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7 As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he of whom it is written: 'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.' 11 "Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." ~ Matthew 11:7-11
Today, we continue our study of Matthew 11. In Matthew 1-10 God gave us the revelation of the king, whereas in Matthew 11-12, He gave us the reaction against the King. In our last study John the Baptist had inquired from prison about the identity of the Lord Jesus through his disciples. It was John's job as the last of the Old Testament prophets to announce the coming of God's Messiah. When the Lord Jesus came onto the scene John proclaimed, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." Once the Lord Jesus came on the scene, John the Baptist dropped off the radar because his purpose given by God had been fulfilled.
In v.7-8 of today's passage we read, "7 As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses."
Here the Lord Jesus drew a sharp contrast between John the Baptist and the religious leaders of his day. He reminded His hearers that the so called important people in the world at that time were seen at the rich palaces. John the Baptist was obviously not among them. The Lord Jesus asked His hearers if they went out to see "a reed shaken by the wind." No, they went out to see John the Baptist, a man of great conviction and of great faith. The public opinion polls esteemed John as a prophet sent by God. He was made great because he baptized the Lord Jesus on the heels of his statement that he was not worthy to untie the Lord Jesus sandals.
John the Baptist was strategically found by the hungry and the thirsty out in the wilderness. In fact, down through time this was where the people found their prophets, out in the wilderness, the place of hunger and thirst. This is why the Lord Jesus provided this contrast between the kingdom of God and the kingdoms of mere men. It is a great mistake when we try to get our hungers and thirsts met by anyone other than the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only One who can meet our deepest needs, but since we operate so often on the beliefs of this world we miss Him. We must be kingdom seekers if we are to be truly satisfied in this life.
In v.9-10 of today's passage we read, "9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he of whom it is written: 'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.'"
John the Baptist was the greatest prophet because he heralded the coming of his cousin who was six months younger than he. It was John who said, "He must increase and I must decrease." Since John knew his spot in this world according to the call of God on his life, he was not out to prove himself to man. He was not a weak man because he sought the approval of men, he was strong because he was defined by God. I find it most instructive that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. When we get to heaven we will know fully that it was all about the grace of God. Grace harmonizes the truth of God with the love of God. I find it also very revealing that neither the Romans nor the Greeks had a word in their vocabulary for humility.
In v.11 of today's passage we read, "Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."
John the Baptist was so remarkable that people thought he was the Messiah. But, it wasn't miracles that made John great. In fact, he did not do any miracles. It wasn't his writings or his prophesies that made John great. In fact, we do not have any writings from John the Baptist. It wasn't his faith that made John great. Indeed, we find John doubting the identity of the Lord Jesus. John the Baptist was great because he identified the Lord Jesus with more clarity than any of the other prophets before him. John was great because his presentation of the Lord Jesus most accurately described Him. John said of the Lord Jesus, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."
Take note of the final statement in today's passage which reads "but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." This statement is true due to the fact that we can identify the Lord Jesus as the Messiah with far greater clarity than John the Baptist ever did. John identified the Lord Jesus more clearly than anyone else before Him, yet he did not know all there was to know about Him. In fact, this is why John wrestled so with his doubt while sitting in Herod's prison. What makes us greater than John the Baptist is we know the full record of the life of the Lord Jesus as recorded in the four gospel accounts. In addition, we know the coming and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit who came within us the moment we believed in the Lord Jesus opening our hardened by sin spirits toward God. And, when we get to heaven we will discover that we accomplished more than John the Baptist because we had the advantage of the Holy Spirit indwelling us.
