Matthew 11:1 ¶ And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. 2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? 4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
Verse 3 reveals a blatant deception in a modern Bible version. I
have studiously avoided this kind of controversy as it doesn’t help move the
narrative along. However, this is so egregious I just felt I had to comment.
3 And said unto him, Art
thou he that should come, or do we look for another?
See how this verse is published in the so-called New King James
Bible.
Matthew 11:3 (NKJV) “and
said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
There is something odd
about this rendering. The New King James Version was published in its entirety
in 1982. In the late 1940s a Satanist named Alice Bailey who, of course, is
considered a “New Age” writer rather than a Satanist by Satanists who wish to
downplay the truth although the Lucis Trust published her works, wrote a
booklet entitled The Reappearance of the Christ. Bailey espoused a
doctrine of The Coming One, an avatar that would come periodically to teach and
enlighten mankind as the Christ simply because the spirit of Christ never left
the earth and has always been here in some form. She considered herself a
Thesophist which links her to Satanist of the 19th century, Madame
Blavatsky, who in her late 1800s work, The Secret Doctrine, basically
said Lucifer and Christ were the same person. This, too, is interesting as the
New International Version seems to agree comparing Isaiah 14:12 and Revelation
22:16 in that version.
John
is in prison and has been for some time. He wants a final assurance from his
cousin that Jesus is the Messiah, that there is no other to come. Remember,
there were several stories floating around including that there were two
Messiahs. Here are my comments from Luke;
“John is seeking confirmation that there is no one to come after
Jesus. This seems rather odd for us as John the Baptist is the one who
announced Jesus first to the people. However, I read in a book entitled A History of Messianic Speculation in Israel
from the First through the Seventeenth Centuries by Rabbi Abba Hillel
Silver that there was an expectation of two messiahs at times, one; Messiah ben
Joseph and, two; Messiah ben David. One is a conqueror and one suffers for the
people of Israel and dies fighting the enemies of God and Israel. Jewish
tradition also refers to, “The Four Craftsmen.”
Whether these rabbinic teachings of multiple messiahs are later interpolations
or not it is clear that John is wondering if all of the prophecies will be
fulfilled in one man; Jesus Christ. The Dead Sea Scrolls also speak of
something like a war-messiah from the tribe of Ephraim dated to the first
century before Christ, a suffering Messiah, and a priestly Messiah figure.”
Jesus replies with a “see for yourself” statement. When John
acknowledges that the requirements are met for the Messiah he must realize that
it is, indeed, Christ. The Holy Spirit gives us;
Psalm 146:8 The LORD
openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the
LORD loveth the righteous:
Isaiah 35:5 ¶ Then the eyes
of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and
the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and
streams in the desert.
For verse 6 keep in mind that offended can mean to make to stumble
or fall short like a hapless runner who fails to reach the finish line. Many
stumble at the word of God due to their wicked hearts and many will stumble and
fall because they do not accept Christ.
It is a person’s own hard heart that would prevent them from
seeing that He is the Messiah, God walking on earth in the flesh, the Redeemer
of all mankind. It is your own sinful nature that prevents you from receiving
Christ as your Saviour, to be offended
in Him.
Isaiah
8:13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself;
and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. 14 And he
shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of
offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the
inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many
among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
1Peter
2:8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock
of offence, even to them which
stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
Matthew 11:7 ¶ And as they
departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye
out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 8 But what went ye out for to see? A man
clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’
houses. 9 But what went ye out for to
see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he, of whom it is written,
Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before
thee. 11 Verily I say unto you, Among
them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the
Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater
than he. 12 And from the days of John
the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent
take it by force. 13 For all the
prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14
And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. 15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Jesus here reinforces the importance of John the Baptist’s
ministry and the value of this Old Testament prophet living in the New
Testament. Verse 10 is a reference to;
Malachi 3:1 ¶ Behold, I
will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord,
whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the
covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
Jesus here states that John the Baptist was Elijah the prophet in
type. This is not about the idea of reincarnation which is false.
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is
appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Jesus’ declaration that the person that is least in the kingdom of
heaven is greater than the greatest man who ever lived before Christ is very
important. As hard as it may be for us to understand those people who lived
before Christ did not have near the access to the throne that we do, having the
Spirit of God living inside each of us. We have the capacity to do even greater
things for Christ, if you can imagine it.
John did his part but we can do more. It is astounding to
consider.
In verse 12 is expressed the urgency with which people are
pressing into God’s kingdom as suggested by Matthew Henry and John Gill. Here
is a parallel verse.
Luke 16:16 The law and the
prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every
man presseth into it.
Modern commentators, without cross-referencing, say that this
verse is about violent opposition to the gospel. It is one of those hard
sentences to translate from one language to the next they say. The problem with
the modern interpretation is that how to you reconcile with the kingdom of
heaven being taken? I can understand if they said “being opposed” but how is it
taken by force?
If you compare Luke 16:16 with this verse it becomes apparent that
all of these prostitutes, tax-collectors, these sinners, and the common people
who were being healed and changed were clamoring to get into the kingdom of
heaven, to experience that fullness of Christ, and they were desperate to do
so. Maybe you have a better interpretation.
Matthew 11:16 ¶ But
whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in
the markets, and calling unto their fellows, 17
And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have
mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. 18
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a
devil. 19 The Son of man came eating and
drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of
publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children. 20 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein
most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: 21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee,
Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre
and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I say unto you, It shall be more
tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. 23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto
heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been
done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
24 But I say unto
you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the
day of judgment, than for thee.
Christ moves from His praise of John the Baptist and the people
desperately clamoring to enter the kingdom of Heaven to condemnation of those
Jews who would not hear. He compares them to unrepentant cities of the Old
Testament. The Jewish cities of His day on earth have a greater testimony given
to them than cities of Old Testament and the cities of Old Testament may have
responded favorably had they had the presence of Christ and the gospel of the
kingdom of heaven presented to them. Tyre and Sidon, two maritime cities, where
known by the Jews for their idolatry and wickedness much as seaports are known
today. Even Sodom is spoken of favorably in this comparison.
See how Christ regards mankind’s rejection of Him, as worthy of
destruction as Sodom itself.
Matthew 11:25 ¶ At that
time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed
them unto babes. 26 Even so, Father: for
so it seemed good in thy sight. 27 All
things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the
Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever
the Son will reveal him. 28 Come unto
me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I
am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
For verse 25 see;
Isaiah 29:14 Therefore,
behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a
marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,
and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
Jesus states that God has kept things back from the so-called wise
men, the elite of the world. It is to the meek, those who submit to Him and
hunger for His understanding, that He reveals the great truths.
Christ looks to heaven, honoring God’s sovereignty and the security
of the covenant made with man through Christ. Christ looks around Him to
mankind as well inviting them to take on the light burden He gives them, to
receive eternal life. Here is an non-exclusionary offer to all people to
receive Him and be saved. There is nothing complicated or burdensome about it.
Only later institutional state-religions and cults will try to create chains
out of rays of light.
For Christ to reveal Himself to you it must be so that you are
willing to receive Him. Many people know of Christ but their hard hearts and
stubborn minds prevent them from receiving Him as their Saviour.
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