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MATTHEW 11:7 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
Matt 11:6Matt 11:8
“And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?”
As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: what did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? Jesus turns John's departure into a teaching opportunity about John's identity and significance. The rhetorical questions communicate that the crowd who went out to see John went for a reason — they were drawn by someone significant, not by an ordinary sight. The reed shaken by the wind is the image of someone easily moved by social pressure: John was the opposite.

Church Fathers on Matthew 11:7

Sufficient had been now done for John’s disciples; they returned certified concerning Christ by the wonderful works which they had seen. But it behoved that the multitude also should be corrected, which had conceived many things amiss from the question of John’s disciples, not knowing the purpose of John in sending them. They might say, He who bare such witness to Christ, is now of another mind, and doubts whether this be He. Doth he this because he hath jealousy against…

Chrysostom · 4th century · Hom xxxvii

Therefore that this might not lead them to think of John as though he were offended concerning Christ, it continues, 'When they had gone away, Jesus began to speak to the multitudes concerning John.'

Hilary of Poitiers · 4th century

They had not gone out at this time into the desert to see John, for he was not now in the deaert, but in prison; but He speaks of the past time while John was yet in the desert, and the people flocked to him.

Pseudo-Chrysostom · 5th century
Read all 22 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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Matthew 11:7 — Community Reflections | HolyStudy