The man of St Matthew

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

John the Baptist and Jesus: Mt 11,2-15

We have seen how this passage divides into two parts. In the first, 11,2-6, John aks about Jesus. In the second, 11,7-15, Jesus speaks about John.

John asks about Jesus: 11,2-6

Where does verse 1 place John? See 4,12 and look ahead to 14,3.
How are we to understand the "works of the Messiah"? What might have been the traditional expectations of the Messiah?

Therefore what might be the purpose of John' question in verse 3? See 3,11-12 for John's expectations of the coming one.

How does Jesus reply in verse 4 and how does verse 5 follow from this? Look back to chapters 8 & 9 and make a list showing how the evidence has already been fulfilled in the ministry of Jesus. It's useful to note the contrast here with Luke's Gospel, Lk 7,20-21.

There is also an important background here in the prophet Isaiah: take a look at how 26,19; 29,18-19; 35,5-6 and 61,1 are now being fulfilled in Jesus.

Then look at the parallel in Luke 7,18-23. What is in Luke that Matthew has left out?

What is the purpose of the Beatitude in verse 6? RNJB is close to the literal translation. It's a key word in 18,6-9.

Time now to look at my response.

Jesus speaks about John: 11,7-15

Jesus now speaks about John and the popular expectations of John. To whom is he speaking in verse 7? What attracted them to John (3,1-5)?

Notice how Jesus builds up to his answer in verses 7 to 9 by asking the same question three times. There's a notable contrast between the first two answers.

How does Jesus answer his own question in verse 9? For verse 10, see Exodus 23,20 and Malachi 3,1. Look at Mk 1,1 and compare with 3,3.

Verse 11 is a solemn statement. How does it both highlight and limit John's position?

Who might be the violent in verse 12?

What is the fulfilment arising from John in verses 13 and 14? See Malachi 4,5

How is verse 15 a summary of what Jesus has been saying? See Is 6,9 or Jer 5,21.

Go to my response.

We now continue our reading with Jesus' comments about this generation and the towns, 11,16-25.