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The Message from John the Immerser
John, who was in prison, sent his disciples to ask Yeshua "are you the one I've been preaching about or should we be looking for another". Indirectly Yeshua said "yes". (see notes on 3 - 6 below from Jewish NT Commentary) The proof of Yeshua being Messiah was in the fact that Yeshua was doing all the things that scripture had prophesied Messiah would do.
(V 3-6) Yochanan (Hebrew for John) the Immerser, appparently discouraged by being put in prison after having announced Yeshua as the Messiah (3:11, 17, Jn 1:27, 29), asks, "Are you the one who is to come?" ---the one who will put an end to political oppression and get me out of jail? The question is in code, for the phrase, "the one who is to come," would be clear only to those acquainted with Yochanan's (John's) teaching. Had they asked, "Are you the Messiah?" it would have been more difficult for Yeshua to send an answer to Yochanan without revealing his identity, which he was not yet wanting to do (see Matt 9:4 & 9:30).
Yeshua's answer is also in code. He refers to prophecies in the boo of Isaiah of six signs which the Messiah will give when he comes: he will make the blind to see (Is 29:18, 35:5), make the lame walk (Is 35:6, 61:1), cleanse lepers (Is 61:1), make the deaf hear (Is 29:18, 35:5), raise the dead (implied in Is 11:1-2 but not made specific), and evangelize the poor (Is 61:1-2 in the light of 4:23). Since he has done all these things (chapters 8 -9), the message should be clear: Yeshua is the one; Yochanan need not look for another. See 8:1-4
But his answer avoids mentioning the Messianic sign of "proclaiming liberty to the captives" (Is 61:1). Added to his remark, "How blessed is anyone not offended by me," Yeshua seems to be saying delicately that even though he is the Messiah, Yochanan will not be set free --- as proves to be the case (14:1-12)
Another view of this passage: Yochanan had prophesied that the Coming One would be an instrument of judgement as well as compassion. But in prison he had heard nothing of judgment, only of compassionate miracles. His question thus arises from lacking insight into a first coming in mercy and a second coming for judgment. ~Jewish New Testament Commentary~
(V 12) The Greek is difficult. As rendered, it means that violent ones (demons and their human vehicles) are trying to keep God from carrying out his plan through Yeshua, e.g., through Herodd's having put Yochanan in prison (v 2). An alternative understanding, "...the Kingdom of Heaven has been advancing forcefully; and forceful people are seizing hold of it." seems inconsistent with v 25 - 30. ~Jewish New Testament Commentary~
(V 13) The Prophetic books are Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, Isaiah through Malachi excluding Daniel, which is one of the Writings in the Tanach, the Hebrew Scriptures. ~One New Man Bible~
(V 14) He is Eliyahu (Hebrew for Elijah). Not that Yochanan was Eliyahu reincarnated; on the contrary, Hebrews 9:27 specifically teaches that reincarnation does not occur; and when asked, Yochanan himself denied that he was Eliyahu (Jn 1:210). Rather, he comes in the spirit of Eliyahu and precedes the Messiah's first coming in the same way that Eliyahu himself is to precede his second coming. Yeshua affirms this understanding at 17:11 - 12) ~Jewish New Testament Commentary~
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Matt 11:2-19 New King James Version said:2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples 3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” (Is 42:6-8; 61:1)
7 As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he of whom it is written:
‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’ (Ex 23:20, Mal 3:1)
11 “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. (Lk 16:16) 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
16 “But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, 17 and saying:
‘We played the flute for you,
And you did not dance;
We mourned to you,
And you did not lament.’
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, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”
John, who was in prison, sent his disciples to ask Yeshua "are you the one I've been preaching about or should we be looking for another". Indirectly Yeshua said "yes". (see notes on 3 - 6 below from Jewish NT Commentary) The proof of Yeshua being Messiah was in the fact that Yeshua was doing all the things that scripture had prophesied Messiah would do.
(V 3-6) Yochanan (Hebrew for John) the Immerser, appparently discouraged by being put in prison after having announced Yeshua as the Messiah (3:11, 17, Jn 1:27, 29), asks, "Are you the one who is to come?" ---the one who will put an end to political oppression and get me out of jail? The question is in code, for the phrase, "the one who is to come," would be clear only to those acquainted with Yochanan's (John's) teaching. Had they asked, "Are you the Messiah?" it would have been more difficult for Yeshua to send an answer to Yochanan without revealing his identity, which he was not yet wanting to do (see Matt 9:4 & 9:30).
Yeshua's answer is also in code. He refers to prophecies in the boo of Isaiah of six signs which the Messiah will give when he comes: he will make the blind to see (Is 29:18, 35:5), make the lame walk (Is 35:6, 61:1), cleanse lepers (Is 61:1), make the deaf hear (Is 29:18, 35:5), raise the dead (implied in Is 11:1-2 but not made specific), and evangelize the poor (Is 61:1-2 in the light of 4:23). Since he has done all these things (chapters 8 -9), the message should be clear: Yeshua is the one; Yochanan need not look for another. See 8:1-4
But his answer avoids mentioning the Messianic sign of "proclaiming liberty to the captives" (Is 61:1). Added to his remark, "How blessed is anyone not offended by me," Yeshua seems to be saying delicately that even though he is the Messiah, Yochanan will not be set free --- as proves to be the case (14:1-12)
Another view of this passage: Yochanan had prophesied that the Coming One would be an instrument of judgement as well as compassion. But in prison he had heard nothing of judgment, only of compassionate miracles. His question thus arises from lacking insight into a first coming in mercy and a second coming for judgment. ~Jewish New Testament Commentary~
(V 12) The Greek is difficult. As rendered, it means that violent ones (demons and their human vehicles) are trying to keep God from carrying out his plan through Yeshua, e.g., through Herodd's having put Yochanan in prison (v 2). An alternative understanding, "...the Kingdom of Heaven has been advancing forcefully; and forceful people are seizing hold of it." seems inconsistent with v 25 - 30. ~Jewish New Testament Commentary~
(V 13) The Prophetic books are Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, Isaiah through Malachi excluding Daniel, which is one of the Writings in the Tanach, the Hebrew Scriptures. ~One New Man Bible~
(V 14) He is Eliyahu (Hebrew for Elijah). Not that Yochanan was Eliyahu reincarnated; on the contrary, Hebrews 9:27 specifically teaches that reincarnation does not occur; and when asked, Yochanan himself denied that he was Eliyahu (Jn 1:210). Rather, he comes in the spirit of Eliyahu and precedes the Messiah's first coming in the same way that Eliyahu himself is to precede his second coming. Yeshua affirms this understanding at 17:11 - 12) ~Jewish New Testament Commentary~
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