Luke 7:24

24 And the messengers of John having departed, he began to speak to the crowds concerning John: What went ye out into the wilderness to behold? a reed shaken by the wind?

Luke 7:24 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 7:24

And when the messengers of John were departed
The Syriac and Persic versions read, "the disciples of John"; and the Arabic version, "the two disciples of John"; the two that he sent, when they were gone back with the answer of Christ;

he,
"Jesus", as the Persic version expresses it,

began to speak unto the people concerning John;
not caring to say any thing about him to the messengers, or whilst they were present, lest he should be charged with flattery; (See Gill on Matthew 11:7)

What went ye into the wilderness for to see? a reed shaken with the
wind?
an inconsistent, wavering, and unstable man? if so, they were greatly mistaken; or the motions and gesture of the man? (See Gill on Matthew 11:7).

Luke 7:24 In-Context

22 And Jesus answering said to them, Go, bring back word to John of what ye have seen and heard: that blind see, lame walk, lepers are cleansed, deaf hear, dead are raised, poor are evangelized;
23 and blessed is whosoever shall not be offended in me.
24 And the messengers of John having departed, he began to speak to the crowds concerning John: What went ye out into the wilderness to behold? a reed shaken by the wind?
25 But what went ye out to see? a man clothed in delicate garments? Behold, those who are in splendid clothing and live luxuriously are in the courts of kings.
26 But what went ye out to see? a prophet? Yea, I say to you, and [what is] more excellent than a prophet.
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.