Matthew 11:9
Matthew 11:9 is the ninth verse in the eleventh chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament. Content. In the original Greek according to Westcott-Hort for this verse is: In the King James Version of the Bible the text reads: The New International Version translates the passage as: Analysis. In the previous verses Jesus declared what John was not and now he goes on to state what he was, i.e. a prophet. This was also the agreed opinion of the people: "All held John as a Prophet" (Matt 21:26). This prophetic nature of John is  demonstrated by the fact that John knew Jesus, "by Divine instinct." However this appears to contract John's testimony that he was not a prophet (). MacEvilly says that he said this from humility, since he was not a prophet in the sense that he could predict future events. That John was more than a prophet seems to be on account of His "miraculous birth, and angelic life." Also he was the subject of prophecy, being called "an angel" or "messenger," (Gk: αγγελλος), by "his office, not his nature." Commentary from the Church Fathers. Chrysostom: " Having described his habits of life  from his dwelling-place, his dress, and the concourse of men to hear him, He now brings in that he is also a prophet, But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet." Gregory the Great: "The office of a prophet is to foretel things to come, not to show them present. John therefore is more than a prophet, because Him whom he had foretold by going before Him, the same he showed 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 shows 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."