notes
Main point summary
Jesus explains to the crowds why John the baptizer is more than a prophet.
Arc
editing
NT
Matthew 11:7-15
nasb
As these men were going away,
Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John,
“What did you go out into a the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
1 But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing?
Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ 2 palaces!
ideaexplanation
1 But what did you go out to see? a A prophet?
Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet.
This is the one about whom it 1 is written,
‘ a Behold , I send My messenger 2 ahead of You ,
Who will prepare Your way before You .’
actionpurpose
Truly I say to you,
among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist!
Yet the one who is 1 least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
concessive
a From the days of John the Baptist until now
the kingdom of heaven 1 suffers violence,
and violent men 2 take it by force.
series
temporal
For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John.
And if you are willing to accept it,
John himself is a Elijah who 1 was to come.
conditional
a He who has ears to hear, 1 let him hear.
First class conditional assumed to be true from the author's perspective.
"From the time of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing; and violent or rapacious men have been trying to plunder it." - Pamment
Up until and including John, the OT prophets spoke. Now the kingdom is forcefully advancing.
Rhetorical question: You did not go out to see a reed shaken by the wind.
Rhetorical questions: You did not go out to see someone dressed in fine clothes.
Rhetorical question: You went out to see a prophet.
discourse
Phrase
Matthew 11:7-15
John: More than a Prophet
As these men were going away,
Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John,
“What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing?
Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ palaces!
But what did you go out to see? A prophet?
Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet.
John's Mission
This is the one about whom it is written,
‘Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You,
Mission: To prepare the way of Yahweh
Who will prepare Your way before You.’
John's Revelation
Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist!
Revelation: Had the clearest revelation and message of the Messiah
Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
John's Opposition
From the days of John the Baptist until now
the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force.
Opposition: Violent men are opposing the forceful advancement of the Kingdom.
For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John.
John's Identity
And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come.
Identity: Elijah who is to bring in the Day of Yahweh as promised.
He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
By changing the first person in Mal 3:1 to the second person, Matthew clearly identifies Jesus with Yahweh.
Although John, of all prophets, had the clearest revelation of the Messiah, those after him in the kingdom have even a clearer revelation and fuller message.
Up until and including John, the OT prophets spoke. Now the kingdom is forcefully advancing.
phrasing