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Explanation for:
Matthew
11
:
6
And blessed is he that shall not be scandalized in me.
11
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Then He remarked, \\"Blessed is the one who is not offended by Me,\\" indicating His awareness of their hidden concerns. Had He proclaimed, \\"I am indeed the Messiah,\\" as I have observed, it could have disturbed them and might have led to their unvoiced reaction similar to that of the Jews, \\"You bear witness of yourself\\" (John 8:13). Therefore, He refrained from making such a declaration, allowing them to discern the truth through His miracles, thereby rendering His teachings more apparent and beyond suspicion. Simultaneously, He offered them a gentle rebuke. As they were troubled regarding Him and aware of their own afflictions, He left the matter to their conscience, without any external witnesses to this correction except for themselves, who alone comprehended its significance. He drew them closer to Himself by saying, \\"Blessed is he who is not led into temptation concerning Me,\\" referring to them specifically."},{"author-name":"Ephraem the Syrian","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88b589fc3e99eb7bb1839_Ephraem%20the%20Syrian.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Therefore, consider the following: ‘Blessed is he who is not offended because of Me,’ which reflects the Lord's clear counsel to warn the disciples of John to safeguard them from temptation concerning Him. If one were to argue that the Lord spoke this for John's benefit, we can affirm that just as the previous statement was intended for John, this commendation also pertains to him. The Lord expressed this to guide John's followers, not out of any uncertainty regarding John’s character; indeed, He delivered this message not because John faltered in faith, as further evidence will show. In the discourse that ensues, the Lord does not directly address the inquiries that John sent His way, but after John’s disciples departed, the Gospel records that He began to speak to the crowd about John (Matt. 11:7)."},{"author-name":"Hilarius of Poitiers","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88cb92f12b3278598f946_Hilarius%20of%20Poitiers.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"When the Lord demonstrated His power through miraculous deeds—such as restoring sight to the blind, enabling the lame to walk, curing lepers, granting hearing to the deaf, allowing the mute to speak, resurrecting the dead, and proclaiming the gospel to the impoverished—He proclaimed, ‘Blessed is he who is not offended by Me.’ Did anything in Christ's ministry pose a temptation to John? Not in the slightest. In fact, He was gradual in revealing His teachings and works. Consider the significance of the preceding statement that the poor receive the good news—referring to those at risk of losing their souls, those who bear their crosses to follow Him, those who are poor in spirit, for their kingdom is prepared in heaven. It becomes evident that since the Lord experienced all these afflictions and faced temptation through His forthcoming crucifixion, He affirmed that blessed are those whose faith remains steadfast despite the trials of the cross, death, and burial."},{"author-name":"Gregory the Great","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88c2b032f5f6e5effaa54_Gregory%20the%20Great.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":6,"exegesis-text":"What can we derive from the phrase, ‘Blessed is he that shall not be tempted of Me,’ if not a definitive indication of His devilish death and degradation? It is as if He is saying: ‘While I perform wondrous acts, I willingly endure the trials that are malevolent. Yet, as I embrace death to accompany you, those who are captivated by miracles must tread carefully to avoid belittling death in Me."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"To demonstrate to the disciples of John that their misconceptions were known to Him, He remarked, ‘Blessed is he that shall not be offended in Me,’ as they were plagued by significant uncertainty regarding His identity."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"He made this statement primarily for the benefit of John's followers, disclosing their innermost thoughts and demonstrating that He was aware of their struggles when they criticized Him for dining with tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 9:14). This was also evident when they openly rebuked Him for indulgence in front of His disciples, as noted in the ninth chapter."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"In addressing the profound doubts and uncertainties nestled within their hearts, drawing them near with His message of love, He proclaimed: \\"Blessed is the one, like John, whose faith in Me remains unwavering, as firm as that of My forerunner. Blessed is the believer who holds fast to Me, even in the face of My humiliation and My approaching crucifixion.\\" The Lord chose not to cite His customary scripture reference, understanding that His close friend would grasp the weight of His words without it, since Isaiah was a cherished prophet for John. St. Chrysostom noted that if He had declared, \\"I am indeed the Christ,\\" it might have led them to think like the Jews who previously asserted, \\"Thou art Thyself a witness of Thyself\\" (John 8:13). Instead, He allowed them to reflect on the miracles they had witnessed, ensuring that His teachings were both clear and credible. Simultaneously, He subtly admonished them: as they were grappling with doubts about Him, He revealed their spiritual illness. In doing so, He entrusted this rebuke solely to their own consciences, making them the only witnesses to this moment of understanding."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"To be tempted concerning someone implies a failure to recognize their dignity, leading to misguided and derogatory perceptions, ultimately resulting in a lack of trust or ridicule directed toward that individual. Blessed is the one who is not led to doubt or reject my teachings due to the humiliation or simplicity of my existence. Blessed is he who, despite the shroud of humility, discerns and acknowledges me as the true Messiah through my actions. This declaration does not pertain to John, who acknowledged me as the true Messiah, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, even when I did not perform miracles. These statements address the temptation faced by the disciples of John. As they grappled with their doubts about Him, He, aware of their affliction and revealing this only to them, those who could grasp its meaning, drew them closer, declaring, \\"Blessed is he who is not tempted about Me.\\" With these words, He specifically directed His message towards them."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"John’s disciples should have grasped Jesus' response correctly, as He concluded with the words, “Blessed is he who will not be tempted by me,” meaning those who do not doubt that He is the promised one. However, the Evangelists do not clarify whether John's followers truly comprehended His words as intended. Given all they witnessed and heard, it seems that their hearts, which were not fully open to Jesus, should have been deeply moved. Those who had been healed of various ailments, gained sight, or were relieved of burdens, along with the poor in spirit, all proclaimed the glory of Jesus. John's disciples simply needed to embrace this joyful message, and many undoubtedly came to believe in Jesus Christ as the true Messiah; yet not all did so. Some continued to reject Him and, after John's demise, established a separate group."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The disciples encountered Jesus Christ amidst His remarkable acts of Divine compassion, and He directed their attention to these manifestations. To uplift the despondent spirit of the great prophet, the Savior instructed His followers to convey to John what they had witnessed and heard: that ‘the blind receive sight 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.’ Jesus further stated, ‘And blessed is he that shall not be offended in Me,’ indicating that genuine faith in the Messiah should remain steadfast, regardless of unmet personal expectations, a sentiment that may have resonated with John, who likely held a quiet hope for a miracle from the Messiah he had seen liberate him from his severe confinement."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"When the messengers arrived at the presence of the Lord Jesus, He, discerning John's concerns and not responding to the inquiry directly, encouraged them to reflect on His actions; for during that time, as noted by the holy Evangelist Luke, He restored many from illnesses and afflictions, liberated those possessed by unclean spirits, and granted sight to numerous blind individuals. Such remarkable wonders, as prophesied by Isaiah (Is. 35:5-6; Is. 61:1), could only be performed by the Messiah. Thus, the Lord, highlighting the undeniable evidence of His deeds, instructed those who had come to Him: \\"Go and report to the Johnites what you hear and observe: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are made clean, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor receive the good news — and blessed is he who is not offended by Me!\\" With these concluding words, as St. John Chrysostom expressed, He indicated to them, referring specifically to John’s disciples."}]}
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