Matthew 11:11 Commentary and Bible Study

Christ commends John before the multitude, and he does so in the most solemn terms, using the introductory formula reserved for the most important of sayings: ‘Verily I say unto you.’ Why is John commended so highly? It is Christ’s reward for his servant’s life and work. John truly carried out his ministry faithfully. From the earliest time in life he was being prepared for his work. Even in the womb he testified to the Messiah of whom he was the forerunner, for Elizabeth, his mother, said to Mary, ‘Whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy’ (Luke 1:43-44) – ‘for joy’, because John in the womb was apparently made aware by the Spirit of the presence of the mother of Christ. Zacharias, his father, had been told that ‘he [John] shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb’ (Luke 1:15). His life had been consistent with his message, and he had stood alone against the sins of Israel in calling the nation to repentance. ‘Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist.‘ Was John intellectually great, or more powerful as a speaker? Not necessarily, though he certainly spoke with great authority and power. But he was great in privileges, and he carried out his work faithfully. He was not afraid of the face of man, and was ready to rebuke Herod and Herodias, though it cost him his life. That was in the future when Christ spoke these words, but the Lord knew it would come. He had preached in wilderness – a term used of some fairly well cultivated areas, and also of the desert and the mountains. People had to make quite a journey to hear him. It wasn’t miracles that attracted them; John did not do any. And his message was quite negative. There was not much of Christ in it; he didn’t know much at that stage. But his preaching was calculated to bring about an awareness of sin. The Spirit was at work through his preaching, and the nation was deeply moved by it. He had the privilege of baptizing the Messiah. But in all this John also displayed wonderful humility. He was utterly taken up with his ministry, and his great joy was to point to the one who came after him (John 3:29), ‘who coming after me’, he said, ‘is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose’ (John 1:27). He was ready to hand over all that he had to Christ: ‘He must increase, but I must decrease’ (John 3:30).Among themes of his preaching was the need for a great separation. Those who truly believed would be separated from the mass of Israel. Th unbelieving majority was going to be rooted out like trees; they would be removed from their place; they would no longer be in the church. His ministry marked the end of the Old Testament age, the separation of the wheat and the chaff. Thousands flocked to hear him. They came almost as in revival.But although John had a great privilege, the lowliest Christian is more privileged than John, in the sense that he has access to more light. We know the difference between the two comings of Christ; we have the complete Scripture; we look back on Calvary and understand how God has dealt with our sins, not just in terms of Old Testament types and shadows but with the full light of the gospel. John belonged to the nation of Israel, and worshipped as part of its mixed multitude; we are now in the church militant.