The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 447

sources of the Gospel.) Of oommanding Ver. 8.-And said onto him. The ques- his twelve disoiplea, he departed thenoe. tion we.a brought from John; the answer is Whence? We have no knowledge. Perhaps sent back to him (vcr. 4). This points to the the place had been named in the original cause of the question lying ultimately, not context, from which the discourse wBB with hie disciples, but with himself. Al- derived. Oh. ix. 35 suggests that it was though John might justly fear that they some place on his journey (cf. Alford), but would follow him rather than Jesus ( cf. eh. our verse in itself implies rather some fixed ix. H, note), yet he seems to have made centre of work, e.g. Capemaum. To teaoh this inquiry for hie own sake. He who and to preaoh in their oities. If he ceases etoocl on the Jewish side of the threshold of to speak at length, it is that he may begin the kingdom (ver. 11) did not understand more aggressive work (cf. eh. vii. 28, 29; the methods by which the King was acting, xiii. 53, 54). Their. It is hardly by acci- and thus his faith we.a tried (eomp. Ter- dent that the word recurs, with the same tnllia.n, 'Adv. Marc.,' iv. 18). In this he reference, as it seems, to the Jews generally, rece.lls hie great prototype, whose plans in the passages just quoted ( cf. eh. xii. 9, seemed to have failed and his boldness to note). have done no good (1 Kings xix. 13, 14). Vere. 2-24.-J EIIUB Tll.l!I ONE THAT SHOULD To both the answer implied that success was e.eeured to quiet spiritual work. Art COME. thou ( em pha.tic) he that should come 1 he (1) Vera. 2-6: The Baptist's question, that cometh (Revised Version); 6 •px&,.,.,vos and its answer: the Coming One has come. (comp. eh. iii. 11, note). The title was pro- (2) Vere. 7-15: Jesue' recognition of bably derived from Pe. cxvili. 26, and would the greatneBB of John as herald. become the more known from the LXX. of (3) Vere. 16-19: Yet both John and he Ho.b. ii. 3 (comp. Heh. x. 87), and perhaps also from a directly Messianic interpretation himself are rejected. of Gen. xlix. 10. Or do we look for. The (4) Vere. 20-24: Woe on those who dis- word (1rpoa60,cw,.,.,v) contains no thought of regard the signs of God's work. looking about for, but only of earnest expec- Vere. 2-6.-T11e Baptist'B que11tion, and tation. Another1 "E.,..pav, and so in Luke its an.swer. Parallel passage : Luke vii. vii. 19; but li/\71.ov in Luke vii. 20 (where, however, Westcott and Hort margin reads 18-23. f.,..pov). Observe that in both records the Ver. 2.-Now when 1ohn had (omit, with evangelist's own summary of John's message the Revised Version) heard in the prison; speaks of a difference in kind, but that in i.e. Machmrue (Schii:rer, I. ii. 27; comp. eh. tl1e form given by the messengers (Luke vii. iii 1, note; xiv. 1, note). Matthew alone 20) it is only a matter of a second person tells us thnt he woe already in prison. The coming ( comp. Go.I. i. 6, 7; 1 Cor. xii. 8, works of Christ; of the Christ (Revised Ver- etc.; xv. 39, etc.). John's disciples, that sion); .,.oii Xp«r"Tov. Not the proper name, is to e11y, are represented 118 failing to catch but the official title(ch. i.16, 17,notes). The the point of their me.eter's question wbather title may be merely due to the evangelist's he must look, after all, for a Messiah who narrative, or may represent the actual terms acts differently from the way in which Jams in which the message was brought to John. acts. It brings out the pathos of the situation. Ver. 4.-J'esus; and JesuB (Revised Ver- John had prepared the way of the Christ, sion, with event.he Received Text). Answered and had at the baptism taken part in his and said unto them. He makes no verbo.I anointing. Yet of all the works that the self-defence, but appe11le to the effects of Christ now did there was none to set his hie work. Observe that a eimill\l appeal kinsm1m and herald free. He sent two to effects of the same character as those of his disoiplee ; by hiB disciples (Revised mentioned here - restoration to normal Version). Possibly the slight difference powers and bringing spiritual truths home between Bui, the true reading here, and 660, to the poorest-is still the great argument which is genuine in Luke, points to the for the Meseiahship of Jesus. Go; go your common source (observe here a Greek way (Revised Version); wop,uo,.,.,. .. (cf. source) having been written, but with the ver. 7). And show 1ohn again; and tell close similarity in sound this need not have John (Revised Version); for a.,raryeAll.oi doe~ been the case. Observe that the true re11d- not in it.self contain the idea of bringing ing lays slightly more emphe.sis on the fact word in answer to an inquiry, but merely of the inquiry coming from John himself emphasizes the source or place from which (vide infra). "Bent by" is the equivalent tho message comes ( oh. viii. 83; cf. Bishop of the Hebrew i•:i n',llt (Exod. iv. 13; 1 Baru. Westcott on 1 John i 2, 5). Those (the, xvi. 20; 1 Kings ii. 25; eomp. also Rev. Revised Version) things whioh ye do hear i.l). and aee. Observe that in Luke (1) the  U! TH'F: GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW, rcu. XI. 1-30.