Matthew Poole Commentary - Matthew 11:1 - 11:1

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Matthew Poole Commentary - Matthew 11:1 - 11:1


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

MATTHEW CHAPTER 11



Mat_11:2-6 John sendeth his disciples to Christ.

Mat_11:7-15 Christ’s testimony concerning John.

Mat_11:16-19 The perverse judgments of the people concerning both

John and Christ.

Mat_11:20-24 Christ upbraideth the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida,

and Capernaum with their long unfruitfulness and

impenitency.

Mat_11:25-27 He thanks the Father for revealing his gospel to the

simple only,

Mat_11:28-30 and invites the weary to partake of his rest.



We never find our Saviour idle, but continually going up and down doing good, and we find him most intent upon preaching and teaching, which doubtless is the great work of the ministers of the gospel; of what quality soever they be, they call pretend to no higher than Christ’s. Nor did our Saviour think it enough to send others in his stead, as his curates, he went himself. Luke notes, Luk_10:1, that he sent the seventy, two by two, into every city whither himself was to follow; so as it seems he did not judge it enough that one proclamation of the gospel should be made to them. For those that think there is a distinction to be made between preaching and teaching, khrussein and didaskein, they may learn from this text, that they are both the work of Christ’s ministers, if they be bound to take example from their Master, and not think the servant is above his Lord. Those that under value preaching, as the least part of the ministerial work, do both forget this text, and what Paul said, that Christ sent him not to baptize, but to preach the gospel; that is, not so much to baptize as to preach. If any think that people are now so instructed that there is no such need of preaching, they should do well to question their people a little, and they may discover their own great mistakes. Besides that experience teacheth us, that those who are best instructed are most desirous of that which deserveth the name of preaching; which lets us know that there is yet something further to be known, or that we had need have our remembrance stirred up, or at least our affections quickened.