Author: Charlie Garrett

Sunday, 29 June 2025

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. Matthew 11:11

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“Amen! I say to you, not he has risen in ‘born of women’ greater than John the Baptist, but the least in the kingdom of the heavens, he is greater than he” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus cited a portion of Malachi 3:1, indicating that John was the first messenger being referred to in that prophecy, being the one sent before the Messiah to prepare His way. Now, still referring to John, He continues with, “Amen! I say to you.”

Jesus is making an emphatic declaration concerning John. It will be a point that those around Him would hear and find amazing and yet satisfying, even if they didn’t fully understand what He was speaking of. Having said this, He continues with, “not he has risen in ‘born of women’ greater than John the Baptist.”

The term “born of women” is a way of identifying humanity. All humans since the creation of Adam and Eve have been born of a woman. As such, Jesus is referring to this common human nature. It is reminiscent of the words of Job –

“Man who is born of woman
Is of few days and full of trouble.
² He comes forth like a flower and fades away;
He flees like a shadow and does not continue.” Job 14:1, 2

The “he has” in Jesus’ words and the “Man” in Job’s words refer to both men and women. The masculine stands for both in such statements. Therefore, it is not limited to men but is inclusive of all of humanity.

No person born to the stream of humanity is to be considered greater than John. Whether the subject is a king, a conqueror, a prophet, Abraham, Moses, David, or anyone else.

Jesus has already said that John is the subject of the prophecies referring to the one who would come as the precursor to the Messiah. Because he is that person, his role made the purpose of his life on par with or greater than any other. Despite this, Jesus continues, saying, “but the least in the kingdom of the heavens, he is greater than he.

The term “kingdom of the heavens” refers to a point in the future of the time of Jesus’ words. There was a time coming that would divide human history in a way that nothing else had before. However, the timing of the event is not the only factor in determining who is a part of this kingdom. Rather, it is a necessary part of it.

John is living at a point in time when the kingdom being referred to has not yet arrived. Although unstated, it can be inferred that John is not going to live long enough for that kingdom to be ushered in.

As has been seen elsewhere already in Matthew, the idea of the kingdom holds various connotations. However, Jesus is referring at this time to the appointment of the Messiah King. This can be deduced by piecing together various thoughts presented in Scripture. Psalm 2 says –

“Yet I have set My King
On My holy hill of Zion.” Psalm 2:6

To set a king implies a kingdom. However, Psalm 2 continues with –

“I will declare the decree:
The Lord has said to Me,
‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.’” Psalm 2:7

Paul says of Jesus that He is “declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4). The appointment of the King corresponds to the proclamation of the Sonship.

The resurrection provides the forum in which that proclamation is made. Therefore, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the moment at which the times referred to above are divided. From that point, the kingdom of the heavens referred to in this verse is enacted.

Jesus’ point is that the privileges associated with those alive after His resurrection are greater than those who came prior to that moment. It is these privileges that allow it to be said in reference to John that “the least in the kingdom of the heavens, he is greater than he.”

Life application: As noted, entrance into the kingdom of the heavens is not merely conditioned on being alive after the resurrection. Rather, that is a necessary condition of it. John died prior to that day, and his life falls under a different dispensation of time, one that only anticipated the coming kingdom.

Although the gospels refer to the kingdom an enormous number of times in comparison to the epistles, it is because of the various meanings of the term. In the epistles, Paul in particular refers to the kingdom, noting that it is something that believers are promised.

Through faith in Jesus, entrance into that kingdom is assured. The meaning is that we are already subjects of that kingdom, even if our state in it is not yet fully realized. Someday, those things promised to His saints will come. May that day be soon –

“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13, 14

Lord God, how good it is to know that we have an eternal hope because of what You have done for us through Jesus Christ. Praises to You forever and ever for what You have done. May the day be soon when we stand in the light of our Savior and rejoice in the fullness of Your goodness. Yes, speed the Day, O God. Amen.

Saturday, 28 June 2025

For this is he of whom it is written:
‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’
Matthew 11:10

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“For this, he is about whom it has been written, ‘Behold, I, I send My messenger before Your face, who, he will prepare Your way before you’” (CG)

In the previous verse, Jesus told the people that they had gone out into the wilderness to see more than a prophet. Now, He continues that thought, saying, “For this, he is about whom it has been written.”

As noted in the previous commentary, this means that a specific prophecy was written about John. Thus, in this instance, he is the subject and fulfillment of the prophecy. The Lord, seeing the ministry of John as a precursor to the coming of Christ, spoke of him.

But He did not only do it through Isaiah as noted in the previous verse. He also spoke of John through the words of Malachi, saying, “Behold, I, I send My messenger.”

The words come from Malachi 3:1, where the Lord speaks first of John as a messenger and then Jesus as the Messenger of the covenant –

“‘Behold Me – Sending My messenger,
And turned way to My faces
And instantly comes unto His temple,
The Lord, whom you seek,
And Messenger the covenant,
Whom you – delighted.
Behold! Coming!’
Said Yehovah Sabaoth.” Malachi 3:1 (CG)

John is the messenger sent by the Lord. His ministry was to be “before Your face.”

In other words, another is being referred to by the Lord. It was understood from the prophecy that this would be Israel’s Messiah. By taking these words and combining them with the other prophecy about John from Isaiah, a logical deduction can be made –

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make straight in the desert
A highway for our God.’” Isaiah 40:3

From these words, the One John was to prepare the way for, was the Lord, Yehovah. Malachi says, “before Your face” concerning the Messiah. Thus, unless one denies a literal reading of the text, it can be deduced that the “Your” is referring to Yehovah. That continues to be seen in the words, “who, he will prepare Your way before you.”

The same word, panah, that is used in Isaiah 40:3 is used in Malachi 3:1. It signifies to turn. In this particular sense, the turning is a form of preparation. Taking both verses and understanding the reference, meaning that of John the Baptist and his work of preparing the way for another, it is understood that he is the herald of the Messiah, who is Yehovah incarnate.

This was the greatness of the ministry of John, and it is one of the reasons why Jesus says that he is more than a prophet. His role in the stream of redemptive history is unparalleled in comparison to any other prophet.

Life application: If you are on the sidelines in your thinking concerning Jesus’ deity, you should probably question your salvation. You may have believed in Jesus, but which Jesus were you presented with?

The Jehovah’s Witnesses deny the incarnation of Christ. The Jesus they proclaim is not the Jesus of the Bible. The same is true with Mormonism. These heresies, along with other teachings concerning Jesus’ deny the truth that Jesus is God incarnate.

However, Scripture clearly presents Him as such. In fact, from an honest reading of competently translated Scriptures, one will come to no other conclusion than the Bible reveals that God would personally intervene in the stream of human existence and restore humanity to Himself.

This may not be fully understood by the reader, but it is a truth that should not be denied. Not fully understanding something does not necessarily equate to unbelief. Paul not only speaks of “another gospel” in Galatians 1:7, but he also refers to both another gospel and “another Jesus” in 2 Corinthians 11:4.

Belief in a false gospel will result in a false security based on a false salvation experience. The gospel conveys the truth that God incarnate, Jesus Christ, accomplished all that is necessary for salvation. Believe this and be saved.

O God, we believe that You united with humanity to restore us to Yourself. We may not understand all that means, but we accept it by faith. You have done it! Thank You, O God, for the coming of Jesus Christ our Lord to redeem us and give us eternal life in You. Amen.

Friday, 27 June 2025

But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. Matthew 11:9

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“But what you went out to see? A prophet? Yes! I say to you and superabounding a prophet” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus noted that those wearing the fines, they are in the king’s houses. He continues referring to John by asking again, “But what you went out to see?”

As with the previous time He asked, it indicates that the people, in fact, did not go out to see someone dressed in the fines. Rather, they had a different purpose entirely. Knowing why they went, He asks rhetorically, “A prophet?”

The people heard about John’s crying in the wilderness, proclaiming the coming of the Lord –

Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”
²³ He said: “I am
‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
“Make straight the way of the Lord,”’
as the prophet Isaiah said.” John 1:22, 23

The people had heard of John’s call to repentance and went into the wilderness to hear his prophetic message. Of him, Jesus continues, saying, “Yes! I say to you and beyond a prophet.”

John was asked who he was by the priests and Levites from Jerusalem. His response to them indicated that he was more than a prophet because he was the subject of prophecy. Isaiah said there is the voice of one crying in the wilderness. John said that voice was referring to him. Therefore, Isaiah was referring to him as the subject.

But more, he was not only the subject of the word, but he was the one to continue conveying the word. The words of John were uttered, and they have been recorded in Scripture for us. His role was to fulfill prophecy and to continue to proclaim the prophetic word of God concerning the coming of the Lord.

And yet, there is more. Not only would he fulfill the prophetic word while continuing to speak out the prophetic word, but he would personally acknowledge that his prophecies were fulfilled in the coming of the Messiah, Jesus –

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰ This is He of whom I said, “After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.” ³¹ I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.’
³² And John bore witness, saying, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. ³³ I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” ³⁴ And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.’” John 1:29-34

The other prophets of God spoke and wrote about the coming of the Messiah, but John personally beheld Him and proclaimed Him to be the One. Jesus will explain further about the greatness of John and his prophetic office in the verses to come.

Life application: The Bible is the main way that God specifically expresses Himself to the people of the world. It is true that He expressed Himself through nature and creation (general revelation). He has also revealed Himself through those who then prophesied His word (special revelation). He has further revealed Himself specifically through Jesus, who is the epitome of special revelation.

However, these instances of special revelation were limited to certain times and locations. Isaiah, Daniel, and the other prophets transmitted the word of God. Their words have been compiled into Scripture. Jesus came and fulfilled His ministry before ascending. Since then, the record and explanation of what He did and will continue to do is recorded in the New Testament.

The Bible is the record of those things. As the Bible is completed, there is no longer a need for special revelation apart from it. This logically tells us that when someone claims a word from the Lord, such a person is either deluded or lying. Why would God continue to give instructions apart from His word?

Look at the history of the church since the completion of the Bible. Those who have claimed prophecy have only brought disorder, not further harmony. And yet, despite not receiving further prophecy, because of how the Bible is written, we are a part of the fulfillment of prophecy.

If you think your situation isn’t of any value in the stream of church history, consider that the Lord, through Isaiah, spoke of you –

“Behold! My Servant whom I uphold,
My Elect One in whom My soul delights!
I have put My Spirit upon Him;
He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.” Isaiah 42:1

Verses such as this came when the Gentiles were without hope, separated from the covenant promises. And yet, the Lord prophesied that at some point, both Jews and Gentiles would be included in what God would do for humanity through His Messiah.

Even if it is a distant reference to you, it still applies to you. Feel confident that the Lord planned and He has fulfilled His word partly through you if you have trusted in Jesus. What a comforting thought.

O God, thank You for having looked upon us and saved us. While we were Your enemies, You made the first move, sending Jesus to bring us back to You. All You asked us to do was to believe the gospel. And we do! Thank You for saving us and promising us restoration and eternal life. Thank You for Jesus. Amen.

Thursday, 26 June 2025

But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. Matthew 11:8

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“But what you went out to see? A man having been enrobed in fine cloaks? You behold! Those wearing the fines, they are in the kings’ houses” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus asked the crowds what they went into the wilderness to see. Was it a reed shaken by the wind? Now, He asks again, saying, “But what you went out to see?”

The thought beginning with “but” dismisses the previous thought. “No, it can’t be for that reason. Maybe it was for another reason. How about, ‘A man having been enrobed in fine cloaks?’”

The word malakos is introduced. It signifies soft. By extension, that would carry to the idea of fine clothing, but also of a soft, effeminate person. That is how Paul uses it in 1 Corinthians 6:9. In this case, Jesus is referring to it in the sense of enrobing a person.

If the people were looking for a particular type of person, the garments would be an indicator for them concerning a particular category. Maybe the people were looking for someone who possessed wisdom like a scribe, wealth like a nobleman, or power like a king. Maybe it was someone who could impress the people like a magician.

Each of these would normally have particular clothing to match their lifestyle. The finest of them all at this period would be the king. Therefore, Jesus exclaims, “You behold! Those wearing the fines, they are in the kings’ houses.”

Is this what they went out to see? Because if that were the case, they went to the wrong place. In going out to the wilderness, one would expect someone roughly attired. This is, in fact, how John was dressed, as noted in Matthew 3:4 –

“Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.”

Indeed, some prophets and wise men of the past lived well while serving the kings. Daniel, for example, was in the king’s court of Babylon and later under Persian kings. However, if the people heard of someone calling out in the wilderness, they would expect something entirely different.

Jesus’ question, therefore, begs another negative answer. “No, not at all. That is not what we went out to see.” He is asking them to think through what would lead them into the wilderness and what it meant that they came to John to hear his message.

Life application: One can generally get an immediate sense of what to expect when walking into a church and seeing the pastor. When you walk into an independent fundamental Baptist church, you will often see a person with a short haircut who is wearing an inexpensive monotoned suit and tie.

If you walk into a charismatic church, you might see someone wearing a suit that is flashier, no tie, and the colors are intended to draw attention to the speaker.

The mega-church style will often have someone wearing skinny jeans, expensive leather shoes with flat-toe ends to make his feet look longer than they are, and wearing a dress shirt with no coat or tie. The sleeves may be rolled up as if he is in a conference, expecting results from those around the table.

Once the individual is seen, you can make a guess as to what his style of preaching will be. These are just generalizations, but the style of clothing attracts people. If you want formal, stuffy religion, you will go to a church with pre-designed robes, maybe poofy hats, etc.

Along with the appearance of the pastor, the style of music is a huge draw for many people. It may even be what keeps people coming back. All of these things are externals and really have nothing to do with the quality of the material to be presented. What should matter, first and foremost, is adherence to the Bible.

Unfortunately, this is often hardly a consideration at all. In some churches, the Bible is all but ignored. When you go to church, what do you expect to see? Jesus asked the people why they went out to see John. He will explain what they received when they did so.

When you go to church, are you sitting under a great teacher of the word? A great orator, regardless of how he explains the word, a flashy person whose message stirs the emotions, a showman who speaks in nonsensical tongues and makes people’s stunted legs grow right in front of your eyes?

What are you going to church for? Evaluate that and consider what it is that motivates you to go at all. The answer should be Jesus. Above all, you should want to learn about Jesus, God incarnate.

The only way you are going to receive that properly is by hearing the word that tells of Jesus explained to you. Go to church expecting to find Jesus. That will be the most rewarding church experience of them all.

Glorious God, forgive us when we make going to church about ourselves. We may want to hear a band give us emotional songs, or we may go in hopes of being told everything will be ok. We may go with the intent of making business connections. Lord, help us to be motivated to learn about You. May You be our desire at all times, particularly when we go to church. Amen.

Wednesday, 25 June 2025

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? Matthew 11:7

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And these going, Jesus, He began to speak to the crowds about John: ‘What you went out into the wilderness to view? A reed wavering by wind?’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus finished His words to the disciples of John, saying, “And blessed, he is, who if not he should stumble in Me.” Matthew next notes, “And these going.”

It is referring to the departure of John’s disciples, carrying Jesus’ words back to him. As they are departing, “Jesus, He began to speak to the crowds about John.”

This is specifically noted by Matthew to ensure that we can see what transpired. The words of Jesus about stumbling would have left John with a negative feeling about his ministry and his efforts. He would feel that he had failed the Lord, and prison was his just due because of it.

Likewise, any in the crowd who heard it, including the disciples, might come to an erroneous conclusion about John. They may laugh off his ministry as a failure, shun his message, look down on him for having been so weak, etc.

Any such thing may come to the minds of the people. Jesus, not wanting anyone to assume they were somehow better than John, or that his ministry was a failure, will speak about him to correct such thoughts.

And He is doing it while the disciples are departing. Thus, these would be the last words they would hear and carry to John. As such, Jesus begins with, “What you went out into the wilderness to view?”

It is a probing question. The people went out in the wilderness to see John, but what was the impetus behind it? Curiosity? Looking for enlightenment? Freedom from a day of boredom? Each person went out for his own reasons. Jesus wants them to consider their reasoning.

The word Jesus uses, theaomai, indicates to look closely at, notice, view, etc. It is the root of théatron, a spectacle in a theater, something one carefully sees and contemplates.

The fact that they had gone out into the wilderness to see John and that they were now there with Jesus meant that the connection between the two was likely the reason why they were now with Jesus. As such, Jesus next asks, “A reed wavering by wind?”

Here are two new words. The first is kalamos, a reed. This is a general word for reed which includes a reed such as the one mentioned now, and which would have grown in regularly flooded areas. This would probably include types of reeds from tall grass to stronger reeds like cane.

This can be deduced from other uses of the word where this same word describes a reed used to beat Jesus (Matthew 27:30), to put a sponge doused with vinegar on it to give Jesus a drink (Matthew 27:48), as a pen (3 John 1:13), and as a measuring rod (Revelation 21:15).

The word corresponds to the Hebrew word qaneh, a reed or a cane, which is translated at times as calamus, a sweet-smelling fragrance derived from cane.

The second new word is saleuó, to waver. It is used to describe agitation, something shaken, etc. Figuratively, it can signify being disturbed (shaken) in the mind, such as in 2 Thessalonians 2:2. In this verse, it signifies the wavering of reeds as the wind blows across them.

The intent of Jesus’ question is to alleviate any perceptions by the people that maybe Jesus felt John may have been a vacillator or unsure of his teachings. He did not want such a thought to arise in their minds. This is all the more likely because people in general, including Israel as seen in the Bible, are just like this.

It is a common trait among people to waver and vacillate. Single reeds do not normally pop up. Rather, they come up in clumps or even thick lines. The wind will blow over them and they will all waver. Thus, it would be a common trait possessed by the people that they may have now thought John possessed as well. Jesus will correct this thinking.

Life application: Of this verse, Bengel states, “The world praises to the face, reviles behind the back.” The people went out to see John. They probably felt his words were sound and reasonable. In fact, that idea is seen in the comparable passage to this one in Luke 7:29. After hearing Jesus’ words about John, they “justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John.”

But would they have done so if Jesus hadn’t corrected their thinking first? People tend to hear things and then respond according to what the speaker is saying without really thinking things through, especially when gathered in crowds. If Jesus had said, “John was a great guy, but he really let the ball drop,” the people would have agreed and reviled John from that point forward.

Instead of justifying God, they would justify themselves. “Yeah, we left John for Jesus because John was a failure!” This is how fickle humans can be. A great example of this is when Paul and Barnabas spoke to the people in Lystra. In one breath, they were calling them gods. In the next, they were preparing to stone them.

It happened again to Paul on Malta, where the people called him a murderer and a few minutes later a god. Jesus is setting the stage to explain the importance of John’s ministry while at the same time getting the people to see that they need to be careful in quick, rash judgments about things.

As we read the Bible, we should allow it to mold us to be people who are steady, clear-thinking, and willing to justify God rather than ourselves. We are the ones who are easily swayed. God’s purposes and plans are unchanging and unwavering. How He presents them (such as in various dispensations) is what we need to learn so that we don’t come to faulty conclusions about what He is doing.

Glorious God, help our minds to be clear and unvacillating as we consider Your word. When we see things that seem contradictory, we can know it is not so because You are God, unchanging and reliable. Therefore, the perception is faulty on our part. As this is so, help us to contemplate and understand what we are unclear about. Help us in this, O God. Amen.