who confess their sins. Peace comes in their hearts. At the same time, there is a separation between them and their unbelieving environment which persists in sin. New life is hated by the unbelievers just as the Lord Jesus was and is hated.

The sword of division brings separation in family relationships and between housemates. It causes situations that reveal whether there is real love for the Lord Jesus. The choices that are made will show whether the love for Him transcends any earthly love. He cannot be satisfied with second place. To Him belongs the place that surpasses everything and everyone. He who doesn’t want to give that to Him, but lets love for a family member predominate, is not worthy of Him. Christ must be more precious to His own than father or mother or even own life. The love for our own life can rob Christ of His place much more than the love for our family.

We are also not worthy of Him if we do not follow Him in His way of rejection. In our hearts we may want to give Christ the first place, but an open confession should also accompany that. This is seen in the taking up of our cross, that is, the taking of the place of contempt in the world. The cross is the place where Christ died as the despised One. There we lost our life, that life we lived for ourselves, and found new life.

Matthew 11:8

No Peace, but a Sword

The Lord does not paint a bright future for His disciples on earth. He has not come to bring peace on the earth. He even says that twice. Certainly He originally came to bring peace. So it was proclaimed at His birth (Luke 2:14). Because of the rebellion of man who went so far as to reject the Prince of Peace, that peace could not be established on earth. Peace is there only for those who confess their sins. Peace comes in their hearts. At the same time, there is a separation between them and their unbelieving environment which persists in sin. New life is hated by the unbelievers just as the Lord Jesus was and is hated.

The sword of division brings separation in family relationships and between housemates. It causes situations that reveal whether there is real love for the Lord Jesus. The choices that are made will show whether the love for Him transcends any earthly love. He cannot be satisfied with second place. To Him belongs the place that surpasses everything and everyone. He who doesn’t want to give that to Him, but lets love for a family member predominate, is not worthy of Him. Christ must be more precious to His own than father or mother or even own life. The love for our own life can rob Christ of His place much more than the love for our family.

We are also not worthy of Him if we do not follow Him in His way of rejection. In our hearts we may want to give Christ the first place, but an open confession should also accompany that. This is seen in the taking up of our cross, that is, the taking of the place of contempt in the world. The cross is the place where Christ died as the despised One. There we lost our life, that life we lived for ourselves, and found new life.

Matthew 11:9

No Peace, but a Sword

The Lord does not paint a bright future for His disciples on earth. He has not come to bring peace on the earth. He even says that twice. Certainly He originally came to bring peace. So it was proclaimed at His birth (Luke 2:14). Because of the rebellion of man who went so far as to reject the Prince of Peace, that peace could not be established on earth. Peace is there only for those who confess their sins. Peace comes in their hearts. At the same time, there is a separation between them and their unbelieving environment which persists in sin. New life is hated by the unbelievers just as the Lord Jesus was and is hated.

The sword of division brings separation in family relationships and between housemates. It causes situations that reveal whether there is real love for the Lord Jesus. The choices that are made will show whether the love for Him transcends any earthly love. He cannot be satisfied with second place. To Him belongs the place that surpasses everything and everyone. He who doesn’t want to give that to Him, but lets love for a family member predominate, is not worthy of Him. Christ must be more precious to His own than father or mother or even own life. The love for our own life can rob Christ of His place much more than the love for our family.

We are also not worthy of Him if we do not follow Him in His way of rejection. In our hearts we may want to give Christ the first place, but an open confession should also accompany that. This is seen in the taking up of our cross, that is, the taking of the place of contempt in the world. The cross is the place where Christ died as the despised One. There we lost our life, that life we lived for ourselves, and found new life.

Matthew 11:10

No Peace, but a Sword

The Lord does not paint a bright future for His disciples on earth. He has not come to bring peace on the earth. He even says that twice. Certainly He originally came to bring peace. So it was proclaimed at His birth (Luke 2:14). Because of the rebellion of man who went so far as to reject the Prince of Peace, that peace could not be established on earth. Peace is there only for those who confess their sins. Peace comes in their hearts. At the same time, there is a separation between them and their unbelieving environment which persists in sin. New life is hated by the unbelievers just as the Lord Jesus was and is hated.

The sword of division brings separation in family relationships and between housemates. It causes situations that reveal whether there is real love for the Lord Jesus. The choices that are made will show whether the love for Him transcends any earthly love. He cannot be satisfied with second place. To Him belongs the place that surpasses everything and everyone. He who doesn’t want to give that to Him, but lets love for a family member predominate, is not worthy of Him. Christ must be more precious to His own than father or mother or even own life. The love for our own life can rob Christ of His place much more than the love for our family.

We are also not worthy of Him if we do not follow Him in His way of rejection. In our hearts we may want to give Christ the first place, but an open confession should also accompany that. This is seen in the taking up of our cross, that is, the taking of the place of contempt in the world. The cross is the place where Christ died as the despised One. There we lost our life, that life we lived for ourselves, and found new life.

Matthew 11:11

Reward for Imitation

The possession of new life has brought us into a new company. That new company consists of people who also have that new life. When we receive them, we receive Him and through Him we receive the Father. One blessing results from the other and brings us to the source of all blessings.

The disciples are sent out as prophets. Everywhere in Israel they bring the Word of God. He who does not reject one of them as a prophet of God, but receives him, will receive the same reward as the prophet. The same goes for those who will receive a righteous person precisely because he is a righteous person. A righteous person is one who lives in accordance with God’s Word.

The Lord mentions a third category to which His disciples are compared: “These little ones.” His disciples are the insignificant of the world, the ‘little ones’ that are not counted. Whoever provides refreshment for such disregarded messengers, precisely because they are disrespected, receives the reinforced assurance from the Lord – “truly I say to you” – that he shall not lose his reward. It is about the motive, not about a good deed out of pity or just to do good and to think that God will be satisfied with it.

A prophet speaks the Word of God, a righteous man lives the Word of God, a little one reveals the mind of the Word of God. These three persons with these characteristics are hated, persecuted and not counted by the world. All three features have the greatest meaning for God, for they are the features of His Son. When He sees these features in disciples, He is reminded of His Son. All those disciples will be rewarded by Him for this, as will those who make themselves one with these disciples.

Matthew 11:12

Reward for Imitation

The possession of new life has brought us into a new company. That new company consists of people who also have that new life. When we receive them, we receive Him and through Him we receive the Father. One blessing results from the other and brings us to the source of all blessings.

The disciples are sent out as prophets. Everywhere in Israel they bring the Word of God. He who does not reject one of them as a prophet of God, but receives him, will receive the same reward as the prophet. The same goes for those who will receive a righteous person precisely because he is a righteous person. A righteous person is one who lives in accordance with God’s Word.

The Lord mentions a third category to which His disciples are compared: “These little ones.” His disciples are the insignificant of the world, the ‘little ones’ that are not counted. Whoever provides refreshment for such disregarded messengers, precisely because they are disrespected, receives the reinforced assurance from the Lord – “truly I say to you” – that he shall not lose his reward. It is about the motive, not about a good deed out of pity or just to do good and to think that God will be satisfied with it.

A prophet speaks the Word of God, a righteous man lives the Word of God, a little one reveals the mind of the Word of God. These three persons with these characteristics are hated, persecuted and not counted by the world. All three features have the greatest meaning for God, for they are the features of His Son. When He sees these features in disciples, He is reminded of His Son. All those disciples will be rewarded by Him for this, as will those who make themselves one with these disciples.

Matthew 11:13

Reward for Imitation

The possession of new life has brought us into a new company. That new company consists of people who also have that new life. When we receive them, we receive Him and through Him we receive the Father. One blessing results from the other and brings us to the source of all blessings.

The disciples are sent out as prophets. Everywhere in Israel they bring the Word of God. He who does not reject one of them as a prophet of God, but receives him, will receive the same reward as the prophet. The same goes for those who will receive a righteous person precisely because he is a righteous person. A righteous person is one who lives in accordance with God’s Word.

The Lord mentions a third category to which His disciples are compared: “These little ones.” His disciples are the insignificant of the world, the ‘little ones’ that are not counted. Whoever provides refreshment for such disregarded messengers, precisely because they are disrespected, receives the reinforced assurance from the Lord – “truly I say to you” – that he shall not lose his reward. It is about the motive, not about a good deed out of pity or just to do good and to think that God will be satisfied with it.

A prophet speaks the Word of God, a righteous man lives the Word of God, a little one reveals the mind of the Word of God. These three persons with these characteristics are hated, persecuted and not counted by the world. All three features have the greatest meaning for God, for they are the features of His Son. When He sees these features in disciples, He is reminded of His Son. All those disciples will be rewarded by Him for this, as will those who make themselves one with these disciples.

Matthew 11:15

The Lord Teaches and Preaches

This chapter is a transition from the testimony to Israel to a new state of affairs that the Lord is about to introduce. This transition begins with the story of John the baptist in prison. Just as John went before the Lord in His service, so he goes before Him in His rejection. What happens to John is a precursor of what the Lord will undergo. But before that, He continues to teach and preach the Word. The sending out of the twelve does not mean that He will now stop His own service.

Matthew 11:16

The Question of John

When John hears in prison what Christ is doing, doubts arise in his heart. Despite his prophetic gifts, Jewish expectations and concepts remain in his heart. It is therefore understandable that John, when he hears about all that the Lord Jesus does for others, wonders why He does not use His miracle power for his benefit, His predecessor. Christ is there, setting all kinds of unworthy persons free from all kinds of diseases and plagues, but evidently does not think of him.

This confuses him and leads him to the question he lets his disciples ask. Sending his disciples to the Lord shows that he has complete faith in the word of the Lord as Prophet, but that he is ignorant of His Person.

His question shows doubt as to whether Christ is the promised Messiah Whom he announced. His question stems from a misrepresentation of the coming and service of the Messiah. Our doubts also often arise from a misrepresentation of the Lord and how He acts. We imagine a certain pattern of action and get confused when things go differently. We then think we can dictate to God how He should act, when we don’t know His plans or haven’t properly examined them.

There comes no word of reproach from the Lord’s lips. Full of love and grace, He answers His forerunner’s question. John’s disciples should go and tell him what they have heard (His word) and seen (His works). He sums it up for them. This summary shows that He uses His power to relieve people’s needs and not to drive away the occupying power, the Romans.

He has never used His power for Himself, but always in grace and mercy for others. What He does and says is the fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah 35 (Isaiah 35:5-6). From His deeds one can see that He is the Messiah. Nowhere in the Old Testament are the eyes of the blind opened. That only happens when He is here.

The Lord concludes His answer for John with a gentle reproof. He calls them “happy” who do not take offence at His humiliation and the lack of external glory and do not reject Him for it. That is what John is in danger of, although he certainly did not reject the Lord. He, “God revealed in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16), did not come to seek the glory of the kingship, but for the redemption of suffering people. John did not think about that.

Matthew 11:17

The Question of John

When John hears in prison what Christ is doing, doubts arise in his heart. Despite his prophetic gifts, Jewish expectations and concepts remain in his heart. It is therefore understandable that John, when he hears about all that the Lord Jesus does for others, wonders why He does not use His miracle power for his benefit, His predecessor. Christ is there, setting all kinds of unworthy persons free from all kinds of diseases and plagues, but evidently does not think of him.

This confuses him and leads him to the question he lets his disciples ask. Sending his disciples to the Lord shows that he has complete faith in the word of the Lord as Prophet, but that he is ignorant of His Person.

His question shows doubt as to whether Christ is the promised Messiah Whom he announced. His question stems from a misrepresentation of the coming and service of the Messiah. Our doubts also often arise from a misrepresentation of the Lord and how He acts. We imagine a certain pattern of action and get confused when things go differently. We then think we can dictate to God how He should act, when we don’t know His plans or haven’t properly examined them.

There comes no word of reproach from the Lord’s lips. Full of love and grace, He answers His forerunner’s question. John’s disciples should go and tell him what they have heard (His word) and seen (His works). He sums it up for them. This summary shows that He uses His power to relieve people’s needs and not to drive away the occupying power, the Romans.

He has never used His power for Himself, but always in grace and mercy for others. What He does and says is the fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah 35 (Isaiah 35:5-6). From His deeds one can see that He is the Messiah. Nowhere in the Old Testament are the eyes of the blind opened. That only happens when He is here.

The Lord concludes His answer for John with a gentle reproof. He calls them “happy” who do not take offence at His humiliation and the lack of external glory and do not reject Him for it. That is what John is in danger of, although he certainly did not reject the Lord. He, “God revealed in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16), did not come to seek the glory of the kingship, but for the redemption of suffering people. John did not think about that.

Matthew 11:18

The Question of John

When John hears in prison what Christ is doing, doubts arise in his heart. Despite his prophetic gifts, Jewish expectations and concepts remain in his heart. It is therefore understandable that John, when he hears about all that the Lord Jesus does for others, wonders why He does not use His miracle power for his benefit, His predecessor. Christ is there, setting all kinds of unworthy persons free from all kinds of diseases and plagues, but evidently does not think of him.

This confuses him and leads him to the question he lets his disciples ask. Sending his disciples to the Lord shows that he has complete faith in the word of the Lord as Prophet, but that he is ignorant of His Person.

His question shows doubt as to whether Christ is the promised Messiah Whom he announced. His question stems from a misrepresentation of the coming and service of the Messiah. Our doubts also often arise from a misrepresentation of the Lord and how He acts. We imagine a certain pattern of action and get confused when things go differently. We then think we can dictate to God how He should act, when we don’t know His plans or haven’t properly examined them.

There comes no word of reproach from the Lord’s lips. Full of love and grace, He answers His forerunner’s question. John’s disciples should go and tell him what they have heard (His word) and seen (His works). He sums it up for them. This summary shows that He uses His power to relieve people’s needs and not to drive away the occupying power, the Romans.

He has never used His power for Himself, but always in grace and mercy for others. What He does and says is the fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah 35 (Isaiah 35:5-6). From His deeds one can see that He is the Messiah. Nowhere in the Old Testament are the eyes of the blind opened. That only happens when He is here.

The Lord concludes His answer for John with a gentle reproof. He calls them “happy” who do not take offence at His humiliation and the lack of external glory and do not reject Him for it. That is what John is in danger of, although he certainly did not reject the Lord. He, “God revealed in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16), did not come to seek the glory of the kingship, but for the redemption of suffering people. John did not think about that.

Matthew 11:19

The Question of John

When John hears in prison what Christ is doing, doubts arise in his heart. Despite his prophetic gifts, Jewish expectations and concepts remain in his heart. It is therefore understandable that John, when he hears about all that the Lord Jesus does for others, wonders why He does not use His miracle power for his benefit, His predecessor. Christ is there, setting all kinds of unworthy persons free from all kinds of diseases and plagues, but evidently does not think of him.

This confuses him and leads him to the question he lets his disciples ask. Sending his disciples to the Lord shows that he has complete faith in the word of the Lord as Prophet, but that he is ignorant of His Person.

His question shows doubt as to whether Christ is the promised Messiah Whom he announced. His question stems from a misrepresentation of the coming and service of the Messiah. Our doubts also often arise from a misrepresentation of the Lord and how He acts. We imagine a certain pattern of action and get confused when things go differently. We then think we can dictate to God how He should act, when we don’t know His plans or haven’t properly examined them.

There comes no word of reproach from the Lord’s lips. Full of love and grace, He answers His forerunner’s question. John’s disciples should go and tell him what they have heard (His word) and seen (His works). He sums it up for them. This summary shows that He uses His power to relieve people’s needs and not to drive away the occupying power, the Romans.

He has never used His power for Himself, but always in grace and mercy for others. What He does and says is the fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah 35 (Isaiah 35:5-6). From His deeds one can see that He is the Messiah. Nowhere in the Old Testament are the eyes of the blind opened. That only happens when He is here.

The Lord concludes His answer for John with a gentle reproof. He calls them “happy” who do not take offence at His humiliation and the lack of external glory and do not reject Him for it. That is what John is in danger of, although he certainly did not reject the Lord. He, “God revealed in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16), did not come to seek the glory of the kingship, but for the redemption of suffering people. John did not think about that.

Matthew 11:20

The Question of John

When John hears in prison what Christ is doing, doubts arise in his heart. Despite his prophetic gifts, Jewish expectations and concepts remain in his heart. It is therefore understandable that John, when he hears about all that the Lord Jesus does for others, wonders why He does not use His miracle power for his benefit, His predecessor. Christ is there, setting all kinds of unworthy persons free from all kinds of diseases and plagues, but evidently does not think of him.

This confuses him and leads him to the question he lets his disciples ask. Sending his disciples to the Lord shows that he has complete faith in the word of the Lord as Prophet, but that he is ignorant of His Person.

His question shows doubt as to whether Christ is the promised Messiah Whom he announced. His question stems from a misrepresentation of the coming and service of the Messiah. Our doubts also often arise from a misrepresentation of the Lord and how He acts. We imagine a certain pattern of action and get confused when things go differently. We then think we can dictate to God how He should act, when we don’t know His plans or haven’t properly examined them.

There comes no word of reproach from the Lord’s lips. Full of love and grace, He answers His forerunner’s question. John’s disciples should go and tell him what they have heard (His word) and seen (His works). He sums it up for them. This summary shows that He uses His power to relieve people’s needs and not to drive away the occupying power, the Romans.

He has never used His power for Himself, but always in grace and mercy for others. What He does and says is the fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah 35 (Isaiah 35:5-6). From His deeds one can see that He is the Messiah. Nowhere in the Old Testament are the eyes of the blind opened. That only happens when He is here.

The Lord concludes His answer for John with a gentle reproof. He calls them “happy” who do not take offence at His humiliation and the lack of external glory and do not reject Him for it. That is what John is in danger of, although he certainly did not reject the Lord. He, “God revealed in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16), did not come to seek the glory of the kingship, but for the redemption of suffering people. John did not think about that.

Matthew 11:21

Testimony About John

After His words for John, the Lord turns to the crowds to speak about John. For John, the Lord has words that support his weak faith. To the crowds, He speaks of John as a prophet without equal. He presents him before the crowds and asks them what opinion they have formed about him. After his expression of weakness, they could compare him to a reed shaken by the wind, a man without strength. It could also be that John does not meet their expectations in another way, because he is averse to all that is great and ostentatious.

Or would there also be in the crowd those who see John as a prophet? These are closest to the truth, but they are also far away. John is not just a prophet. He is a prophet who immediately preceded the coming of the Messiah as a herald to announce Him as the coming Messiah. The Messiah was not only announced by the prophets, but also by John the baptist.

Malachi says of him that he is the angel or messenger who “will prepare the way before Me” (Malachi 3:1). By “Me” the LORD, Yahweh, is meant. The Lord Jesus says here in His quotation of this verse: “I send My messenger ahead of You.” It is therefore clear that He is the announced Yahweh. John is the messenger sent out by Yahweh to prepare the way for Yahweh Who came in humility as the Messiah. To prepare the way means to prepare the hearts of the people to receive the Messiah. He did so through his preaching of repentance and conversion.

Gabriel already said of him when announcing his birth: “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord” (Luke 1:15a). Now the Lord calls him the greatest born of women because of his direct connection to the Messiah and because he is His forerunner and he has announced Him. Of course that is without taking Himself into account. He does not compare John to Himself, but to all the other people who have been born up to that point.

He adds at the same time: “The one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” This means that a new state of affairs begins after John. The difference is not in what someone is in himself, but in the position that someone occupies. It is about the kingdom of heaven. John announced this, but he did not go into it, because it only comes after the Lord Jesus has been rejected and has returned to heaven. The kingdom has its origin in heaven, but its sphere of activity is on earth. This applies both now and in the future when Christ reigns on earth.

The fact that the “least” in the kingdom is greater than John the baptist has to do with the rejection of Christ and His completed work. This was unknown to the believers in the Old Testament. The “least” is clothed with privileges that no believer in the Old Testament possessed. This has to do with God’s appreciation of the completed work of His Son. Whoever is connected to it – and that holds true for the members of the church of the living God – receives this fantastic position.

Matthew 11:22

Testimony About John

After His words for John, the Lord turns to the crowds to speak about John. For John, the Lord has words that support his weak faith. To the crowds, He speaks of John as a prophet without equal. He presents him before the crowds and asks them what opinion they have formed about him. After his expression of weakness, they could compare him to a reed shaken by the wind, a man without strength. It could also be that John does not meet their expectations in another way, because he is averse to all that is great and ostentatious.

Or would there also be in the crowd those who see John as a prophet? These are closest to the truth, but they are also far away. John is not just a prophet. He is a prophet who immediately preceded the coming of the Messiah as a herald to announce Him as the coming Messiah. The Messiah was not only announced by the prophets, but also by John the baptist.

Malachi says of him that he is the angel or messenger who “will prepare the way before Me” (Malachi 3:1). By “Me” the LORD, Yahweh, is meant. The Lord Jesus says here in His quotation of this verse: “I send My messenger ahead of You.” It is therefore clear that He is the announced Yahweh. John is the messenger sent out by Yahweh to prepare the way for Yahweh Who came in humility as the Messiah. To prepare the way means to prepare the hearts of the people to receive the Messiah. He did so through his preaching of repentance and conversion.

Gabriel already said of him when announcing his birth: “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord” (Luke 1:15a). Now the Lord calls him the greatest born of women because of his direct connection to the Messiah and because he is His forerunner and he has announced Him. Of course that is without taking Himself into account. He does not compare John to Himself, but to all the other people who have been born up to that point.

He adds at the same time: “The one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” This means that a new state of affairs begins after John. The difference is not in what someone is in himself, but in the position that someone occupies. It is about the kingdom of heaven. John announced this, but he did not go into it, because it only comes after the Lord Jesus has been rejected and has returned to heaven. The kingdom has its origin in heaven, but its sphere of activity is on earth. This applies both now and in the future when Christ reigns on earth.

The fact that the “least” in the kingdom is greater than John the baptist has to do with the rejection of Christ and His completed work. This was unknown to the believers in the Old Testament. The “least” is clothed with privileges that no believer in the Old Testament possessed. This has to do with God’s appreciation of the completed work of His Son. Whoever is connected to it – and that holds true for the members of the church of the living God – receives this fantastic position.

Matthew 11:23

Testimony About John

After His words for John, the Lord turns to the crowds to speak about John. For John, the Lord has words that support his weak faith. To the crowds, He speaks of John as a prophet without equal. He presents him before the crowds and asks them what opinion they have formed about him. After his expression of weakness, they could compare him to a reed shaken by the wind, a man without strength. It could also be that John does not meet their expectations in another way, because he is averse to all that is great and ostentatious.

Or would there also be in the crowd those who see John as a prophet? These are closest to the truth, but they are also far away. John is not just a prophet. He is a prophet who immediately preceded the coming of the Messiah as a herald to announce Him as the coming Messiah. The Messiah was not only announced by the prophets, but also by John the baptist.

Malachi says of him that he is the angel or messenger who “will prepare the way before Me” (Malachi 3:1). By “Me” the LORD, Yahweh, is meant. The Lord Jesus says here in His quotation of this verse: “I send My messenger ahead of You.” It is therefore clear that He is the announced Yahweh. John is the messenger sent out by Yahweh to prepare the way for Yahweh Who came in humility as the Messiah. To prepare the way means to prepare the hearts of the people to receive the Messiah. He did so through his preaching of repentance and conversion.

Gabriel already said of him when announcing his birth: “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord” (Luke 1:15a). Now the Lord calls him the greatest born of women because of his direct connection to the Messiah and because he is His forerunner and he has announced Him. Of course that is without taking Himself into account. He does not compare John to Himself, but to all the other people who have been born up to that point.

He adds at the same time: “The one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” This means that a new state of affairs begins after John. The difference is not in what someone is in himself, but in the position that someone occupies. It is about the kingdom of heaven. John announced this, but he did not go into it, because it only comes after the Lord Jesus has been rejected and has returned to heaven. The kingdom has its origin in heaven, but its sphere of activity is on earth. This applies both now and in the future when Christ reigns on earth.

The fact that the “least” in the kingdom is greater than John the baptist has to do with the rejection of Christ and His completed work. This was unknown to the believers in the Old Testament. The “least” is clothed with privileges that no believer in the Old Testament possessed. This has to do with God’s appreciation of the completed work of His Son. Whoever is connected to it – and that holds true for the members of the church of the living God – receives this fantastic position.

Matthew 11:24

Testimony About John

After His words for John, the Lord turns to the crowds to speak about John. For John, the Lord has words that support his weak faith. To the crowds, He speaks of John as a prophet without equal. He presents him before the crowds and asks them what opinion they have formed about him. After his expression of weakness, they could compare him to a reed shaken by the wind, a man without strength. It could also be that John does not meet their expectations in another way, because he is averse to all that is great and ostentatious.

Or would there also be in the crowd those who see John as a prophet? These are closest to the truth, but they are also far away. John is not just a prophet. He is a prophet who immediately preceded the coming of the Messiah as a herald to announce Him as the coming Messiah. The Messiah was not only announced by the prophets, but also by John the baptist.

Malachi says of him that he is the angel or messenger who “will prepare the way before Me” (Malachi 3:1). By “Me” the LORD, Yahweh, is meant. The Lord Jesus says here in His quotation of this verse: “I send My messenger ahead of You.” It is therefore clear that He is the announced Yahweh. John is the messenger sent out by Yahweh to prepare the way for Yahweh Who came in humility as the Messiah. To prepare the way means to prepare the hearts of the people to receive the Messiah. He did so through his preaching of repentance and conversion.

Gabriel already said of him when announcing his birth: “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord” (Luke 1:15a). Now the Lord calls him the greatest born of women because of his direct connection to the Messiah and because he is His forerunner and he has announced Him. Of course that is without taking Himself into account. He does not compare John to Himself, but to all the other people who have been born up to that point.

He adds at the same time: “The one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” This means that a new state of affairs begins after John. The difference is not in what someone is in himself, but in the position that someone occupies. It is about the kingdom of heaven. John announced this, but he did not go into it, because it only comes after the Lord Jesus has been rejected and has returned to heaven. The kingdom has its origin in heaven, but its sphere of activity is on earth. This applies both now and in the future when Christ reigns on earth.

The fact that the “least” in the kingdom is greater than John the baptist has to do with the rejection of Christ and His completed work. This was unknown to the believers in the Old Testament. The “least” is clothed with privileges that no believer in the Old Testament possessed. This has to do with God’s appreciation of the completed work of His Son. Whoever is connected to it – and that holds true for the members of the church of the living God – receives this fantastic position.

Matthew 11:25

Testimony About John

After His words for John, the Lord turns to the crowds to speak about John. For John, the Lord has words that support his weak faith. To the crowds, He speaks of John as a prophet without equal. He presents him before the crowds and asks them what opinion they have formed about him. After his expression of weakness, they could compare him to a reed shaken by the wind, a man without strength. It could also be that John does not meet their expectations in another way, because he is averse to all that is great and ostentatious.

Or would there also be in the crowd those who see John as a prophet? These are closest to the truth, but they are also far away. John is not just a prophet. He is a prophet who immediately preceded the coming of the Messiah as a herald to announce Him as the coming Messiah. The Messiah was not only announced by the prophets, but also by John the baptist.

Malachi says of him that he is the angel or messenger who “will prepare the way before Me” (Malachi 3:1). By “Me” the LORD, Yahweh, is meant. The Lord Jesus says here in His quotation of this verse: “I send My messenger ahead of You.” It is therefore clear that He is the announced Yahweh. John is the messenger sent out by Yahweh to prepare the way for Yahweh Who came in humility as the Messiah. To prepare the way means to prepare the hearts of the people to receive the Messiah. He did so through his preaching of repentance and conversion.

Gabriel already said of him when announcing his birth: “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord” (Luke 1:15a). Now the Lord calls him the greatest born of women because of his direct connection to the Messiah and because he is His forerunner and he has announced Him. Of course that is without taking Himself into account. He does not compare John to Himself, but to all the other people who have been born up to that point.

He adds at the same time: “The one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” This means that a new state of affairs begins after John. The difference is not in what someone is in himself, but in the position that someone occupies. It is about the kingdom of heaven. John announced this, but he did not go into it, because it only comes after the Lord Jesus has been rejected and has returned to heaven. The kingdom has its origin in heaven, but its sphere of activity is on earth. This applies both now and in the future when Christ reigns on earth.

The fact that the “least” in the kingdom is greater than John the baptist has to do with the rejection of Christ and His completed work. This was unknown to the believers in the Old Testament. The “least” is clothed with privileges that no believer in the Old Testament possessed. This has to do with God’s appreciation of the completed work of His Son. Whoever is connected to it – and that holds true for the members of the church of the living God – receives this fantastic position.

Matthew 11:26

The Days of John the Baptist

The kingdom of heaven was announced by John, but it hasn’t come because the King of that kingdom was not accepted. The preaching of John and of the Lord Jesus revealed the evil heart of man and brought his sin to light. Man, and especially religious man, does not want to repent.

The kingdom of heaven has in this time, the time of Christ’s rejection, another form. Now that He has not been able to openly establish the kingdom – although this will certainly happen in the future – violence is needed to enter it. The violence or the power by which this happens lies in faith. It is the violence or the power of faith that is needed to enter the kingdom. If the kingdom is public in an observable, outward form, that violence of faith is not necessary.

With John then a period is closed, namely the period of all prophets and the law. During that whole period, the kingdom of heaven has been proclaimed over and over again. This has happened in promises God has made in the law each time and in the confirmation of those promises by the prophets who have constantly referred to them. The law also lays down the principles of the kingdom, which are the rules that apply in that kingdom and by which it is governed.

As for John, the Lord calls him “Elijah who was to come”. Malachi announced Elijah (Malachi 4:5). Elijah is the prophet who brought God’s people back to the law and thereby opened the way to blessing. Elijah is the forerunner of Elisha, the man of grace. John is Elijah spiritually. He preached penance to prepare the people to receive the Messiah. But whoever did not see John as the Elijah who was to come, also remained blind to Him Who John announced. The Lord therefore says: “If you are willing to accept [it].” There is faith needed to accept that.

The people as a whole did not do so. That’s why Elijah needs to come again. This happens at the coming of the two witnesses in Jerusalem in the end times of which he is one (Revelation 11:3-6). Not that he is one of those witnesses in person, but that one of those witnesses has his characteristics.

The Lord’s message about John can only be understood by those who have ears to hear, that is, the attentive, listening believer. The expression “he who has ears to hear” is used when the mass has fallen away and the individual believer in the mass is addressed. The Lord’s words reveal the unbelief of the crowd on the one hand, and the faith of a remnant on the other. His words pass the unbelievers by, while the believer is encouraged by them.

Matthew 11:27

The Days of John the Baptist

The kingdom of heaven was announced by John, but it hasn’t come because the King of that kingdom was not accepted. The preaching of John and of the Lord Jesus revealed the evil heart of man and brought his sin to light. Man, and especially religious man, does not want to repent.

The kingdom of heaven has in this time, the time of Christ’s rejection, another form. Now that He has not been able to openly establish the kingdom – although this will certainly happen in the future – violence is needed to enter it. The violence or the power by which this happens lies in faith. It is the violence or the power of faith that is needed to enter the kingdom. If the kingdom is public in an observable, outward form, that violence of faith is not necessary.

With John then a period is closed, namely the period of all prophets and the law. During that whole period, the kingdom of heaven has been proclaimed over and over again. This has happened in promises God has made in the law each time and in the confirmation of those promises by the prophets who have constantly referred to them. The law also lays down the principles of the kingdom, which are the rules that apply in that kingdom and by which it is governed.

As for John, the Lord calls him “Elijah who was to come”. Malachi announced Elijah (Malachi 4:5). Elijah is the prophet who brought God’s people back to the law and thereby opened the way to blessing. Elijah is the forerunner of Elisha, the man of grace. John is Elijah spiritually. He preached penance to prepare the people to receive the Messiah. But whoever did not see John as the Elijah who was to come, also remained blind to Him Who John announced. The Lord therefore says: “If you are willing to accept [it].” There is faith needed to accept that.

The people as a whole did not do so. That’s why Elijah needs to come again. This happens at the coming of the two witnesses in Jerusalem in the end times of which he is one (Revelation 11:3-6). Not that he is one of those witnesses in person, but that one of those witnesses has his characteristics.

The Lord’s message about John can only be understood by those who have ears to hear, that is, the attentive, listening believer. The expression “he who has ears to hear” is used when the mass has fallen away and the individual believer in the mass is addressed. The Lord’s words reveal the unbelief of the crowd on the one hand, and the faith of a remnant on the other. His words pass the unbelievers by, while the believer is encouraged by them.

Matthew 11:28

The Days of John the Baptist

The kingdom of heaven was announced by John, but it hasn’t come because the King of that kingdom was not accepted. The preaching of John and of the Lord Jesus revealed the evil heart of man and brought his sin to light. Man, and especially religious man, does not want to repent.

The kingdom of heaven has in this time, the time of Christ’s rejection, another form. Now that He has not been able to openly establish the kingdom – although this will certainly happen in the future – violence is needed to enter it. The violence or the power by which this happens lies in faith. It is the violence or the power of faith that is needed to enter the kingdom. If the kingdom is public in an observable, outward form, that violence of faith is not necessary.

With John then a period is closed, namely the period of all prophets and the law. During that whole period, the kingdom of heaven has been proclaimed over and over again. This has happened in promises God has made in the law each time and in the confirmation of those promises by the prophets who have constantly referred to them. The law also lays down the principles of the kingdom, which are the rules that apply in that kingdom and by which it is governed.

As for John, the Lord calls him “Elijah who was to come”. Malachi announced Elijah (Malachi 4:5). Elijah is the prophet who brought God’s people back to the law and thereby opened the way to blessing. Elijah is the forerunner of Elisha, the man of grace. John is Elijah spiritually. He preached penance to prepare the people to receive the Messiah. But whoever did not see John as the Elijah who was to come, also remained blind to Him Who John announced. The Lord therefore says: “If you are willing to accept [it].” There is faith needed to accept that.

The people as a whole did not do so. That’s why Elijah needs to come again. This happens at the coming of the two witnesses in Jerusalem in the end times of which he is one (Revelation 11:3-6). Not that he is one of those witnesses in person, but that one of those witnesses has his characteristics.

The Lord’s message about John can only be understood by those who have ears to hear, that is, the attentive, listening believer. The expression “he who has ears to hear” is used when the mass has fallen away and the individual believer in the mass is addressed. The Lord’s words reveal the unbelief of the crowd on the one hand, and the faith of a remnant on the other. His words pass the unbelievers by, while the believer is encouraged by them.

Matthew 11:29

The Days of John the Baptist

The kingdom of heaven was announced by John, but it hasn’t come because the King of that kingdom was not accepted. The preaching of John and of the Lord Jesus revealed the evil heart of man and brought his sin to light. Man, and especially religious man, does not want to repent.

The kingdom of heaven has in this time, the time of Christ’s rejection, another form. Now that He has not been able to openly establish the kingdom – although this will certainly happen in the future – violence is needed to enter it. The violence or the power by which this happens lies in faith. It is the violence or the power of faith that is needed to enter the kingdom. If the kingdom is public in an observable, outward form, that violence of faith is not necessary.

With John then a period is closed, namely the period of all prophets and the law. During that whole period, the kingdom of heaven has been proclaimed over and over again. This has happened in promises God has made in the law each time and in the confirmation of those promises by the prophets who have constantly referred to them. The law also lays down the principles of the kingdom, which are the rules that apply in that kingdom and by which it is governed.

As for John, the Lord calls him “Elijah who was to come”. Malachi announced Elijah (Malachi 4:5). Elijah is the prophet who brought God’s people back to the law and thereby opened the way to blessing. Elijah is the forerunner of Elisha, the man of grace. John is Elijah spiritually. He preached penance to prepare the people to receive the Messiah. But whoever did not see John as the Elijah who was to come, also remained blind to Him Who John announced. The Lord therefore says: “If you are willing to accept [it].” There is faith needed to accept that.

The people as a whole did not do so. That’s why Elijah needs to come again. This happens at the coming of the two witnesses in Jerusalem in the end times of which he is one (Revelation 11:3-6). Not that he is one of those witnesses in person, but that one of those witnesses has his characteristics.

The Lord’s message about John can only be understood by those who have ears to hear, that is, the attentive, listening believer. The expression “he who has ears to hear” is used when the mass has fallen away and the individual believer in the mass is addressed. The Lord’s words reveal the unbelief of the crowd on the one hand, and the faith of a remnant on the other. His words pass the unbelievers by, while the believer is encouraged by them.

Matthew 11:30

Playing the Flute and Singing a Dirge

The Lord compares the unbelieving generation with petulant children who cannot be persuaded to respond to what they hear. Neither the attractiveness of grace, come in Christ with His pleasant-sounding notes, nor the threat of righteousness, come in John with his dirge, has any influence on them. The cause of their passivity lies in their false judgment both about John and about Him.

John is demon-possessed according to them, he has a demon. They come to this statement because of his austere way of life, which by the way fits perfectly with the message that he brought. Their judgment of the Lord Jesus, Who as the Son of Man does not fast but simply eats and drinks, is just as foolish. They blaspheme Him by saying that He is a gluttonous man and a drunkard. They do this because they are full of gluttony and alcoholism themselves. But they are right in saying that He is a friend of tax collectors and sinners.

In all the works which He does, His perfect wisdom is manifested. His wisdom is justified in His dealings with tax collectors and sinners. That wisdom is justified means that wisdom is vindicated by the way wisdom is used and in what it does.