Matthew 11:1-6

Matthew 11:1

Jesus and His Doubters.

I. The doubt. It is not at all clear who doubted, whether John or his disciples, or indeed whether they all did. The stoutest faith has often failed before now; ours has often failed us in circumstances far less grievous than these. John was indeed a prophet, but he did not cease to be human on that account. He had done his work before his imprisonment. The movement was too advanced to be determined henceforth by any influences which might proceed from John's life. If his faith should for the time be unequal to the dampness and dimness of the dungeon, it had been equal to the warmth and the light of the open day. Whatever be the condition of mind his words here disclose, the question is formulated by one who can trust the Christ for telling the truth of the matter, and that when he had no confidence in the mood of his own mind or in the suggestion of his circumstances.

II. How the doubt was dealt with by the doubters. John did not wish to hear more about Christ, but something from Him. He might have called for the books of the prophets, to see again whether the anticipation there corresponded with the reality here; or have asked very helplessly, as we do, for a symposium of his disciples' opinions, and tested the merits of the Christ by their vote. To his honour be it said, he did nothing of the kind, but sent two of his disciples to ask Him, "Art Thou He that should come?"

III. How Christ treated the doubters. He seems to have received them with great deference, and thought apparently no less of them and of John than He had done before. The messengers were commanded to go and tell John, and they would be able to use words in their true meaning now that they had heard Christ. It had been a tale of general beneficence and of universal kindness, and told by one who felt the power of its every word. It carried with it its own evidence.

J. O. Davies, Sunrise on the Soul,p. 171.

References: Matthew 11:1. A. B. Bruce, Expositor,1st series, vol. v., p. 11.Matthew 11:1. Parker, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xix., p. 8; Ibid., Inner Life of Christ,vol. ii., p. 162.Matthew 11:2. E. W. Shalders, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xx., p. 164.Matthew 11:2. G. Salmon, Non-miraculous Christianity,p. 1; C. Kingsley, Sermons on National Subjects,p. 22.Matthew 11:2. Homiletic Quarterly,vol. ii., p. 404; W. Bull, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xviii., p. 103; H. W. Beecher, Ibid.,vol. xxiv., p. 19. Matthew 11:2. Homiletic Quarterly,vol. i., p. 473; Clergyman's Magazine,vol. iii., p. 292.