Matthieu 11:9

9 Qu'êtes-vous donc allés voir? Un prophète? Oui, vous dis-je, et plus qu'un prophète.

Matthieu 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.

Matthieu 11:9 In-Context

7 Comme ils s'en allaient, Jésus se mit à parler de Jean au peuple, et dit: Qu'êtes-vous allés voir au désert? Un roseau agité du vent?

8 Mais, qu'êtes-vous allés voir? Un homme vêtu d'habits précieux? Voici, ceux qui portent des vêtements précieux sont dans les maisons des rois.

9 Qu'êtes-vous donc allés voir? Un prophète? Oui, vous dis-je, et plus qu'un prophète.

10 Car c'est celui de qui il est écrit: Voici, j'envoie mon messager devant ta face, qui préparera ton chemin devant toi.

11 Je vous dis en vérité qu'entre ceux qui sont nés de femme, il n'en a pas été suscité de plus grand que Jean-Baptiste; toutefois celui qui est le plus petit dans le royaume des cieux est plus grand que lui.