Mateus 11:9

9 Afinal, o que foram ver? Um profeta? Sim, eu digo a vocês, e mais que profeta.

Mateus 11:9 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 11:9

But what went ye out for to see?
&c.] Since it was not any thing so mean as a shaking reed, or so grand as a man in gay clothing, pray what was it you went out to see?

A prophet?
This was the truth of the matter, they expected to see a prophet, and they believed he was one; this was the common voice of the people; all held John to be a prophet. This made Herod afraid to put him to death, and the Pharisees to speak against his baptism: now, though this was giving him a great character, to believe and own him to be a prophet, yet it did not come up to his full character.

Yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet;
when they saw him, they saw not only a prophet, but one that was greater, and more excellent than any of the prophets that went before him: they prophesied of the Messiah at a distance, and in words not so clear, and easy to be understood; they spoke of him as to come, but he pointed him out with his finger, and declared that he was come; he saw him himself, and showed him to others; he saw the Spirit of God descending on him, and he himself baptized him; his office, as the harbinger of Christ, and the administrator of the ordinance of baptism to him, gave him a preference to all the prophets; and was such an one, as never any man was vested with but himself.

Mateus 11:9 In-Context

7 Enquanto saíam os discípulos de João, Jesus começou a falar à multidão a respeito de João: “O que vocês foram ver no deserto? Um caniço agitado pelo vento?

8 Ou, o que foram ver? Um homem vestido de roupas finas? Ora, os que usam roupas finas estão nos palácios reais.

9 Afinal, o que foram ver? Um profeta? Sim, eu digo a vocês, e mais que profeta.

10 Este é aquele a respeito de quem está escrito:“ ‘Enviarei o meu mensageiro à tua frente;ele preparará o teu caminho diante de ti’.

11 Digo a verdade a vocês: Do meio dos nascidos de mulher não surgiu ninguém maior do que João Batista; todavia, o menor no Reino dos céus é maior do que ele.