Daily Devotions
Matthew
Stirring But Puzzling Words
Text: Matthew 11 : 1 - 19
Did the multitudes know how to appreciate John the Baptiser and the ministry that he had? Did they know how to appreciate the Person who spoke to them? Probably not! Nevertheless, Jesus used that opportune moment to speak to them of the Kingdom of God.
“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 God is greater than he.”
Matthew 11:11
NATURAL DESIRES
Perhaps the hearers would be able to understand better if Jesus were to out across His message in a slightly different manner. Every parent desires his child to become someone great and significant! One of the reasons why people have children at all was the hope that one day that child could become someone famous or powerful. How proud the parents would be!
Not everybody would be born kings. Not everybody could be a priest. Those lines belong only to those who were in the tribes of Judah and Levi. What about those who came from other tribal lines? Could they ever achieve greatness too? Yes! And many had achieved some noteworthy distinctions. Would it be possible for one to actually be called “greatest”? If so, who would that be?
NONE GREATER THAN JOHN THE BAPTISER
Rare words of praise were uttered concerning John the Baptiser. There was no mistaking those words of praise.
“There has not risen one greater than John the Baptist.”
Matthew 11:11
How did Jesus come to this conclusion? How should we understand this statement?
The concept of “greatness”
We need to understand how Jesus understood and used the idea of “greatness”. Let us ponder the following thoughts.
1) Man’s measurement of greatness
People have different ideas of greatness. Some think of greatness as works achieved in the political, military, or business worlds. This may be called “a secular way” of measuring and defining greatness. Jesus obviously was not employing this model of success to define greatness. While there is some validity in man’s methods of defining greatness, that approach could not be applied to matters involving the kingdom of God. Another method has to be adopted.
2) Jesus’ definition of greatness
Jesus’ use of greatness may be understood better if we look at the text he cited from Malachi’s prophecy. Let us once again return to Malachi’s text to appreciate this special way of defining “greatness”.
“‘…the Messenger of the covenant,
In whom you delight.
Behold, He is coming.’
Says the Lord of Hosts.
But who can endure the day of His coming?
And who can stand when he appears?
For He is like a refiner’s fire
And like launderer’s soap.
He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver;
He will purify the sons of Levi,
And purge them as gold or silver,
That they may offer to the Lord
An offering of righteousness.”
Malachi 3:1-3
The key Person in this text is of course, “The Messenger of the Covenant”. Malachi stood in as much awe of the Messenger of the Covenant, as much as he feared the LORD Himself.
- Standing in awe of the Messenger of the Covenant.
- Statements proving this sense of awe:
“…who can endure the day of His coming?
And who can stand when He appears?”
Malachi 3:2
Such statements are never used to describe an earthly being. Such language is used exclusively to describe Divinity! This Messenger of the Covenant was therefore not an ordinary human being!
In the ancient days, those who stood closest to the king would be considered “the greatest”. In a large court, there would be many servants. There were those who stood far away from the king’s presence. There would be a privileged few who stood in the presence of the king.
If the Messenger of the Covenant was indeed the Divine Messiah, then it follows that the person who announced His coming would be a special and great servant indeed. John the Baptiser was that special servant chosen to prepare the way of the Messiah, identify Him, and baptize (ordain) Him for His public ministry. John shuddered at the honour that was given to him. How could he think about baptizing this Messenger of the Covenant! He had a great task. His greatness was directly derived from the Messianic Messenger of the Covenant Himself.
GREATER THAN JOHN THE BAPTISER?
Jesus did not conclude there. He mystified everybody when He said,
“But he who is least in the kingdom of heaven
is greater than he.”
Matthew 11:11f
How the hearers must have been intrigued by this puzzling statement!