Matthew 11:11 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Among them that are born of women— "As he is, with regard to his moral and religious character, one of the best men, so he has some peculiar honours superior to any prophet of former generations: Nevertheless, there is a sense in which he that is least in the kingdom of heaven, not only in its final glories, but even here on earth, is greater than he. For my ministers, and people in general, shall receive superior supplies of the spirit, and know many important truths relating to my Gospel, which have not been revealed to John himself." By the least in the kingdom of heaven, is not meant the same as chap. Matthew 5:19. What is expressed by least, μικροτερος, might have been rendered less; that is to say, in appearance more abject; yet, by being a member of the kingdom of heaven, he has thereby an advantage over John, whose commission was superseded by our Saviour's ministry; for John himself says, he must increase, but I must decrease. The kingdom of heaven was declared to be at hand, when the first messenger came preaching in the wilderness; and after the descent of the holy spirit upon the apostles, the information of the inspired Christian must have exceeded his who was to discern the great person of whom he was to bear record, by the descent and residence of the spirit of God upon him. The ministry of John was preparatory to that of Jesus. He was to lead our feet into the way of peace; to proclaim the kingdom of heaven; and therefore he, who was inferior in other respects to John, must have advanced beyond him, and so have been greater than he, if a member of the kingdom of heaven. But this may perhaps be set in a stronger light: our Lord honoured the Baptist with the magnificent title of one that was more than a prophet, (Matthew 11:9.) for four reasons; 1. He was the subject of ancient prophesies, and had long been expected by the people of God under the idea of Elias, a name given him by Malachi, because he was to possess the spirit and power of Elias: 2. His conception and birth had been accompanied by miracles: 3. When the season of his inspiration came, he was favoured with a clearer revelation of the Messiah, than had been enjoyed by many of the prophets under the law: 4. By his sermons he prepared the Jews for receiving the gospel, and consequently began that more excellent dispensation. But though the Baptist thus excelled all the preceding prophets, the least inspired person in the kingdom of heaven, the least apostle or preacher of the gospel, was greater than he; because byconstantly attending on Jesus, they were much better acquainted with his character, disposition, and doctrine, than the Baptist who had seen him only transiently: wherefore, in respect of their personal knowledge of the Messiah, the Apostles greatlyexcelled the Baptist. Further, they were employed, not in making preparation for, but in erecting the Messiah's kingdom. Hence they were greater than the Baptist in respect to the dignity of their office: moreover, having giftsbestowed on them to fit them for that office, far superior to his, they were greater in respect of their illumination; they had the spirit so dwelling in them, that on all due occasions they could declare the will of God infallibly, being as it were living oracles. To conclude, as they had been likewise the subject of ancient oracles, Acts 2:16., &c. they had been long expected by the people of God. See Macknight and Sharpe's second Argument. Greater, says Wetstein, is the dignity of a companion of Christ, than of an harbinger; as much as John excelled the prophets, so much do the disciples of Christ excel John. The time of the prophets was the night; in the time of John the morning began to appear; the disciples of Christ were illuminated with the brightest rays of the sun. See Olearius's 33rd and following Observations.