Matthew 11:2 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Now when John had heard, &c.— Beausobre and Lenfant, with some others, think, that John was so discouraged by his own long imprisonment, that he began himself to doubt whether Jesus was himself the Messiah; and agreeably to this he supposes, that when our Lord says, happy is he that is not offended in me, he meant it as a caution to John that he should be upon his guard against so dangerous a temptation. But, considering what clear evidence John had before received by a miraculous sign from heaven, and what express and repeated testimonies he himself had borne to Jesus, I cannot imagine this to have been possible; especially as he foresaw and foretold that he must himself quickly be laid aside. John 3:30. But his disciples might very probably be offended at this circumstance, as well as at the freedom of Christ's conversation, so different from the austerity used among them; and, therefore, he might think it necessary to put them in the way of farther satisfaction; not to saythat John might have been uneasy at the reserve which Christ maintained, and that he might imagine it agreeable to the good design of his own office thus to urge a more express declaration. This appears an easy and natural solution of the difficulty arising from this event. Some writers, however,and those of distinction, are of different sentiments. Mr. Bell, in his treatise on the divine mission of John the Baptist, and the Lord Jesus Christ, part 3: sect. 8 has shewn, that this remarkable message, viewed in every light, supplies us with one of the most satisfactory circumstantial proofs of the integrity and divine character of the Lord Jesus, and of the truth of the Baptist's mission, which the gospel affords: and whether we can point out the particular motives which actually induced the true Elias to send his disciples with such a message to the true Messiah, or not, is an inquiry of no real importance at all, however it might gratify our curiosity to be able to solve the question; since in the mean time it appears abundantly plain, that no such message could on any account have been sent from John to Jesus, had they in reality been no better than imposters. See the note on Matthew 11:4. The reader will find more onthis subject in Jortin's Discourses, p. 196. Bishop Atterbury's, vol. 3: p. 35 and Archbishop Tillotson's Serm. 11