This is he of whom it is written: Behold I send my angel before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee.
ουτος εστιν περι ου γεγραπται ιδου εγω αποστελλω τον αγγελον μου προ προσωπου σου ος κατασκευασει την οδον σου εμπροσθεν σου
8 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 9 commentaries
He provides the proclamation, "Behold, I send my angel" (Malachi 3:1). John is referred to as "an angel," possibly due to the ethereal and angelic nature of his existence, or perhaps because he heralded the arrival of the Savior.
Additionally, he was affirmed by the words of the prophet, ‘As one sent before My face to prepare the way before Me.’
But is Christ not superior to the one about whom Moses prophesied: The Lord our God shall raise up unto you a prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15)? Moses also stated that every soul who refuses to listen to that prophet shall be cut off from among the people (Acts 3:23, cf. Deuteronomy 18:19). If we accept Christ as a prophet, then how can we claim that John holds a greater position than all the prophets? Or do we reject the notion that Christ is a prophet? In fact, I assert that the Lord is the foremost Prophet among all prophets, while John, being the greatest born of women, does not share in the miraculous birth of Christ. John is indeed superior to his peers in humanity, yet Christ's birth is unique and distinct, transcending the human experience.
The comparison between John and the Son of God is so unfathomable that John is positioned even beneath the angels.
For the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he (Luke 7:28). The Lord’s comparison of John to an angel (cf. Luke 7:27) enhances his standing above all men. Moreover, since the Lord declared that John was the finest among those born of women, He followed it with the statement that the least in the kingdom of heaven surpasses him, illustrating that John must yield even to the angels. Thus, it is reasonable that John is esteemed above his contemporaries; since his time, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advanced (Matt. 11:12).
There is someone who surpasses him, as Moses declared: A prophet... the Lord our God will raise up for you (Deut 18:15, 18). It is written that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be cut off from among the people (Acts 3:23; Deut 18:19). If Jesus is indeed a prophet, then how can John be acknowledged as the greatest of all (Lk 7:28)? Are we suggesting that Christ is not a prophet? Absolutely not. I assert that the Lord is the supreme prophet among prophets, and while I recognize John as the greatest among those born of women, his status does not extend to those born of a virgin. John’s greatness arises from the equality of his earthly birth. The Nativity of Jesus stands apart and cannot be compared to human births. There is no basis for comparison between humanity and divinity, as each exists in its own rightful realm.
After John's envoys had departed, he began addressing the crowd about John. Messengers, those who convey tidings, share a message. What did you venture into the desert to witness, a reed swaying in the breeze? What did you seek to observe? A man clad in fine garments? Indeed, those who wear luxurious attire and indulge in comfort are found in royal palaces. What did you come to see? Was it a prophet? Truly, I say to you, and even more than a prophet. This is the one of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your path before you. Additionally, all these matters are clearly expressed.
God proclaimed in Malachi, "Behold, I send My messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee." This honor and role elevate him above all the earlier prophets.
The inquiry posed by the disciples of John may have led those surrounding Jesus Christ to wonder if John, the herald of repentance and the coming of the Messiah, had altered his perception of Jesus, despite having previously affirmed Him as the Messiah. To dispel any skepticism regarding John, Christ directs attention to the inner conviction of each individual, asking His listeners, "What did you go out to see in the wilderness? Was it a man who is unstable, like a reed swayed by the wind, or someone who is dainty and motivated by worldly gain, changing his words according to what serves him best?" Certainly not. You recognized in John a true prophet, and indeed, he is more than just a prophet; he is the forerunner of the Messiah as foretold by Malachi.
Truly, I say to you, among those born of women, there has arisen none greater than John the Baptist. By the "least" here, the Savior refers to Himself, indicating that in the eyes of men, Jesus Christ's intent with this statement was to ensure that the high regard for John would not lead His listeners to elevate the Forerunner above the Messiah.
What prompted your visit? Were you seeking a prophet? Indeed, I affirm to you, more than a prophet he is. He surpasses any prophet because it is concerning him that God foretold through Malachi: "Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you." If there was a prophetic word regarding his coming, as he serves as a herald of the Messiah, then among those born of women, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet, despite this, the one who may be viewed as lesser than John is greater than him in the kingdom of God. John was not a reed that swayed in the wind, nor was he a man given to indulgence; he stands as the preeminent prophet. The people recognized him as such, drawn to his austere lifestyle and his bold condemnation of evil.
Everyone who listened to him, including the tax collectors, glorified God, accepting John's baptism; however, the Pharisees and experts in the law dismissed God’s purpose for themselves by refusing to be baptized by him. All the individuals, even the tax collectors, acknowledged that John was sent by God, responding to his message with repentance, baptism, and gratitude for this prophet who came to proclaim the Messiah's arrival and prepare them for his coming. In contrast, the Pharisees and the lawyers failed to see John as God's representative, did not undergo baptism through him, and thereby rejected God’s plan for their salvation.
The inquiry brought by John’s disciples to Jesus could have led many to form incorrect perceptions about John himself. Some might have seen him as inconsistent, speaking one way in the past and differently now, or perhaps thought that he had softened his ascetic lifestyle during his imprisonment. Aware of ‘the secret thoughts of all,’ the Lord chose to address the matter of John only after his disciples had left to avoid any appearance of ‘flattering him’ (St. John Chrysostom). Jesus drew upon the deep convictions of those who had witnessed John in the wilderness, affirming that he had not changed: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment?
Behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.’ John was not a reed, easily swayed by the wind; rather, you approached him as a steadfast man whose rough garments indicated his rejection of luxury (Bl. Theophylact). But did you come to see a prophet? I tell you, and more than a prophet. He surpasses the prophets of the Old Testament due to his nearness to the Coming One; the other prophets merely foretold Christ’s coming—he was the forerunner and the one who pointed to the Messiah. This is the one of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.’ By applying these prophetic words from Malachi (3:1) to Himself, the Lord referred to the Forerunner as an Angel, both for His angelic, perhaps incorporeal existence, and because he proclaimed the Coming One (Bl. Theophylact).
I tell you that among those born of women, none is greater than John the Baptist—excluding Himself, who was born of the Virgin—but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Many present themselves as great, yet they misunderstood Him, calling Him a glutton, a drinker of wine, and deriding Him as a carpenter’s son, leading to His disgrace. He rightly kept His face hidden in light of prevailing opinions about Him, avoiding any perception of self-exaltation. John’s preaching instilled a fervent expectation of the Savior, prompting vast crowds to seek him out, eager to hear the message of the heavenly kingdom and to claim it with zeal; this fervor has not waned, as many still strive toward Jesus Christ and labor earnestly to ‘take the kingdom of heaven by force, that is, faith in Him’ (Bl. Theophylact). From the time of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has attracted those who are desperate and in need. Moses in the Pentateuch and the prophets in their writings forewarned the people of the coming Savior, and John concluded the era of the Old Testament. Therefore, the Lord would say, ‘Do not extend your hopes too far and do not await another; if all was fulfilled before John, it indicates that I am the Coming One’ (St. John Chrysostom). John was not the culmination of the law and the prophets; rather, he was the Forerunner of the Messiah, empowered by the spirit and zeal reminiscent of the great prophet Elijah (Luke 1:17). The prophet Malachi foretold Elijah's coming before the great and terrible day of the Lord (4:5-6), prompting the Jews to anticipate Elijah, Jeremiah, or another prophet prior to the Messiah’s arrival (Matt. 16:14; 17:10; Jn. 1:21). The Lord identified this Elijah in John, saying: ‘If you are willing to receive it, this is Elijah, who is to come,’ urging them to pay careful attention to the significance of John, exclaiming: ‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear.’
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 20 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS