A. Evidences of Israel’s rejection of Jesus 11:2-30Matthew presented three evidences of opposition to Jesus that indicated rejection of Him: John the Baptist’s questions about the King’s identity, the Jews’ indifference to the King’s message, and their refusal to respond to the King’s invitation. read more
IV. THE OPPOSITION TO THE KING 11:2-13:53Chapters 11-13 record Israel’s rejection of her Messiah and its consequences. Opposition continued to build, but Jesus announced new revelation in view of hardened unbelief."The Evangelist has carefully presented the credentials of the king in relationship to His birth, His baptism, His temptation, His righteous doctrine, and His supernatural power. Israel has heard the message of the nearness of the kingdom from John the Baptist, the King Himself, and... read more
Jesus sent a summary of His ministry back to John. He used the language of Isaiah’s prophecies to assure His forerunner that He really was the Messiah (Isaiah 35:5-6; Isaiah 61:1; cf. Isaiah 26:19; Isaiah 29:18-19). It is interesting that all of these Isaiah passages contain some reference to judgment. Thus Jesus assured John that He was the coming One, and He implied that He would fulfill the judgment prophecies, though He had not done so yet.Matthew 11:6 may contain an allusion to Isaiah... read more
The Disciples of the Baptist1. Tours of Jesus after dismissing His apostles. The apostles started on their mission about five weeks before the second Passover of the ministry (28 a.d.) and were away about a month. Jesus spent the interval partly in Galilee and partly in Jerusalem, whither he went to keep the Feast of Purim at the beginning of March (John 5:1). He rejoined the Twelve shortly before the Passover (John 6:4), and immediately afterwards fed the five thousand (Mark 6:30; Luke 9:10).... read more
(5) The blind receive their sight.—Apparently no facts were stated which might not have already come to the ears of the Baptist. At least one instance of each class of miracle has already been recorded by St. Matthew, the blind (Matthew 9:27), the lame (Matthew 9:6), the leper (Matthew 8:2), the dead (Matthew 9:25). The raising of the widow’s son at Nain, which in St. Luke follows closely upon the healing of the centurion’s servant, must also have preceded what is here narrated. What the... read more
Impatience Matthew 11:3 I. It was not by want of faith that the Baptist erred, but by Impatience, which is a different thing, except in so far as it may be said to imply distrust in the Divine wisdom. It is impatience when we would go faster than God, when we would force His hand either to destroy what is evil or to advance what is good, when we complain that He does nothing and hide3 Himself, because He does not ripen the grain and reap the harvest directly after seed-time. The cause of it is... read more
Chapter 10The Shadow of the Cross - Matthew 11:1-30; Matthew 12:1-50I-DISCOURAGEMENTS. {Matthew 11:1-30}HITHERTO almost everything has been hopeful and encouraging in our Evangelist’s record of the Saviour’s ministry. It began like daybreak on the shores of the sea of Galilee. Great multitudes followed Him wherever He went; and those whom He called to be with Him cheerfully responded to the summons. When He preached the Gospel of the kingdom, the people were astonished at His doctrine, and... read more
8. The Forerunner in Prison. The Kingdom Preaching Rejected. CHAPTER 11 1. John Imprisoned Sends his Disciples. (Matthew 11:1-6 .) 2. The King's Testimony Concerning John. (Matthew 11:7-19 .) 3. The King Announces Judgment. (Matthew 11:20-24 .) 4. The Greater Invitation. (Matthew 11:25-28 .) The first verse of this chapter belongs to the sending forth of the twelve, and should be put to the previous chapter. “And it came to pass when Jesus had finished commanding His twelve disciples, He... read more
Throughout Israel now the Lord carries on an intensive teaching and preaching in their cities. John the Baptist hears of this in the prison, but he is deeply puzzled, for he sends two of his disciples to Him to ask, "Art Thou He that should come, or do we look for another?" Yet this same John had said of Him, "I saw and bear record that this is the Son of God" (John 1:34). No doubt John expected Him to very soon take His place of royal dignity as Messiah of Israel. Yet John's testimony to His... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 11:2-19
1. Questions from the King’s forerunner 11:2-19This sections illustrates how deeply seated Israel’s disenchantment with Jesus was. read more