Matthew 11:11

Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Verily {G281} I say {G3004} unto you {G5213}, Among {G1722} them that are born {G1084} of women {G1135} there hath {G1453} not {G3756} risen {G1453} a greater than {G3187} John {G2491} the Baptist {G910}: notwithstanding {G1161} he that is least {G3398} in {G1722} the kingdom {G932} of heaven {G3772} is {G2076} greater than {G3187} he {G846}.

Yes! I tell you that among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than Yochanan the Immerser! Yet the one who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he!

Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not arisen a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is but little in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Matthew 11:11 is a profound statement by Jesus Christ, offering a unique dual assessment of John the Baptist's significance and the nature of the "kingdom of heaven." This verse comes amidst Jesus' discourse concerning John's identity and ministry, following questions from John's disciples.

Context

This verse is part of Jesus' response to John the Baptist's disciples, who had come asking if Jesus was "he that should come, or do we look for another?" (Matthew 11:3). Jesus responds by recounting the miracles He performed, then turns to commend John, emphasizing his unique role as the forerunner prophesied in the Old Testament. Jesus declares John to be more than a prophet, even identifying him with the Elijah figure who was to prepare the way for the Messiah (Malachi 4:5, Matthew 11:14). The statement in verse 11 serves as a bridge, affirming John's unparalleled greatness among those of the Old Covenant while simultaneously introducing the superior privileges of the New Covenant era.

Key Themes

  • John the Baptist's Unique Role: Jesus unequivocally states that no one "born of women" has been greater than John. This highlights John's extraordinary prophetic ministry, his role in preparing the way for the Messiah, and his unwavering faithfulness. He was the final and greatest prophet of the Old Covenant, directly pointing to the Lamb of God (John 1:29).
  • The Nature of the Kingdom of Heaven: The latter part of the verse, "he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he," introduces a crucial concept. This "kingdom of heaven" refers to the spiritual reign of God initiated by Christ's first advent. It's not a statement about moral superiority over John, but about positional privilege and access to God's presence and blessings under the New Covenant. Those who enter this kingdom through faith in Christ experience a relationship with God and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that even the greatest Old Testament figures, like John, did not fully possess in the same way.
  • Transition of Dispensations: The verse marks a significant transition from the Old Covenant era (the Law and the Prophets, which ended with John) to the New Covenant era, ushered in by Jesus Christ. While John prepared the way, those who follow Christ and are part of His kingdom receive greater spiritual insight, privilege, and access to God's saving grace.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "born of women" (Greek: ek gynaikōn) emphasizes humanity's common origin and underscores John's greatness within that human lineage. The contrast drawn between John and "he that is least in the kingdom of heaven" highlights the qualitative difference between the Old and New Covenants. The "kingdom of heaven" (Greek: basileia tōn ouranōn) is a key concept in Matthew's Gospel, often synonymous with the "kingdom of God" found in other Gospels, signifying God's sovereign rule, particularly as manifested through Christ's redemptive work.

Practical Application

Matthew 11:11 encourages believers today to appreciate the immense privilege of living under the New Covenant. While we honor the prophets and saints of old, we have a direct relationship with God through Christ, access to the Holy Spirit, and a clearer revelation of God's redemptive plan. This verse serves as a reminder of the profound blessings of salvation and the call to live worthy of the kingdom we have entered. It also underscores Jesus' ultimate authority and insight into spiritual matters, as He alone could make such a definitive statement about John and the kingdom.

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.

  • Luke 7:28

    For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

  • Ephesians 3:8

    Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

  • John 1:15

    ¶ John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

  • Matthew 3:11

    I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and [with] fire:

  • Matthew 5:19

    Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

  • Luke 9:48

    And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.

  • John 10:41

    And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.
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