In his youth, he attended Kettering Grammar School, mastering the Latin classics and learning Greek by age eleven. It actually took the resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost before the disciple were able to put together what the plan was--even though Jesus tried to explain it to them again and again. The chapter is filled with the instructions that Jesus gave them as they went out, most of which are fairly easy to understand. If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here: We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. On the one hand John is acclaimed as the greatest human being because he was a prophet, he was prophesied about, and he was the one who introduced the Messiah and the Day of the LORD to the world. He was more than a prophet, because he also was prophesied about in the Old Testament as the one who would announce the inauguration of the “Day of Yahweh.”3 So Jesus reminds the people of the words of the last prophet, Malachi: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.” This is Malachi 3:1. He ate with sinners, even with Romans and tax-collectors. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. But the rejection brought all kinds of questions about the plan of God. But potentially they are greater. But instead, He came eating and drinking, as if celebrating life as it was. If it was part of the Messiah’s plan for John to die in prison, that was fine as long as He received the word from the Lord. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. Most of these come from Isaiah 35 and Isaiah 61. But it would mean that John came in the spirit and power of Elijah, an Elijah figure. 11:11). Rather, they are very effective teaching devices because the answers are either self-evident or answered by Jesus. But who is the least in the kingdom and in what sense is he greater than John? At the end of the first section Jesus says, “Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.” John may have had questions, as indeed others probably did, but he was satisfied that Jesus was the Messiah. Malachi 4:5 announces that the LORD is sending Elijah before the great and terrible Day of the LORD (you might want to read Malachi 3 and 4 through to see his vision. So once again the issue seems to be that the unbelief and opposition of people not only criticized and attacked the messenger and the Messiah, but by doing so raised all kinds of questions about the Messiah. Many passages address these things, and a good article or discussion on the Kingdom or on the Gospel will open them up to you. And John did not have undisciplined weakness--he was not living the fine life with soft (or even effeminate) clothing like the king who was keeping John in prison, but the rugged life of a prophet. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. The second is Jesus’ comments about John--some have said it was Jesus’ eulogy of John who was about to be beheaded in prison (7-15). They are separated by a description of the judgment to be poured out on the earth. You should first try to capture the main point of the whole passage if you can. That has to be in either a good sense (the Gospel is working) or in a bad sense (the zealots are trying to force the issue with Rome). This was the vision Isaiah presented of what the Messiah would do; and it has always made steady growth throughout the world. The Eternal Word and his relationship to John the Baptist, Jn 1:6-8. It certainly required them to make a total commitment to Christ and to rely totally on God’s protection and provision. Another lesson would be that the least in the kingdom is greater than John. The first is the question from John and Jesus’ answer (1-6). English Standard Version Most people expected a Messiah who would expel the Gentile oppressors from the land and establish a kingdom of righteousness and peace. But we must acknowledge that the kingdom is already here but it has not yet come. In the New Testament John was asked if he was Elijah, and he said he was not (John 1:21). It begins with an incident and leads to a teaching, a teaching that first honors John and then explains his question. John Gill (November 23, 1697-October 14, 1771) was an English Baptist, a biblical scholar, and a staunch Calvinist. but you did not mourn.”. John was in prison. In response to John’s question Jesus affirms that He is the Messiah (11:1-6). With those truths in mind we can build our faith in Him. This could be a fascinating way to study the last chapter. The second thing is to observe that in Malachi the messenger of the covenant--Jesus the Lord--will come to “His temple.” Here too we have a subtle indication of the deity of Christ. The work would involve word studies here to see the range of uses for “force” and “lay hold of.” The text says that the kingdom has been forcefully advancing from the time of John until now, as Jesus was speaking. All through the Old Testament the temple is called “the house of Yahweh” (the house of the LORD). 3. We know that John the Baptist was put into prison by Herod Antipas (son of Herod the Great) because he had preached against the king for taking his brother’s wife. Malachi prophesied that the messenger of the covenant would come to “His” temple--He is the LORD. In the last section Jesus asks the question about the current generation of people, and then answers it, not with a quotation from the Bible but with a quotation about what children say in their play. There is throughout this section a number of questions. You can check these in your browser security settings. Note that John the Baptist describes Jesus as “he who comes from above” [a[nwqen] (v. 31). At the end of the second section Jesus said, “He who has ears let him hear.” This kind of a statement calls for a faith response to what has been said. The meaning of the passage should now be pretty clear, in the whole if not in every part. These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. It is worth noting that the interpretation of the whole passage is not greatly affected by the decision of interpretation of this one verse. A man dressed in fine clothes? Obviously something has happened that led to John’s question, something hinted at already with the men of violence plundering the kingdom--the king and the kingdom is being opposed and rejected. Jesus wanted His audience to be clear on that point, and so by changing the pronoun in His use of the verse He affirms that if John the Baptist was the messenger preparing the way for the Yahweh, then He, Jesus, is Yahweh in the flesh, the God of Israel who was coming into the world. Other New Testament passages will undoubtedly come up when studying this passage with its many themes. John’s Background and Birth. In this new translation and verse-byverse commentary, Michael Pakaluk suggests an answer and unlocks a twothousand-year-old mystery. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant whom you desire, He will come.”. They hated the message of repentance and of the proclamation of the Gospel, and so they played their control game while Rome burned (as it were). The Eternal Word and his relationship to grace, Jn 1:14-18. John 11:51–52, “He prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.” The explanation that Christ gave for the question serves Matthew’s treatment of the turning point in the ministry of Jesus. 16 To what can I compare this generation? About Albert Mohler Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. With this study in mind, though, the framework for thinking about those smaller points is set. He is sending the messenger before Himself, because according to verse 5 He will come in judgment. The Preparatory Ministry of Jesus Christ, Jn 1:19-51. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. If it meant that the kingdom was under attack or being pushed by the zealots, that did not start in the days of John. John was great because he could point unambiguously to Jesus as the Messiah. Messiah was also going to heal lepers because they were barred by the Law from the presence of God in the Temple.2 And Messiah would also do away with death according to Isaiah’s prophecies. If you only had Malachi, you could conclude they are different, and you could conclude they are one and the same. Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. Each of the believing kings who came to the throne may have wondered if it might happen in his reign--until there was a war, or he sinned and was denounced by the prophet. And if the Lord tarries we may die before His return. but you did not dance; The passage is really about John the Baptist, his concerns, his vindication and his appraisal. Jesus appraised the ministry of John and confirmed His own Messiahship (11:7-15). It is part of His presentation of the message to His own people first before turning to the Gentiles. We may request cookies to be set on your device. Now we begin to see John’s problem. The third and better view has to do with “greater” in the sense of ministry or witness. A prophet? He should have lamented with them over their suffering at the hands of the Romans. It will be easier to deal with the meanings of the words and expressions and with the citations from the Old Testament within the analysis of the sections rather than separately. Of course, if they do nothing with that, then the description does not fit. The only difficulties in dealing with that chapter are the specific instructions that could only apply to the disciples in their situation (such as being sent only to Israelites). They also sang, “We sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.” If Jesus was their Messiah, He should have taken up their cause as an oppressed people. We still are in the faith phase of the program, not the sight or the completion. Part of the explanation of John’s question can be learned from Jesus’ answer. The great event was the coming of the Yahweh; and the announcement of it would be through the messenger. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. John the Baptist had fame and crowds that modern celebrity pastors could only dream of, yet he was an example of genuine humility. 11 I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom is greater than he. The passage has provided Christian workers over the years with spiritual guidelines for their work. He did not even come eating normally or drinking wine. The good sense works better. Mt 11:12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, etc. First he takes the line of the little song, “We played the flute for you, but you did not dance.” If John was the forerunner announcing the Day of the LORD, and if Jesus was the Messiah he introduced, then there should have been celebration and rejoicing. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website. No one would argue that he is greater, but “younger” is forced. But Jesus’ answer to John only confirmed that He was the Messiah; the silence about the prison indicated that John was to stay in prison. John then lived and died what Jesus taught in Matthew 10. Here too there are a lot of suggestions and interpretations. There we read: See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. The people said he had a demon. The chapter does actually continue their training, for here they will see one, John, who was arrested and killed eventually for Jesus’ sake. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. We know that He does what the Messiah was to do, and so like others we can avail ourselves of His wonderful provisions of meeting all our needs. ©2018 David Guzik – No distribution beyond personal use without permission. But John, and then Jesus, did not play their game. Nathaniel testified that Jesus is the Son of God and the King of Israel. One view takes the “least” to be the “younger,” referring to Jesus Himself--he is the younger one and greater than John. 1. Dr Ross joined the faculty of Beeson Divinity School in 2002 as Beeson Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew. The Dead Sea 1-6 ) point but without the expectation of an answer concerns, his vindication and his by... 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