Matthew 11

Notes on the verses

Chap. XI. Ver. 1—19. John sends two disciples to visit Jesus, who bears testimony concerning John.—When the Baptist heard, in prison, the miraculous works of Jesus, he deputed two of his disciples to visit him, and to inquire into his character and mission; not for his own satisfaction, for he had been certified by a voice from heaven that Jesus was indeed the Son of God; but for theirs, that they also might be satisfied. Instead of returning to John a verbal answer, Jesus desires them simply to relate what they saw, and to take John’s opinion as to the proper inference they should draw. When, however, John’s disciples had returned back to their master, Jesus began to speak to the Jews of his extraordinary character: “What went ye into the wilderness to see?”

Was Ver. 28. Soul and body in hell.—Does hell, in this passage, mean only the valley of Hinnom, a place near Jerusalem, rendered odious by its having been a scene of cruelty and pollution, and in which worms were found, and a fire was kept up to consume the carcasses and offal of various kinds that were thrown into it? The body, it is granted, might be destroyed in this place; but our Saviour speaks of the soul being destroyed in Gehenna. Does it not then designate a place far more terrible than the valley of Hinnom? The worms in this valley died, and the fire was often quenched; and while it burned, it consumed nothing more than the body. But the Gehenna with which sinners are threatened, is a flame that seizes the soul, and is never quenched.

Of this place of endless wrath, the valley of Hinnom, with its past idolatries and cruelties, with its blood and pollution, with its devouring worms and consuming fires, was no doubt, the most striking image that could be suggested to the mind of a Jew. Ver. 31. Than many sparrows.—The (Revelation 5)Mr. Nosworthy, who died in 1677, had, from the persecuting spirit of the times, been imprisoned at Winchester, where he met with much cruel usage. After his release, he was several times reduced to great straits. Once, when he and his family had breakfasted, and had nothing left for another meal, his wife, lamenting her condition, exclaimed, “What shall I do with my poor children?” He persuaded her to walk abroad with him, and seeing a little bird, he said, “Take notice how that little bird sits and chirps, though we cannot tell whether it has been at breakfast; and if it has, it knows not whither to go for a dinner.

“Therefore be of good cheer, and do not distrust the providence of God; for are we not better than many sparrows?” Before dinner time they had plenty of provisions brought them. Thus was the promise fulfilled, “They who trust in the Lord shall not want any good thing.”

Unthankfulness and unrepentance of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum: 25 and Matt. 11.5,6. praising his Father’s wisdom in revealing the gospel to the simple, 28 he calleth to him all such as feel the burden of their sins.

See it came to pass, when Jesus had made the gospel preached to them, it a reed shaken by the wind? Had that been his character, he would not have been now confined; for it was on account of his fidelity and firmness that Herod had shut him up in prison.

Was it to see a man of delicate habits, and delicately clothed? Such they might look for in the palace of Herod. But what was John? He was a prophet, and more than a prophet; for the prophets bare witness to Jesus only at a distance; they pointed to him in person—“Behold the Lamb of God.” ((John 1:36).) Yet, nevertheless, “He that is least in the kingdom of heaven;” that is, the humblest of Christ’s servants, or apostles, is declared greater than the Baptist, as being the minister of a superior dispensation, and more enlightened in the mysteries of divine truth. Our Lord then declares unequivocally, that John was the prophet predicted by Malachi, (ch. iv. 2,) in the name of Elias, (or Elijah,) as coming “in the spirit and power”

of that prophet. And certain it is, that the energy of his preaching had given such an impetus to his hearers, that they rushed for a time to his baptism, as if they were determined to take the kingdom of heaven by storm. At the same time he reproves the Jews for their fickle and inconsistent conduct; and compares them to children playing in the market-place; and continually complaining of one another: for John came “neither eating nor drinking;” that is, leading a most solitary and abstemious life, and they said he had a demon. Jesus, on the contrary, came “eating and drinking;” that is, mixing in every class of society, that he might benefit all; and they said, behold “a glutton and a wine-bibber!

a friend of publicans and sinners!” But “wisdom is justified of her children;” that is, those who are divinely instructed, will see, or at least admit. Ver. 34. Peace on earth.—Doddridge, “On the land,” namely, of Judea; and certainly the words apply in a peculiar manner to that country, where the gospel met, in the first instance, with the most inveterate opposition from those for whose salvation it was peculiarly designed. It is the gospel of peace; but men war against it. [An energetic mode, as Dr. Campbell remarks, of expressing the certainty of a foreseen consequence of any measure, as if it were the purpose for which the measure was adopted.] Our Lord here refers to their own traditions: “A little before the coming of the Messiah, the son shall insult the father, the daughter rebel against her mother, the daughter-in-law against the mother-in-law, and each man shall have his own household for his enemies.”

Again, “In the age in which the Messiah shall come, the young men shall turn the elders into ridicule, the elders shall rise up against the youth,” &c. All these things took place after the rejection of Christ, as may be seen in the terrible account which Josephus gives of these times. — Ver. 36. They of his own household.—The gospel, by reason of men’s opposition to it, will cause much variance, even between nearest relatives. Ver. 38. That taketh not his cross.—Alluding to criminals being compelled to bear their own cross, as was our Saviour. (John 19:17). Ver. 41. A prophet—That is, a messenger from God, whether under the Old Testament or the New.

Isabe P. Chap. XI. Ver. 2. John had heard.—John was at this time in prison, and soon after suffered for the freedom and fidelity with which he reproved Herod.

Ver. 3. He that should come—Namely, the Messiah. See (Matthew 3:1). Ver. 5. The poor have the gospel preached to them.—A circumstance little less singular than the miracles which Jesus wrought; for neither Rabbins nor philosophers ever condescended to teach the lower classes. Ver. 6. Offended in me.—Doddridge, “Scandalized (or stumbled) at me.” The same Messiah who was promised as the foundation stone of his church, was also predicted as a stumbling-stone to those who rejected him through unbelief. See ch. xxi. 44. Ver. 8. A man clothed in soft raiment.—“An effeminate courtier, accustomed to fawning and flattery. You may expect to find such persons in palaces, not in a wilderness.” — Wesley. Ver. 15.

He that hath ears, &c.—That is, “Let those who are disposed to learn, attend.” See (Deuteronomy 29:4). (Ezekiel 12:2). Ver. 17. We have mourned.—Campbell, “Sung mournful songs.” Compare ch. ix. 23, and note. Ver. 20. He began to upbraid.—This is the first time he had done so. At first they received him joyfully, but after a while, not only became inattentive, but persecuted him. Ver. 23, Exalted unto heaven—That is, very highly favoured. — Down to hell.—This, in opposition to the preceding phrase, means, to the most degrading. Ver. 25. Jesus answered.—This expression, in Scripture, does not always imply a previous question. Doddridge, in this place renders it, “Took occasion to say,” &c. — I thank thee.—Campbell, “I adore thee;”

i.e. “Every thing in which I discover thy will, I receive, not with acquiescence only, but with veneration.” — Thou hast hid.—Campbell, “That having hidden.” — From the wise and prudent.—Campbell, “From sages and the learned.” — Unto babes.—Doddridge, “Infants,” i.e. in knowledge. Ver. 27. All things are delivered unto me—That is, all things relative to Christ’s mediatorial kingdom, which, at its completion, shall be delivered back unto the Father, (1 Corinthians 15:25-28). Among the all things here mentioned, must particularly be included, the revelation of the Father’s will to man, which to the Son only is fully and confidentially intrusted. — No man knoweth.—Doddridge, “Fully knoweth.”

J. P. Smith says, “The word used by Matthew, signifies such knowledge as is peculiarly intimate and accurate, full and perfect.”