Matthew 11:2-19 Study

Verses 2-6

2 Now when John heard in the prison about the works of the Messiah, he sent through his disciples 3 and said to Him, “Are you the Coming One, or are we expecting another?” 4 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Go report to John what you are hearing and seeing: 5Blind people are seeing again, lame people are walking, lepers are being cleansed, deaf people are hearing, dead people are being raised up, and poor people are being evangelized.[1] 6 And whoever is not scandalized[2] by Me is blessed.”

[1] That is, hearing the proclamation of good news. This is the passive form of the verb which means to proclaim the gospel.

[2] Or offended.

Matthew–Luke Section Overview and Outline

From prison, John asks if Jesus is indeed the Messiah. Jesus answers with a string of partial quotations from

Matthew–Luke Comment

Prison crushes the body and the spirit, and

Matthew–Luke Comment

the verbs in verses 4b–5 are all in the

Matthew–Luke Comment

verse 5 joins quotations from

Matthew–Luke Response

Os Guinness remarked, “Doubt is not the opposite of faith, nor is it the same as unbelief. Doubt is a state of mind in suspension between faith and unbelief.” One cannot simply condemn doubters. Too many prophets and psalmists doubted to permit such condemnation (

Verses 7-11

7 And when these had gone, Jesus began to say to the crowds about John, “What did you go out into the desert to look at? A reed being shaken by the wind? 8 But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? Behold, those who wear soft clothes are in the houses of kings. 9 But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written, ‘Behold, I am sending my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’[3] 11 Truly I say to you, there has not risen up among those born of women someone greater than John the Baptizer; but the least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.

[3] Malachi 3:1

Matthew–Luke Section Outline

Jesus says that John is a prophet, yet more than a prophet (vv. 7–9). He is God’s messenger, and he prepares the way for the Lord (v. 10). Therefore, no one born of woman is greater than John (v. 11). Still, John suffers violence. This is all too typical, for violent men always assault the kingdom (v. 12). Nonetheless,

Matthew–Luke Comment

If John’s question in 11:3 has caused anyone to question his character, Jesus corrects them.

Matthew–Luke Comment

If John is so great, how could Jesus say that “The one who is least in the kingdom … is greater than he” (v. 11b)? Not because they have more faith but because

Verses 12-15

12 And from the days of John the Baptizer until now, the Kingdom of Heaven is being treated violently, and violent men are seizing it. 13 For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14And if you wish to receive it, he is Elijah, the one who was to come. 15 The one who has ears, let him hear.

regarding v. 12:

Matthew–Luke Comment

This makes the NLT translation perhaps the most likely. The idea is that the kingdom is forcefully advancing, as verse 5 suggests, even though violent men plunder it, as John’s imprisonment suggests.

v. 14: it’s true whether or not you receive it, so receive it!

Verses 16-19

16 But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces who are calling out to each other, 17 saying, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance; we sang a dirge, but you did not mourn.’ 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, “Behold a man who is a glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” But wisdom will be justified by its works.”

Matthew–Luke Comment

Thus the people reviled John for austerity and scorned Jesus for profligacy. Nothing satisfied them. They would neither dance with Jesus nor mourn with John, so Jesus abandons direct attempts to win them.

Matthew–Luke Response

Matthew 11:7–19