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Reference
24 And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 25 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts. 26 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. 27 This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. (Luke 7:24-27 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Our Saviour having given, as we may suppose, full satisfaction to John’s disciples and sent them away, he enters upon a large commendation of John himself.
Where we have observable, 1. The persons whom he commended John before: not his own disciples, but before the multitude; for John’s disciples had too high an opinion of their master already, insomuch, that they envied our Saviour for overshadowing their master: Joh 7:26
Behold Christ baptizeth, and all men come unto him. It was a great eye-sore to John’s disciples, that Christ had more hearers and followers than their master; therefore not before John’s disciples, but before the multitude, is John commended: for as John’s disciples had too high, so the multitude had too low, an opinion of John; possibly because of his imprisonment and sufferings. There was a time when the people had high thoughts of John’s person and ministry; but being now clouded with sufferings, they disesteem and undervalue him.
Learn hence, how vain it is for any men, but especially for the ministers of the gospel, to value themselves by popular applause. The people condemn today whom they admired yesterday; he who today is cried up, tomorrow is trodden down; the word and ministers are the same, but this proceeds from the fickleness and inconsistency of the people: nothing is so mutable as the mind of man; nothing so variable as the opinion of the multitude.
Observe, 2. The time when our Saviour thus commended John; when he was cast into prison by Herod. Not when he was in prosperity, when the people flocked after him, when he preached at court and was reverenced by Herod; but when the giddy multitude had forsaken him; when he was disgraced at court, and had preached himself into prison; now it is that Christ proclaims his worth, maintains his honor, and tells the people that the world was not worthy of such a preacher.
Learn hence, that Christ will evermore stand by, and stick fast unto, his faithful ministers when all the world forsakes them. Let the world slight and despise them at their pleasure, yet Christ will maintain their honour, and support their cause; as they bear a faithful witness to Christ, so Christ will bear witness to their faithfulness for him.
Observe, 3. The commendation itself. Our Saviour commends John for four things! For his constancy, for his sobriety, for his humility, for gospel ministry.
1. For his constancy: he was not a reed shaken with the wind; that is, a man of an unstable and unsettled judgment, but fixed and steady.
2. For his sobriety, austerity, and high degree of mortification and self-denial: He was no delicate, voluptuous person, but grave, sober, and severe. He was mortified to the glory and honor, to the ease and pleasure, of the world: John wrought no miracles, but his conversation was almost miraculous and as effectual as miracles to prevail upon the people.
3. For his humility: John might once have been what he would, the people were ready to cry him up for the Messiah, the Christ of God: but John’s humble and lowly spirit refuses all: He confessed, and denied not, saying, I am not the Christ, but a poor minister of his willing, but not worthy, to do him the meanest service. This will commend our ministry to the consciences of our people; when we seek not our own glory, but the glory of Christ.
4. Our Saviour commends John for his clear preaching of the gospel, and for his making known the coming of the Messiah to the people: He was more than a prophet, because he pointed out Christ more clearly and fully than any of the prophets before him. The ancient prophets beheld Christ afar off, but John saw him face to face. They prophesied of him, he pointed at him, saying, This is he. The clearer any ministry is in discovering Christ, the more excellent and useful it is.