Teks -- Matthew 11:2 (NET)

Jesus and John the Baptist

11:2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds Christ had done, he sent his disciples to ask a question:

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Mat 11:2 - John heard in the prison

John heard in the prison ( ho de Iōanēs akousas en tōi desmōtēriōi ).

Probably (Luk 7:18) the raising of the son of the widow of Nain. The word for prison here is the place where one was kept bound (Act 5:21, Act 5:23; Act 16:26). See note on Mat 4:12. It was in Machaerus east of the Dead Sea which at this time belonged to the rule of Herod Antipas (Jos. Ant. XVIII. v.2). John’ s disciples had access to him. So he sent word by (dia , not duo as in Luk 7:19) them to Jesus.

Vincent: Mat 11:2 - Two

Two of his disciples ( δύο )

But the correct reading is διά , by. He sent by his disciples. So Rev.

Wesley: Mat 11:2 - He sent two of his disciples

Not because he doubted himself; but to confirm their faith. Luk 7:18.

JFB: Mat 11:2 - Now when John had heard in the prison

For the account of this imprisonment, see on Mar 6:17-20.

JFB: Mat 11:2 - the works of Christ, he sent, &c.

On the whole passage, see on Luke 7:18-35.

Clarke: Mat 11:2 - John had heard in the prison

John had heard in the prison - John was cast into prison by order of Herod Antipas, Mat 14:3, etc., (where see the notes), a little after our Lord began his public ministry, Mat 4:12; and after the first passover, Joh 3:24.

Calvin: Mat 11:2 - Now when John had heard

2.Now when John had heard The Evangelists do not mean that John was excited by the miracles to acknowledge Christ at that time as Mediator; but, perceiving that Christ had acquired great reputation, and concluding that this was a fit and seasonable time for putting to the test his own declaration concerning him, he sent to him his disciples. The opinion entertained by some, that he sent them partly on his own account, is exceedingly foolish; as if he had not been fully convinced, or obtained distinct information, that Jesus is the Christ. Equally absurd is the speculation of those who imagine that the Baptist was near death, and therefore inquired what message he should carry, from Christ’s mouth as it were, to the deceased fathers. It is very evident that the holy herald of Christ, perceiving that he was not far from the end of his journey, and that his disciples, though he had bestowed great pains in instructing them, still remained in a state of hesitation, resorted to this last expedient for curing their weakness. He had faithfully labored, as I have said, that his disciples should embrace Christ without delay. His continued entreaties had produced so little effect, that he had good reason for dreading that, after his death, they would entirely fall away; and therefore he earnestly attempted to arouse them from their sloth by sending them to Christ. Besides, the pastors of the Church are here reminded of their duty. They ought not to endeavor to bind and attach disciples to themselves, but to direct them to Christ, who is the only Teacher. From the beginning, John had openly avowed that he was not the bridegroom, (Joh 3:29.) As the faithful friend of the bridegroom he presents the bride chaste and uncontaminated to Christ, who alone is the bridegroom of the Church. Paul tells us that he kept the same object in view, (2Co 11:2,) and the example of both is held out for imitation to all the ministers of the Gospel.

Defender: Mat 11:2 - in the prison

John was imprisoned by Herod soon after he had baptized Jesus and had directed his own disciples to follow Christ (Mat 4:12; Joh 1:35). John had rebuked Herod's adultery (Mat 14:3, Mat 14:4) and had been jailed because of this. Apparently his remaining disciples still had access to him, for Herod still respected John and his influence."

TSK: Mat 11:2 - in // he

in : Mat 4:12, Mat 14:3; Mar 6:17; Luk 3:19, Luk 7:18-23; Joh 3:24

he : Mat 9:14; Joh 3:25-28, Joh 4:1; Act 19:1-3

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Mat 11:2-3 - Art thou he who should come

Ver. 2,3. The instance of this text alone is enough to convince the observing reader of holy writ, that the evangelists do not set down all things in that order as they were done. We have heard nothing before of John’ s being cast into prison in this gospel, nor do we hear any thing here of the story of it, till Mat 14:6 , when our evangelist occasionally relates it something largely. He here tells us of something done during his imprisonment, viz. his sending two of his disciples to Christ, to be satisfied whether he was the promised Messias, or they must look for another. Luke reports the same thing, Luk 7:19 . Could he that was sent before Christ to prepare his way, and that had baptized him, and seen the Spirit descending on him, and heard the voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, and who had showed Christ to his disciples, Joh 1:29-31 , &c., doubt whether he was the Messiah? Undoubtedly no; but John saw how some of his disciples, either envying for his sake, as Joh 3:26 , or else inclinable to the common error of the Jews about the Messiah, were something shaken with the clamours of the scribes and Pharisees (who were far more favourable to John than to Christ). That they might be satisfied from their own sight of the works of Christ, he a little before his death sendeth them to Christ on this errand,

Art thou he who should come (in the Greek, who is coming)? Which lets us know the full expectation the Jews generally had at that time of a Messias coming. They desire only to be satisfied whether Christ was he.

Haydock: Mat 11:2

The order of time is not here observed by the evangelist. St. John's deputation to Jesus Christ took place some time before; and the text of the 7th chap. of St. Luke, gives it soon after the cure of the centurion's servant; hence all that follows, in chap. xi. of St. Matthew, is placed by persons who have drawn up evangelical harmonies, immediately after the first 17 verses of chap. viii. (Haydock)

Gill: Mat 11:2 - Now when John had heard in the prison // the works of Christ // he sent two of his disciples

Now when John had heard in the prison,.... The person here spoken of is John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, who was now in the prison of Machaerus; being put there by Herod, for his reproving him for taking Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; and whilst he was there, an account was brought him by his own disciples, see Luk 7:18 of

the works of Christ, the miracles he wrought; as the healing of the centurion's servant, the raising from the dead the widow's son of Nain, and the like; upon hearing of which,

he sent two of his disciples, who might be the most prejudiced against Christ, because of the increase of his followers, and the decrease of their master's; and because he did not live such an austere life as John did; and who, notwithstanding all that they had heard, and their master had told them of Jesus, were not easily persuaded that he was the true Messiah. Moreover, two of them were sent, both because it was more honourable to Christ, and that they might be proper witnesses of what they saw and heard; and since it was not so much for himself, as for the sake of his disciples, that these messengers were sent.