396-Mt.11:7–10 ; Bible study English Catena aurea led by Thomas Paul and Team
Channel: My Helper The Holy Spirit
Date: 13/10/2021

11:7–10

7. 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?
8. But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.
9. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
10. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.


GREGORY. (Hom. in Ev. vi. 5.) The office of a prophet is to foretel things to come, not to shew them present. John therefore is more than a prophet, because Him whom he had foretold by going before Him, the same he shewed as present by pointing Him out.

JEROME. In this he is also greater than the other prophets, that to his prophetic privilege is added the reward of the Baptist that he should baptize his Lord.

CHRYSOSTOM. Then he shews in what respect He is greater, saying, This is he of whom it is written, Behold, I send my angel before thy face.

JEROME. To add to this great worthiness of John, He brings a passage from Malachias, in which he is spoken of as an Angel. (Mal. 3:1)) We must suppose that John is here called an Angel, not as partaking the Angelic nature, but from the dignity of his office as a forerunner of the Lord.

GREGORY. (ubi sup.) For the Greek word Angel, is in Latin Nuntius, ‘a messenger.’ He therefore who came to bear a heavenly message is rightly called an Angel, that he may preserve in his title the dignity which he performs in his office.

CHRYSOSTOM. He shews wherein it is that John is greater than the Prophets, namely, in that he is nigh unto Christ, as he says, I send before thy face, that is, near Thee, as those that walk next to the king’s chariot are more illustrious than others, so likewise is John because of his nearness to Christ.

PSEUDO-CHRYSOSTOM. Also the other Prophets were sent to announce Christ’s coming, but John to prepare His way, as it follows, who shall make ready thy way before thee;

GLOSS. (interlin.) That is, shall open the hearts of Thy hearers by preaching repentance and baptizing.