Matthew 11:7–15
7As these men were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8“But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ palaces! 9“But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. 10“This is the one about whom it is written,
‘Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’
11“Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12“From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force. 13“For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14“And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come. 15“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Focused Thinking:
What does Jesus think about John the Baptist?
11“Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist!”
He respected John because He was sent from God as the forerunner.
He respected John because He was an uncompromising prophet.
He respected John because he wasn’t a reed shaken by the wind.
He respected John because he wasn’t a man dressed in soft clothing seeking a king’s palace.
- John wasn’t preparing the way for Jesus for self-promotion.
- John wasn’t serving for the purpose of sitting on His right or left.
- John’s faith and conviction had him in jail awaiting his death sentence.
He respected John because John’s faithfulness didn’t depend upon circumstances.
- John was “more than a prophet” in the respect that he prepared the way for the Messiah.
- John was a prophet but prepared the way for the One who was more than prophet.
How does Jesus use John’s greatness as a point of comparison?
11b“Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
John prepared the way for the Messiah, but everyone after John will be greater in the respect that they have the full revelation of God through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.
What do these next three verses mean?
12“From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force. 13“For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14“And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come. 15“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
The kingdom of heaven suffers violence (has been forcefully advancing), and violent men take it by force (and forceful men lay hold of it).
- Most likely, this is a reference to Jesus’ opponents.
- Jesus was explaining that as His kingdom advanced, there would be more and more attacks against it.
- Jesus was explaining that opponents almost always violently oppose His kingdom, His rule and reign.
The more the KING is in control the less we are in control.
Historically, man wants a human king that we can control instead of divine KING that we can’t control.
John was already experiencing this opposition from King Herod. The conflict had begun.
The Jews called the Old Testament by its three main sections—the Prophets, the Law and the Writings. In reality, all three point to Jesus’ coming (see 5:17–20). John fulfilled prophecy, for he himself was the Elijah who was to come, prophesied in Malachi 4:5.
John was not a resurrected Elijah, but he took on Elijah’s prophetic role—boldly confronting sin and pointing people to God (Malachi 3:1).
Only those who had ears would be able to truly hear what Jesus meant by the words he said.
Personal Application:
15“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Do I have ears to hear today?
What is God saying today that is difficult to hear?
What is God saying about the second coming?
What am I hearing that I need to speak?
What does it look like for me to be a prophet today?
Interactive Prayer:
Father, give me ears to hear. Give me the confidence to know that it is You speaking. Give me the confidence and courage to speak what You are speaking. Father, give me the ability to truly understand the times and to do what to do and what to say. Father, give me the ability to know how to speak into the life of our people as individuals, as families and as citizens. Father, give me the ability to truly see the Spirit of God work in and through our people for the purpose of true revival and spiritual awakening. Father, we don’t need hype, we need the real deal. Father, please give me the boldness to do whatever You lead me to do in order to lead Your church to be more than a self-help country club. Father, I don’t want to build a spiritual cruise ship; I want to build a spiritual battleship. Father, give me Your vision clearly. Give me the ability to understand it and to communicate it at the heart level. Give me the ability to truly change the hearts of our people. Father, help us destroy our idols. Father, give us the ability to love You better than we love our idols. Father, make us a church that is GREAT at the GREAT COMMANDMENT AND GREAT COMMISSION.
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