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. (Matthew 11:7-10 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Our Saviour having given satisfaction to John’s disciples, next enters upon a large commendation of John himself.
Where observe, 1. The persons whom he commended him before; not John’s own disciples, for they had too high an opinion of their master already, and were so much addicted to John that they envied Christ for his sake: Behold baptizeth, and all men came unto him. Joh 3:26 It was a great eve-sore that Christ had more hearers and followers than John; therefore not before John’s disciples, but before the multitude; Christ commends John; for as John’s disciples had too high, so this multitude had too low an opinion of him, possibly because of his imprisonment and sufferings. There was a time when the people had high thoughts of John, but now they undervalued him.
Learn thence, The great uncertainty of popular applause; the people contemn today whom they admired yesterday; he who today is cried up, tomorrow is trodden down. The word and the ministers are the same; but this proceeds from the fickleness and inconstancy of the people: nothing is so mutable as the mind of man, nothing is so variable as the opinion of the multitude.
Observe, 2. The time when our Saviour thus commended John; not in the time of his prosperity and greatness, when the people flocked after him, and Herod got him to court and reverenced him; but when the giddy multitude had forsaken him, and he was fallen into disgrace at court, and had preached himself into a prison: now Christ vindicates his innocency, and maintains his honour, proclaims his worth, and tells the people that the world was not worthy of such a preacher as John was.
Learn thence, That Christ will stand by, and stick fast to, his faithful ministers, when all the world forsake 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 his constancy; he was not a reed shaken with the wind; that is, a man of an unstable unsettled judgment, but fixed and steadfast.
- For his sobriety and high measures of mortification; he was no delicate, voluptuous person, but grave, sober, and severe; he was mortified to the glory and honour, to the ease and pleasures of the world, John wrought no miracles; but his holy conversation was as effectual as miracles, to prevail with the people.
- For his humility; he might have been what he would, the pople were ready to cry him up for a Messiah, the Christ of God; but John’s 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 service. This will commend our minstry to the consciences of our people, when we seek not our own glory, but the glory of Christ.
- Our Saviour commends John for his clear preaching and revealing of Christ to the people. He was more than a prophet, Joh 11:9 because he pointed out Christ more clearly and fully than any before him. The ancient prophets saw Christ afar off; John beheld him face to face; he prophesied of him; he pointed at him, saying, This is he.
Whence learn, That the clearer any ministry is discovering of Christ, the more excellent it is.