Language Studies

Difficult Sayings

John the Baptist and Jesus
Matthew 11:2-19, Luke 7:18-35, Luke 16:16

"² And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples ³ and said to Him, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?" ⁴ Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: ⁵ The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. ⁶ And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me." ⁷ As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning 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 clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. ⁹ But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. ¹⁰ For this is he of whom it is written: 'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.' ¹¹ "Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ¹² And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. ¹³ For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. ¹⁴ And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. ¹⁵ He who has ears to hear, let him hear! ¹⁶ "But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, ¹⁷ and saying: 'We played the flute for you, And you did not dance; We mourned to you, And you did not lament.' ¹⁸ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' ¹⁹ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is justified by her children." (Matthew 11:2-19)

If "all the prophets and the law prophesied until John" then does that mean the end of the law and prophets? (Luke 16:16)

How is John Elijah?

The phrase "ears to hear"

The reference to expectations and disappointments in the allusion to dance, music, food and drink.

The phrase "wisdom is justified by her children/deeds"

This passage is replete with cryptic rather than open hints at Jesus and John's prophetic identities and the people's actual and hoped for reactions to their ministries.

For example why does John not ask Jesus straight out if he is the Messiah, why does Jesus not reply directly likewise? John, himself, had already proclaimed Jesus the Lamb and Son of God (John 1:29, 34, 36), was he now suffering from second thoughts and doubts during his prison incarceration? Was there an ulterior motive for sending his disciples to Jesus, perhaps concerning his own immediate fate?

The Jews of the establishment asked John if he was the Messiah, Elijah or the Prophet, as if these were expected back from the dead (John 1:19-27). Where does this expectation stem from? And, why, if John said he was none of the above does Jesus say that John was Elijah? (Matthew 11:14)

We also encounter a small synoptic problem. Mark does not record the incident and Luke (Luke 16:16) has one of the most difficult of the sayings (Matthew 11:12) in a different context. Indeed the "kingdom of heaven suffering violence" and being "taken by force" sounds like a Special Forces exercise not a new people being formed by peace and love rather than sword and might.

So having left you with some of the questions we will work through the solutions over the coming weeks, but feel free to start the discussions by opening up a Forum debate or firing off an email to me.

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KJ Went has taught biblical Hebrew, hermeneutics and Jewish background to early Christianity. The "Biblical Hebrew made easy" course can be found at www.biblicalhebrew.com.

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