Messengers from John the Baptist

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Psalm 73:16–17 ESV

But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.

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Matthew 11:1–19 ESV

When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, “ ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, “ ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”

Sermon

Parrallel Passage: Luke 7:18-35

Matthew 11:1–3 ESV

When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

John doubted, or feared failing in his mission

Matthew 11:4–6 ESV

And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

Jesus’ words, due to his phrase, would have reminded of Isaiah’s prophesy ...

Isaiah 35:5 ESV

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped;

Isaiah 61:1 ESV

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

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Matthew 11:6 ESV

And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

Jesus deals with John with the same tenderness as the man born blind, and the woman caught in adultery

“Blessed is the one”

“who is not offended by me”

Matthew 11:7–10 ESV

As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, “ ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’

Jesus reminds him of his calling from Galilee to the wilderness of Jordan

“What did you got o the wilderness to see?”

A reed shaken by the wind?

A Man dressed in soft clothing?

Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses

A Prophet? [Elijah?]

Yes, I tell you, more than a prophet

Malachi 3:1 “Behold I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you”

Matthew 11:11 ESV

Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

John was not only a prophet, but whose very arrival in history had been propheised.

1) He had announced the arrival of the Messiah

John 1:29 ESV

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

2) He had emphasized the necessity of repentance as the only way for the sinner to enter the Messiah’s kingdom

3) Since the duty of the herald is to recede to the background when the Messiah arrives

John 3:30 ESV

He must increase, but I must decrease.”

John had fullfilled Zechariah’s prophesy....

Luke 1:76–77 ESV

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins,

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Matthew 11:11 ESV

Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

context must be derived from...

Matthew 13:16–17 ESV

But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

John was not being forgotton or neglected

Jesus’ words in v4-6 was sufficient to reassure him

Matthew 11:12–14 ESV

From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.

The kingdom is pressing forward ever since John’s first appearance

Jesus emphasises that one cannot sleep their way into the Kingdom

It requires earnest endeavour, untiring energy and utmost exertion

God’s KIngdom has been built through strong and sturdy men like

Joseph

Nathan

Elijah (preacher of repentance)

Daniel and his three friends

Mordecai

Jesus affirms John is fulfilment of the prophesy “he is Elijah who is to come”

Came from the Wilderness in sackcloth

Preacher of repentance

“he went forth in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17)

Matthew 11:15–17 ESV

He who has ears to hear, let him hear. “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, “ ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’

Jesus commends in his ministry to be childlike

Here he condemns the people for being childish

Let’s play weddings

Let’s play funerals

Like children unsatisfied

Matthew 11:18–19 ESV

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”

Pharisees and their followers

They find fault with

John’s austrity and the mssage is too harsh

Jesus’ demand for self-denial but he eats and drinks and is too sociable

This opposition will get nowhere

Victory is on the side of truth

Event when John’s ephasis was on repentance, his exhortation was hope inspiring

John proclaimed the Good News

Jesus not only proclaimed it, but came into the world that there might be good news to proclaim!

Jesus had been given a disparaging nickname “friend of tax-collectors and sinners”

It became the Saviour’s most hope-imparting and soul-stirring titles

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