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Explanation for:
Matthew
11
:
7
And when they went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: What went you out into the desert to see? a reed shaken with the wind?
10
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"If the preceding statement was made regarding John—many believe it to be: Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me—how can it be that John is now honored with such commendations? The onlookers surrounding him were unaware of the deeper meaning behind John's inquiry and assumed he was questioning Christ, whom he had previously identified with his own hand. To illustrate that John's question was not for his own benefit but for the enlightenment of his disciples, he asks: What prompted you to venture into the wilderness? What led you to seek out a person like a reed, swayed by every gust of wind, easily swayed in his convictions about what he preached?"},{"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":"For the followers of John, the Savior had accomplished what was necessary, leading them to return with a firm belief in His identity as the Messiah, prompted by the miraculous signs they had witnessed. It was now essential to provide the people with the appropriate understanding. The disciples of John harbored no suspicion towards their leader; however, among the general populace, who were unaware of the mission of John's disciples, their inquiries could potentially sow seeds of doubt. Some might have reasoned that the one who had boldly borne witness to Jesus was now uncertain, questioning whether this individual or another was indeed the expected one. They may have wondered if he voiced this uncertainty as an act of defiance against Jesus or if his imprisonment had rendered him more cautious. Had his former testimony concerning Jesus been in vain? Given that the crowds could have entertained numerous such doubts, observe how the Lord addresses their frailty and dispels these uncertainties. According to the Evangelist, after John's disciples departed, Jesus began to speak to the people. Why did He choose to speak after they had left? This was to prevent any misconceptions that He was merely paying homage to John. When correcting the doubters, He did not expose their uncertainties but instead eased their troubled spirits, revealing His awareness of the hidden thoughts of all. He refrained from saying, as He had to the Pharisees, ‘Why do you harbor evil thoughts?’ (Matthew 9:4) because their doubts arose not from malice but from misunderstanding. Consequently, the Savior did not condemn them but sought to clarify their reflections while defending John. He demonstrated that John had not wavered in his prior convictions, portraying him as steadfast and reliable, incapable of betraying the trust placed in him. Yet, rather than directly endorsing John, the Savior reinforced this through their testimony, indicating that their actions, as well as their words, affirmed John’s steadfastness. He then inquires, ‘What prompted you to venture into the wilderness?’ implying, ‘Why did you leave your cities and homes to gather in the wild? Was it to encounter a pitiful and unsteady man?’ Such an idea is untenable. Their genuine zeal and the great multitude flocking to the wilderness to the Jordan River manifest their anticipation of meeting a remarkable and resolute figure. You did not journey to see a reed shaken by the wind—those who are frivolous and changeable, voicing one sentiment today and another tomorrow, akin to a reed swaying in the wind. Observe how the Lord, focusing on their predominant concerns, eliminates the very ground for such light-mindedness."},{"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":"John was hesitant to reveal his glory before his disciples, concerned that they might interpret his commendation of their teacher as self-commendation. “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?” This implies that John may have feared his adversaries and yielded to every passing breeze, as he previously declared, “Behold, the Lamb of God” (John 1:29), only later to send a messenger to inquire, “Are You the One who is to come, or should we look for another?” (Matt. 11:3)."},{"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":"Let us listen to what He says about John after the disciples of John have departed. What did you seek in the wilderness? Did you look for a reed swayed by the wind? This comment regarding John was not made positively, but rather negatively. The reed bends as soon as the wind blows, symbolizing the human soul. It represents a soul that sways under the influence of circumstances. When the breeze of approval wafts from others, the individual feels uplifted, proud, and leans toward that favor. However, when faced with the storm of disapproval, they immediately tilt in the opposite direction, surrendering to anger. But John was not like a reed blown by the wind; neither did acceptance make him indulgent nor rejection cause him to react with fury. Joy could not inflate his pride, nor could adversity lead him to despair. John remained steadfast and upright, unharmed by changing circumstances; he wasn’t a reed shaken by the wind. From this, dear brothers and sisters, let us strive not to be like a reed swayed by gusts. We must fortify our spirits amidst the tempests of words, ensuring that our hearts remain resolute. Let us not allow disdain to provoke our anger, nor allow praise to lead us to frivolous delight. May joy not incite pride in us, nor may hardship cause us to falter, so that, rooted in the strength of faith, we remain unshaken by the shifts of earthly matters."},{"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":"Upon hearing John's inquiry, it is conceivable that the crowd might have questioned whether John harbored uncertainties about Christ, and if he had swiftly altered his convictions despite his prior testimony. To dispel this doubt, Christ states that John is not like a reed shaken by the wind, emphasizing that he is not a figure of instability. For if he were, why would you have sought him out in the wilderness? One does not seek counsel from a flimsy object, symbolizing a man who wavers easily; rather, you are drawn to a mighty and resolute individual. Indeed, he remains as you perceived him to be."},{"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":"After they had left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John. Those who had been corrected in their misunderstanding departed. Why did He refrain from discussing John while they were present? To avoid giving the impression that He was flattering him. What prompted you to venture into the wilderness? Was it to witness a reed swaying in the breeze? The crowd, hearing John's inquiry and unaware of its intent, was perplexed; how could he, who had borne such profound witness to Christ, now express doubt? They began to think that John's stance had shifted. Aware of their doubts, Christ addresses their suspicion, demonstrating that He is indeed a heart revealer. He expresses His concern, asking, “What did you go into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? A person who is trivial and changeable, as you now perceive, or rather the opposite—a man who is more solid and unwavering than a rock, as your initial attention to him and the congregation attested?”"},{"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":"The Lord Jesus quickly moved to dispel any uncertainty and to bolster the doubts of the people. When the two disciples of John had departed, Jesus began to address the crowd regarding John. Why, some might ask, did He wait until John's disciples left to speak? St. Chrysostom explains that He did this to avoid any impression that He was flattering John. Even without His praise, John's disciples were loyal to their teacher. In addressing the doubters in the crowd, He does not expose their uncertainties but instead clarifies the troubling thoughts they harbored, demonstrating His awareness of everyone's hidden thoughts. He refrains from telling them, as He did the Jews, \\"Why do you entertain evil thoughts?\\" (Matthew 9:4) because their confusion did not stem from malice but from misunderstanding. Thus, the Savior offers gentle correction rather than rebuke, defending John’s character and affirming that he remained steadfast in his beliefs. John is a man of conviction, not capricious or unreliable, and he would not betray the truth entrusted to him.\\n\\nHere, the Lord points to their own testimony about John, asking them, \\"What prompted you to venture into the wilderness?\\" For what reason did you leave your cities and homes to gather in such large numbers in the Judean wilderness? Would you come to see someone weak and indecisive? Surely, a multitude of people from so many towns would not have journeyed with such eagerness to the banks of the Jordan unless they sought to encounter a truly remarkable and steadfast individual! \\n\\nOn the banks of the Jordan, there are many reeds—thin and flexible, swaying with even the slightest breeze. These reeds symbolize individuals who are unstable, who say one thing today and another tomorrow, shifting with every wind of opinion. Did you come to observe a reed tossed by the wind? Is it conceivable that a rugged ascetic, who has fortified his spirit through trials, could be so fleeting? Do you think John resembled such a reed, capable of altering his perception of the One he once honored as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world? Would he now be questioning, \\"Are You the One who is to come, or should we look for another?\\" Absolutely not!"},{"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":"Why did He begin to address the crowd after the disciples of John had left? It was to prevent them from thinking that He was simply flattering John. Speaking to the assembly, the Savior had fulfilled what was necessary, leaving the disciples of John convinced of His identity as the Messiah through the miracles they had witnessed. It was now essential to provide the people with the appropriate guidance, as their inquiry could have sparked unfounded uncertainties.\\n\\nRegarding John, He spoke of his character and ministry to clarify his role as the forerunner, while simultaneously dispelling any erroneous doubts that John's disciples might have stirred among the crowd. The people may have perceived that John was either (1) a capricious individual who had previously professed one belief but had since altered his view about Jesus, or (2) that he had transformed in imprisonment, wishing to abandon his ascetic lifestyle for a more indulgent existence, thereby renouncing his earlier mission. The Lord addresses these misguided assumptions by appealing to their own awareness of what they had anticipated from John and what they had observed. Did they truly believe, when they ventured into the wilderness, that they would encounter a man lacking steadfast beliefs or wavering in his convictions? Or did they expect to find a man who sought luxury? No, they recognized him as a prophet, and indeed he was more than a mere prophet of the Old Testament.\\n\\nBy dispelling their disturbing notions, He demonstrated His understanding of the innermost thoughts of all. When John preached in the wilderness, he was preparing the hearts of the people to welcome the Messiah. The area where John baptized and preached, often flooded by the overflowing Jordan, was filled with light and supple reeds that easily swayed in the breeze. These fragile reeds symbolize individuals who are unstable in their faith and actions, changing their declarations and behaviors inconsistently. Through His questioning, the Lord calls upon His ministers as witnesses to affirm that John was not a vacillating man and could not waver in his belief about Jesus or retract his testimony regarding Him as the coming Messiah."},{"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":"The messengers sent by John departed, and their presence along with the inquiry they brought on his behalf could have stirred the minds of those gathered around Jesus. Many likely wondered if it was indeed John who posed the question, \\"Is he the one who is to come, or should we look for another?\\" Such a question could suggest that John experienced uncertainty regarding Jesus, perhaps indicating that he had felt misled at the Jordan River. Now, confined in prison and encouraged to be cautious, he hesitated and questioned the identity of the One he had declared to be the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world. To counter these speculations, it was vital to remind those who had started to forget John about the throngs that flocked to him in the wilderness of Jordan, eager to hear his preaching about the impending arrival of the kingdom of heaven, to repent and receive baptism. They recalled how he had challenged the Pharisees and Sadducees and the responses he had given to the inquiries posed by the chief priests. Thus, as Jesus spoke to the surrounding crowd, he inquired, \\"What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?\\" (Luke 7:24). In discussing John's significance with the people, Chrysostom noted, \\"Was it to see some fragile and unpredictable man? No, an immense multitude would not have eagerly traveled to the wilderness unless they expected to encounter a person as steadfast and solid as a rock. Those who are changeable and unreliable, quick to voice one opinion today and another tomorrow, embody the nature of a reed shaken by the wind. But John is not like that; you did not go to see a reed shaken by the wind.\\""},{"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 John's disciples approached Jesus Christ with their inquiry, it could have sparked various unwarranted suspicions among his listeners regarding John. Some might have perceived him as indecisive, having altered his statements, and perhaps even softened his previously rigid lifestyle while imprisoned. Understanding ‘the secret thoughts of all,’ the Lord chose to address John only after his disciples had departed, avoiding any semblance of ‘flattery’ (St John Chrysostom). By referencing the heartfelt understanding of those who witnessed the Forerunner in the wilderness, Jesus emphasized that John had remained steadfast: ‘What have ye gone out into the wilderness to see? Is it a walking stick, shaken by the wind? But what are you going out to see? Is it a man clothed in soft garments? Behold, they who are clothed with glorious garments and food, in the courts of the king.’ John is not a reed, easily swayed by the slightest breeze; you sought him out as a person of strength and conviction; his coarse attire indicates his rejection of luxury (Bl. Theophylact)."}]}
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