Matthew 11:9 — Community Reflections

MATTHEW 11:9 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.”

What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. The third rhetorical question produces the answer that the first two were preparing: John is a prophet — but more than a prophet. The more than a prophet designation distinguishes John from the prophets who spoke about the coming one: John is the one who announces the coming one at the moment of his arrival. The prophets saw the messianic age from a distance; John stands at its threshold.

Church Fathers on Matthew 11:9

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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