(59) John the Baptist Doubts Jesus
Matthew 11:2-19, Luke 7:18-35
[A]Now the disciples of John told him about all these things while he was in prison. When John heard about the works of Christ, he called and sent two of his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we look for another?”[1]
[B]When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to ask you: Are you the one who was to come, or should we look for another?”
[C]At that very hour Jesus was curing many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits, and He gave sight to the many who were blind. [D]So Jesus answered them, saying, “Go your way and show John again the things you have seen and heard. Tell him how the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the gospel is preached to the poor. [E]And blessed is he who is not offended because of me.”
[F]When the messengers of John departed, Jesus began to speak to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? [G]Did you expect to see a man dressed in soft garments? Look, those who are gorgeously dressed in fine clothes and indulge in luxury live in king’s palaces. [H]So what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, you saw much more than a prophet. [I]For this is he of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’[2]
[J]“Truly, I tell you, among those born of women there has not arisen a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. [K]And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. [L]For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. [M]And if you will receive what they say, this is Elijah, who was set to come. [N]He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
[O](Now all the people who heard this, even the publicans, agreed that God was right; for they had been baptized with the baptism of John. [P]But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God for themselves by refusing to be baptized by him.)
[Q]So the Lord said, “To what, then, shall I compare the men of this generation? What are they like? This generation is like children sitting in the marketplace, calling out and saying, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance.’ ‘But we sang a dirge,’ said the others, ‘and you did not weep.’ [R]John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ [S]The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a gluttonous man, and a winedrinker, a friend of publicans and sinners!’ But such wisdom is justified by all her children.”
(59) John the Baptist Doubts Jesus
Matthew 11:2-19, KJV
2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? 4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 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. 6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. 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? 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. 9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. 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. 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. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. 15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, 17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. 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.
(59) John the Baptist Doubts Jesus
Luke 7:18-35, KJV
18 And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things. 19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? 20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? 21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. 22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. 23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. 24 And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 25 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts. 26 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. 27 This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. 29 And all the people that heard i>him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. 31 And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like? 32 They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept. 33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. 34 The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! 35 But wisdom is justified of all her children.
(1) The Old Testament paints a two-fold picture of Israel's Messiah. One is a suffering servant who would come and die a sacrificial death so that man could be saved from his sins. This is why John the Baptist said, "Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world" (Jn. 1:29). The other picture is of one who would come and save Israel from destruction and establish His kingdom (which makes a resurrection necessary). Israel was looking for a political Deliverer rather than a spiritual one, and this is why they rejected Him. Apparently John the Baptist knew that the Messiah would fulfill both roles. He may have even thought that Jesus would be killed that first Passover, be raised from the dead, and then establish His kingdom. When it didn't happen, and he was put in prison, he began to wonder. (2) Mal. 3:1
[A] Mt 11:2, Lk 7:18-19 [B] Mt 11:3, Lk 7:20 [C] Lk 7:21 [D] Mt 11:4-5, Lk 7:22 [E] Mt 11:6, Lk 7:23 [F] Mt 11:7, Lk 7:24 [G] Mt 11:8, Lk 7:25 [H] Mt 11:9, Lk 7:26 [I] Mt 11:10, Lk 7:27 [J] Mt 11:11, Lk 7:28 [K] Mt 11:12 [L] Mt 11:13 [M] Mt 11:14 [N] Mt 11:15 [O] Lk 7:29 [P] Lk 7:30 [Q] Mt 11:16-17, Lk 7:31-32 [R] Mt 11:18, Mk 7:33 [S] Mt 11:19, Lk 7:34-35