Read Matthew 11:7–15
Questions from the Scripture text: What do John’s disciples do (Matthew 11:7)? What does Jesus begin to do? To whom? About whom does Jesus ask them? What does He ask if John was? What does He ask them again in Matthew 11:8? What does He ask if John was, this time? Where does he say such people can be found? What does Jesus ask them a third time (Matthew 11:9)? What does He now suggest that John is? With what qualification? Whom, specifically, does Jesus identify John to be (Matthew 11:10, cf. Malachi 3:1)? How does He begin His statement in Matthew 11:11? What does He proceed to say about John—whom is he greater than (verse 11)? Who is greater than John? What has been happening since when (Matthew 11:12)? What continues to happen? Who did what until when (Matthew 11:13)? What does Jesus urge them to receive about John (cf. Malachi 4:5)? What does He urge them to do (Matthew 11:15)? How can they do so?
Why did John need help? Matthew 11:7–15 looks forward to the morning sermon in public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that every believer in this life still needs help from Christ, because the path to glory is a battle that requires zeal and strength and perseverance.
Saving face for one still growing in faith. Those who had observed the exchange with John’s disciples might have thought less of him because of his difficulty in faith. Jesus does not permit this. He praises John and presents him as an example.
Praising John as the greatest of the prophets. How easily men can change their opinions of another based upon a moment of weakness! Is John really easily shaken—a reed shaken by the wind? They surely didn’t think so when they went out into the wilderness to see him (Matthew 11:7). Is John really addicted to comfort, buckling under the pressure of a little trouble? That sort of person isn’t found in the wilderness, where they had gone out to see John, but in king’s courts (Matthew 11:8).
No, John does not deserve their criticism. In fact, he is to be esteemed as a prophet, and not just any prophet (Matthew 11:9).
John is the last of the prophets, the prophet who would break centuries of silence as the one who precedes the sudden appearance of the Lord Himself (Matthew 11:10, cf. Malachi 3:1). John had gone before to prepare the way for the Lord (cf. Matthew 3:3; Isaiah 40:3) by calling the people to be converted for entry into the kingdom of God (cf. Matthew 3:1–2).
Promoting John as one to whom we must listen. So, we must listen, when we hear John urge us to be converted for entry into the kingdom. There is no prophet greater than John, no one greater from among those born of women (Matthew 11:11a).
All prophets had proclaimed repentance; and, more importantly, all prophets had proclaimed Christ (Matthew 11:13, cf. John 1:45, John 5:39; Luke 24:27; 1 Peter 1:10–11). At the close of the Old Testament, this final “Elijah” had been promised (cf. Malachi 4:5–6; Luke 1:13–17; Mark 9:11–13), and Jesus now confirms that John is he (Matthew 11:14).
The problem is that not everyone has “ears to hear” (Matthew 11:15). We must seek, from God, the grace we need to hear and heed John’s message.
Presenting John as an example of how we must enter glory. Jesus had answered John’s question by sending him a sermon (cf. Matthew 11:1-6). Jesus uses His Word to give His people strength, zeal, and endurance for the battle of faith (cf. Romans 10:17).
However far we have progressed in this life, we are not what we must be to enter glory. None had arisen greater than John, and he still wasn’t fit for glory; the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he (Matthew 11:11b).
John had preached a vigorous believing and obeying in keeping with being converted (cf. Matthew 3:2, Matthew 3:8, Matthew 3:11; Luke 3:7–14; Luke 16:15–16). From his days on, people had been coming to this vigorous, forceful faith that the Spirit gives to those whom God is saving.
This is how we enter glory, not coasting in on clouds of comfort, but fighting and battling, pressing on and pushing in. Christ alone is our worthiness to enter, but the faith by which He unites us to Himself is a fighting faith. He has chosen us for a salvation that comes not through passivity, but through sanctification and standing fast in every good word and work (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:13–17).
If you are not in the battle, then you are not in the faith. Take warning, for the kingdom comes, and you may be found outside of it as an enemy. But, if you are weary in the battle of faith, take heart from Christ, and press on! Come to His Word, that He may strengthen you by it, and give you to press on unto glory!
What would be an indication that you are easily shaken? What would be an indication that you are addicted to comfort? How can those who are weak in faith get more or stronger faith? What is required to enter glory? Who attains to it in this life? What must we do, then, throughout our life? How can we do that? Where can we get ears to hear? If we have been given such ears, what must we do with them?
Sample prayer: Lord, we thank You for giving us Your own Son to be our great Prophet. And we thank You for the servants by whom His Word has come near. Have mercy upon us, for we are weak in faith. We are often easily shaken. We are too addicted to comfort. We need to be sanctified. We need strength and zeal and endurance. So come, glorify Yourself in our lives by giving us the resolve and the force of will to press on unto glory. Conform us to Christ, our great King and Warrior and Redeemer, we ask in His Name, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP72A “God, Give Your Judgments to the King” or TPH539 “Am I a Soldier of the Cross”
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