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Matthew 11

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Matthew 11 Commentary

by Brad Boyles

Yet another piece of evidence that confirms Jesus was indeed the Messiah is the presence of John the Baptist. As prophecy foretold, in Malachi, there would be a forerunner.

“Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the LORD of hosts.

Malachi 3:1 NASB

In John’s question to Jesus, he asks if He is the Expected One. In other words, John is asking Jesus, “Are you the Messiah?” The name Jesus Christ proclaims His Messianic title. Christ means “Anointed One.” Later in Scripture, these prophetic confessions would go a long way in establishing who believed in Jesus and who didn’t. For example, several chapters later Peter will identify Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God. This was not simply a statement done in passing as it so often is assumed today. It meant Peter literally believed Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah sent by God.

Let’s get back to John’s question. He’s discouraged. Apparently, Jesus isn’t doing all that John expected. Let’s face it, this happened (and happens) all the time. Elijah wanted God to take his life because his expectations were not met. Fleeing from Saul, and frustrated with life, David wanted to do the unthinkable until Abigail stepped in. The weeping prophet Jeremiah cursed his birth. If that’s not enough for you, just read the Psalms!

The point is, humanity has proven to have different expectations of what God’s Kingdom will look like. We don’t want or expect pain and suffering. We loathe losing control of “our lives.” When the circumstances of life come closing in, we, like John, ask Jesus the same question. “Is this what I signed up for… or is there something else?”

And this isn’t a slam on John. All of us would have been asking the same questions. John the Baptist had previously prophesied that this Messiah would baptize with the Holy Spirit’s fire. He claimed that Jesus would gather the wheat in His barn and throw the wicked chaff into the lake of fire. Herod was wicked. He had just imprisoned John for speaking the truth. So, John thought Jesus might need a little reminder. Have you ever felt that way?

What do we do when our expectations are not being met by Jesus?

The account of John’s doubt is relatable to all of us. We struggle to believe in God’s plan when detours crop up. But that is exactly why Matthew recorded it here in Scripture.

“Matthew recorded John’s struggle with doubt, not to condemn John, but to encourage subsequent disciples whose faith would be tested by hardships. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me could be translated “How happy will be the one who does not stumble on my account.””

IVP New Testament Commentary

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