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k Ch. xxiv. σκευάσει τὴν ὁδόν σου ἔμπροσθέν σου.
11,24. Lk. vil. 16. John vii. 52.
1 hereand in Lk. vii.
rudely clad and rudely mannered, un- compromising Baptist!—Ver. 9. ἀλλὰ τί ἐξ.: one more question, shorter, abrupt, needing to be supplemented by another (Weiss-Meyer)—why then, _ seriously, went ye out? προφήτην l8civ;—to see a Prophet ?—vat, yea! right at last; a prophet, indeed, with all that one expects in a prophet—vigorous moral conviction, integrity, strength of will, fearless zeal for truth and righteousness; utterly free from the feebleness and time-serving of those who bend like reeds to every breath of wind, or bow obsequiously be- fore greatness.—xal περισσότερον π., a prophet and more, something above the typical prophet (vide on v. 47). The clause introduced by vat, as λέγω ὑμῖν shows, expresses Christ’s own opinion, not the people’s (Weiss). — Ver. το, οὗτος .. . Ὑέγραπται. The περισσό- τερον verified and’ explained by a pro- phetic citation. The oracle is taken from Malachi iii., altered so as to make the Messianic reference apparent— pov changed into gov. By applying the oracle to John, Jesus identifies him ‘with the messenger whom God was to send to prepare Messiah’s way. This is his dis- tinction, περισσότερον, as compared with other prophets. But, after all, this is an external distinction, an accident, so to speak. Some prophet must be the fore- runner, if Messiah is to come at all, the last in the series who foretell His coming, and John happens to be that one—a matter of good fortune rather than of merit. Something more is needed to justify the περισσότερον, and make it a proper subject foreulogy. That is forth- coming in the sequel.
Vv. 11-12. This is the further justifi- cation of the περισσ. desiderated. Ver. 11. ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν. First Christ ex- presses His personal conviction in solemn terms. What follows refers to John’s intrinsic worth, not to his historic position as the forerunner. The latter rests on the prophetic citation. Christ’s aim now is to say that the Baptist’s character is equal to his position: that he is fit to be the forerunner. For Christ, being the forerunner is no matter of luck. God will see that the right man occupies the position; nay, none but the right man can successfully per-