As it is written in the prophets
Malachi and Isaiah; for passages out of both follow; though the
Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Persic versions read, "as it is
written in the prophet Isaias"; and so it is in some Greek
copies: but the former seems to be the better reading, since two
prophets are cited, and Isaiah is the last; to which agree the
Arabic and Ethiopic versions, and the greater number of Greek
copies. The following citations are made to show, that according
to the writings of the Old Testament, John the Baptist was to be
the harbinger of Christ, to come before him, and prepare his way;
and also the propriety of the method the evangelist takes, in
beginning his Gospel with the account of John's ministry and
baptism: the first testimony stands in ( Malachi 3:1 ) , and the
words are the words of the Father to the son, concerning John,
pointing out his character and his work:
behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall
prepare thy
way before thee.
John the Baptist is here called a messenger, and the message he
was sent and came with, was of the greatest moment and
importance, and required the closest attention to it; wherefore
this passage is introduced with a "behold!" signifying that
something momentous, and what should be strictly regarded, was
about to be delivered: and indeed, the work of this messenger was
no other, than to declare that the long expected Messiah was
born; that he would quickly make his public appearance in Israel;
that the kingdom of heaven, or the kingdom of the Messiah, was at
hand; and that it became the Jews to repent of their sins, and
believe in Christ: he is called the messenger of God, "my
messenger"; because he was sent, and sanctified by him; he was
called unto, and qualified for his work by him; see ( John 1:6 John 1:7 ) , his father
Zechariah says, he should be called the prophet of the Highest, (
Luke 1:76 ) .
The reason of his being called the messenger of God, may be
observed in the text itself, "behold, I send": the words in
Malachi are by us rendered, "behold, I will send", ( Malachi 3:1 ) : because
this was at the time of the prophet's writing a thing future, but
in the times of the evangelist a thing done: and indeed, it is a
more literal version of the Hebrew text, to render it "I send",
or "am sending"; and it is so expressed, to denote the certainty
of it, and because in a little time it would be done: the words
"before thy face", are not in the original text of Malachi, nor
in the Septuagint version, but are inserted by the evangelist;
who might do it with authority, since Christ had done it before
him, ( Matthew
11:10 ) , and which, as Surenhusius F3
observes, is for the greater elucidation of the matter. The
prophet does not say before whom he should be sent, though it is
implied in the next clause, but here it is expressed: besides,
this messenger had now appeared before the face of Christ, had
prepared his way in the wilderness, and had baptized him in
Jordan; all which is designed in the following words, "which
shall prepare thy way before thee", by his doctrine and baptism:
in the text in Malachi it is, "before me", ( Malachi 3:1 ) ; which
has made it a difficulty with the interpreters, whether the words
in the prophet, are the words of Christ concerning himself, or of
his Father concerning him. But sending this messenger before
Christ, may be called by the Father sending him before himself,
and to prepare the way before him; because Christ is the
brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and
is the angel of his presence, or face; besides, Jehovah the
Father was greatly concerned, and the glory of his perfections,
in the work the Messiah was to do, whose way John came to
prepare. That the prophecy in Malachi here cited, is a prophecy
of the Messiah, is owned by several Jewish writers {d}; who
expressly say, that those words which follow, "the Lord whom ye
seek", are to be understood of the king Messiah: and though they
are divided among themselves, who should be meant by this
messenger, (See Gill on Matthew
11:10), yet some of them are of opinion, that Elias is
intended, even Abarbinel himself: for though in his commentary he
interprets the words of the prophet Malachi himself, yet
elsewhere F5 he allows Elias may be intended:
indeed he, and so most that go this way, mean Elijah the prophet,
the Tishbite; who they suppose will come in person, before the
Messiah appears: yet not he, but one in his Spirit and power is
designed; and is no: other than John the Baptist, in whom the
passage has had its full accomplishment.