7 “As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.” (Matthew 11:7–9 ESV)
Following the departure of John the Baptist’s disciples (Matt. 11:1-6), Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John. The grammar indicates that Jesus’ continually spoke to people about John the Baptist. He personally and continually testified about John’s character. He did so by asking three questions concerning John.
“What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? Jesus’ first question He posed to the crowds concerning John invoked the image of a reed plant. It is a tall, woody, slender plant with tall stems. They were often used as measuring rods. Often, these reeds would bow and bend to gale force winds.
Was John a man and teacher of God’s Word who bent with the prevailing winds of worldly doctrine? The answer to Jesus’ rhetorical question was an emphatic no. John was a faithful spiritual shepherd on behalf of God’s sheep; believers in Christ.
The Apostle Paul emphasized the importance of faithful ministers in the church. It was through their unflinching commitment to God’s truth that believers in Christ would “no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” (Ephesians 4:14 ESV)
“What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.” Jesus’ second question referred to John’s clothing. What did Jesus mean when He spoke of soft clothing?
Soft clothing (μαλακός; malakos) refers to clothes that are smooth and pleasing to the touch. It was the kind of clothes kings and members of the royal court wore. It was not the garments wore by an individual who lived in the wilderness in camel’s hair (Matthew 3:1-4).
“John the Baptist likened to a reed that has been bent over (his movement has rather fizzled out); John contrasted to a reed (his stern message still firm despite imprisonment); John contrasted to Herod (the reed being an emblem on his coins and taken to symbolize his clever adaptability, his unreliability, or his vulnerability to the judgment declared against him by John). The objection to a literal reading is that the reed and the person decked out in finery do not make a good pair. But although one is found in the wilderness and the other not, they function well as a pair once it is realized that the capacity to attract a crowd in the wilderness is the common denominator: reeds shaken by the wind are certainly to be found in the wilderness, but are too commonplace to attract crowds; members of a royal court certainly attracted crowds, but they were not to be sought out in the wilderness,” explains commentator John Nolland.
“What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.” The final question referred to John’s vocation as a herald of God’s Word. John was not a motivational speaker who attracted crowds for the sake of attracting crowds. Rather, his message was blunt and forceful (Matthew 3:7-11). John’s ministry was not audience driven but rather obedience driven.
“Jesus corrects any potential for this in today’s passage with His praise of John. He reminded His hearers that John was not like a reed shaken by the wind, like one who changed his views based on the whims of the audience (Luke 7:24). Indeed, when the people went to see John, they went to see a prophet and were right to do so (Luke 7:26). states Dr. R. C. Sproul.
The ministry of fidelity to the Word of God remains as important today as it was in Jesus’ day. Like John, let each believer in Christ resolved to not be like a reed shaken by the wind or one enamored with personal peace and affluence. Rather, may we herald God’s Word.
Soli deo Gloria!
His Word Today 