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Mat_11:7. The answer to John’s question has been given; the disciples are withdrawing; but just as they are going away ( πορευομένων ) Jesus turns to the multitude that was present, and with some emotion proceeds to set forth to them, in the plainest way possible, the sacred character and the whole position of the Baptist, and by this means seeks to anticipate or correct any false opinion that might be formed regarding him.
The mark of interrogation should be placed after θεάσασθαι (in answer to Paulus and Fritzsche, who put it even after ἔρημον ); according to the correct reading (see the critical remarks), the animated style of the passage does not change till Mat_11:9, so that ἀλλὰ τί ἐξήλθετε forms a question by itself.
ἐξήλθετε ] at the time that John appeared in the wilderness. Observe that here stands θεάσασθαι , to behold, and immediately after the simple ἰδεῖν , to see. The more earnest expression is in keeping with the first question.
κάλ . σαλ .] figuratively, in allusion to the reed growing on the bank of Jordan, and meaning: a fickle and irresolute man. Others (Beza, Grotius, Wetstein, Gratz, Fritzsche, de Wette) understand it literally: “non credibile est, vos coivisse, ut arundines vento agitatas videretis.” This is not in keeping with the qualifying expression, ὑπὸ ἀνέμου σαλευόμενον . And how meaningless the question would be alongside the parallels in Mat_11:8-9! Comp. 1Ki_14:15; Eze_29:6.