Matthew 11:7

When John’s disciples had gone away, Jesus began to talk to the crowd of people about John. He said to them, “ Think about what sort of person you went to see in the desolate area when you went there to see John. ◄ You did not go there to listen to a man who constantly changed his message, like a reed that is blown {blows} back and forth in the wind [MET]!/Did you go there to listen to a man whose message changes continually like long grass that is blown {blows} back and forth in the wind changes its direction?► [MET, RHQ]

Translation for Translators

In The King James Version

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?

In Context

6Also tell John that God is pleased with people who do not stop believing in me because what I do is not what they expected the Messiah to do.”

8Then what kind of person did you go there to see [RHQ]? ◄ You did not go there to see a man who was wearing expensive clothes. /Did you go there to see a man who was wearing expensive clothes?► [RHQ] No! You know very well that people who wear beautiful clothes reside in kings’ palaces and not in desolate areas.

Read all of Matthew 11

Cross References

Matthew 3:1While Jesus was still in Nazareth town, John, whom the people called the Baptizer, went to a desolate place in Judea district.

Matthew 21:25Where did John the Baptizer get his authority to baptize those who came to him? Did he get it from God or from people? [MTY/EUP]” The chief priests and elders debated among themselves about what they should answer. They said to each other, “If we say, ‘ It was [MTY/EUP] from God’, he will say to us, ‘Then ◄you should have believed his message!/why did you not believe John’s message?► [RHQ]’

Luke 3:3So John went all over the area close to the Jordan River. He kept telling people, “If you want God to forgive you for your sins, you must ◄repent/turn away from your sinful behavior► before you ask me to baptize you!”

Luke 8:18So listen carefully to what I tell you, because God will enable those who accept my truth to understand even more. But God will cause those who do not accept my truth to not understand even the little that they think they have understood.”

John 5:35John’s message about me (OR, John) [MET] was like a lamp that shines brightly. For a short while you were willing to be made happy by that message {to let that message make you happy}.

Ephesians 4:14Then we will no longer be spiritually immature, like [MET] little children are immature. We will no longer be constantly changing what we believe, like [MET] waves of the sea are constantly changing as the wind blows and tosses them back and forth. We will not allow people who teach what is false and who scheme to deceive/influence us.

Matthew Henry on Matthew 11:2-7

John's Disciples Come to Christ. 1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. 2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? 4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see: 5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are… Read the whole commentary →

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Study Matthew 11:7