Matthew 11:1-19
11: When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.
2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
7 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? 8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is he of whom it is written,
0 “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’
11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,
17 “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”
Reflection
John the Baptist was imprisoned by King Herod (Matt. 14:3) and began to doubt that Jesus was “the Christ” (11:2). He was questioning whether or not Jesus was actually the future King of Israel who would establish God’s eternal kingdom (Ps. 2:2, 7–12).
Jesus answers John’s question by explaining that his ministry is accomplishing the very things that were supposed to happen in God’s eternal kingdom (Matt. 11:4–5): the deaf will hear, the blind will see, the meek will rejoice, and the poor will praise God (Isa. 29:17–19; 35:6; 61:1–3; Mic. 4:6–7). Jesus didn’t establish God’s kingdom in an expected way. For one thing, he was the friend of tax collectors and sinners (Matt. 11:19), which some people found offensive (v. 6). However, those who know that they need mercy from God are precisely the kind of people who are welcomed into his kingdom, if they are willing to turn to him and believe. The church is supposed to continue to extend this grace today to those who understand their need for the forgiveness offered in the gospel.
Romans 9:1-5
9: I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
Reflection
Despite all the gifts and promises to Israel in former times (Rom. 9:4–5), the majority of ethnic Jews in Paul’s day did not acknowledge Jesus as God’s promised Savior and King. Paul feels agony in his heart (v. 2) when he thinks about the rejection of Jesus by his “kinsmen” (his fellow Jews; v. 3), and wishes he could do something about it (v. 3). Those who know the good news about Jesus (the gospel) are concerned about helping others to know it also; they have a painful sense of responsibility for the souls of those who don’t believe (cf. 2 Cor. 11:28; Heb. 13:17).
Psalm 146:5-9
5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, 6 who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; 7 who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry.The Lord sets the prisoners free; 8 the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. 9 The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
Like John the Baptist, we would sometimes like to see Jesus do something more spectacular in our lives. Ask God to help you appreciate the miracle of salvation as you patiently await the public display of Christ’s final glory when he returns.