Luke 7:26

26 But what went ye out to see? a prophet? Yea, I say to you, and more than a prophet.

Luke 7:26 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 7:26

But what went ye out for to see?
&c.] What led your curiosity to go into the wilderness after him, since it could not be any of the above things? was it to see

a prophet?
which was the case; for John was a prophet, and was known to be one; and the fame of him, as such, drew vast numbers to see and hear him, there not having been a prophet among the Jews, for some hundreds of years:

yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet;
not that he was the prophet Moses did say should come; nor was he the priest that should arise with the "Urim" and "Thummim", that the "Tirshatha", Nehemiah spoke of; nor was he the king Messiah; but he was his forerunner, he saw him and baptized him, and so was greater than any of the prophets that went before him.

Luke 7:26 In-Context

24 And when the messengers of John were gone forth [And when the messengers of John had gone away], he began to say of John to the people, What went ye out into desert to see? a reed wagged with the wind [a reed waved with the wind]?

25 But what went ye out to see? a man clothed with soft clothes? Lo! they that be in [a] precious cloak [Lo! they that be in precious cloth] and in delights, be in kings' houses.

26 But what went ye out to see? a prophet? Yea, I say to you, and more than a prophet.

27 This is he, of whom it is written, Lo! I send mine angel before thy face, which shall make ready thy way before thee.

28 Certainly I say to you, there is no man a more prophet among the children of women, than is John Baptist [Soothly I say to you, among the children of women, no man is more prophet than John Baptist]; but he that is less in the kingdom of heavens, is more than he.