Matthew 11:10

For this is [he], of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

For {G1063} this {G3778} is {G2076} he, of {G4012} whom {G3739} it is written {G1125}, Behold {G2400}, I {G1473} send {G649} my {G3450} messenger {G32} before {G4253} thy {G4675} face {G4383}, which {G3739} shall prepare {G2680} thy {G4675} way {G3598} before {G1715} thee {G4675}.

This is the one about whom the Tanakh says, `See, I am sending out my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.'

This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You.’

This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Who shall prepare thy way before thee.

In Matthew 11:10, Jesus quotes from the Old Testament prophet Malachi, explicitly identifying John the Baptist as the long-foretold messenger who would prepare the way for the Messiah. This declaration is part of Jesus' discourse about John, affirming his unique and pivotal role in God's redemptive plan.

Context

This verse comes as Jesus is speaking to the crowds about John the Baptist, immediately after John's disciples had come to inquire if Jesus was "he that should come" (Matthew 11:3). Jesus uses this moment to affirm John's status, not merely as a prophet, but as the specific forerunner prophesied centuries earlier. The quotation itself is from Malachi 3:1, linking John's ministry directly to ancient prophetic expectations for the coming of the Lord.

Key Themes

  • Prophecy Fulfilled: The verse powerfully underscores the theme of Old Testament prophecy fulfillment. It shows God's meticulous plan unfolding precisely as foretold, validating the divine origin of the Scriptures and Jesus' identity as the Messiah.
  • John the Baptist's Unique Role: John is presented as more than a great prophet; he is the specific "messenger" designated to precede the Messiah. His mission was to "prepare thy way," which involved calling people to repentance and baptizing them, setting the stage for Jesus' public ministry (Matthew 3:2).
  • Divine Orchestration: The passage highlights God's sovereign hand in history, meticulously arranging events and appointing individuals like John to fulfill crucial roles in His overarching plan of salvation.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Greek word for "messenger" is angelos (ἄγγελος). While often translated as "angel," it broadly means one who is sent, an envoy, or a human messenger. Here, it clearly refers to John the Baptist, acting as God's chosen herald.
  • The phrase "prepare thy way" evokes the ancient practice of a king or dignitary sending an advance party to clear roads and remove obstacles, making the path smooth for their arrival. Spiritually, John's ministry aimed to clear away sin and spiritual apathy, preparing hearts to receive Jesus Christ. This concept is also echoed in Isaiah 40:3, another prophecy fulfilled by John.

Practical Application

Matthew 11:10 encourages believers to recognize God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises throughout history. Just as John prepared the way for Jesus' first coming, we are called to prepare our hearts and the hearts of others for His spiritual reign and ultimate return (2 Peter 3:11-12). It reminds us that God uses ordinary people as His messengers to accomplish His extraordinary purposes, calling us to participate in His ongoing work of preparing the world for the message of the Gospel.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Malachi 3:1

    ¶ Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

  • Isaiah 40:3

    ¶ The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

  • Malachi 4:5

    Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

  • Mark 1:2

    As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

  • Luke 7:26

    But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.

  • Luke 7:27

    This is [he], of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

  • John 1:23

    He said, I [am] the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

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