Matthew 11:7

Matthew 11:7. And as they departed. In Luke 7:24-35, we find an almost exact parallel to Matthew 11:7-19. The comment follows at once, to uphold the character of John, which might have been undervalued in consequence of his message. But he is not praised in the presence of his disciples.

The multitudes. The great influence of John appears from the fact that our Lord thus appeals to a mixed crowd.

What went ye out into the wilderness. Comp. chap. Matthew 3:1-5.

To behold, or ‘gaze at.' As if at some curious spectacle. Popularity is very often due to curiosity, even in the case of an earnest and faithful preacher.

A reed shaken by the wind? Reeds are abundant on the lower banks of the Jordan. The meaning is not, simply, you did not go without a motive, but he whom you went to see was not a fickle, wavering character. Probably an allusion to John's doubt.