[Sent Priests and Levites.... Jerusalem.] These words show that those who questioned John the Baptist on this occasion, were a formal deputation, senl with authority from the Sanhedrim, or ecclesiastical council of the Jews, to inquire about John's pro- ceedings, and to report Avhat he taught, and whom he gave him- self out to be.
Wordsworth remarks, that "More honour was paid by the Jews to John than to Christ, both ia the persons s(mt, and in the place from which they were sent. They esteemed John for his sacerdotal lineage." When Christ appeared, they called Him. the Carpenter's Son. Our Lord refers to this great respect at first shown to John, when He says, "ye were wilhng for a season to rejoice in his light." (John v. 33.)
[To ash him, Who a7^t thou?] We can hardly suppo-e that these Priests and Levites were ignorant that John was the son of a priest, Zacharias, and therefore a Levite himself. Their inquiry seems to refer to John's office. " What did he profess to be ? Did he assume to be the Messiah ? Did he claim to be a prophet? What reason could he assign for his having taken up his remarkable position as a preacher and a baptizer at a distance from Jerusalem ? What account could he give of himself and his ministry ?"
Two things are plainly taught in this verse. One is, the great sensation which John the Baptist's ministry caused throughout Palestine. He attracted so much notice, and such crowds fol- lowed him, that the Sanhedrim felt it necessary to inquire about him. — The other is, the state of expectation in which the minds of the Jews were at this particular season. Partly from the seventy weeks of Daniel having expired, partly from the sceptre having practically departed from Judah, there was evidently an expectation that some remarkable person was about to appear. — As to the sort of person the Jews expected, it is plain that they only looked for a temporal King, who would make them once more an independent nation. They had no idea of a spiri- tual Saviour from sin. But as to the fact that this vague expecta- tion existed throughout the East at this particular time, w^have the direct testimony of Latin historians. The extraordmary ministry of John the Baptist, at once suggested the idea to the Jews at Jerusalem, that he might possibly be the expected Redeemer. Therefore they sent to ask, "Who art thou? Art thou the long expected King?" 20. — [Re confessed....denied not....confessed^ &c.] , This is a peculiar form of speech, implying a very positive, unmistakeable, empha- tic assf-veration. It gives the idea of a man shrinking with holy indignation from the very thought of being regarded as the Christ ; — " Pain me not by suggesting that such an one as I can be the Christ of God. I am one far inferior to Him."