Matthew 11:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The dissatisfaction expressed by John's disciples towards the Lord, stemming from jealousy and resentment, can also be seen in their question: "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?" (Matthew 9:14). Furthermore, they remarked, "Teacher, behold, He whom You have testified about at the Jordan baptizes," suggesting that it was, in fact, Jesus who was performing the baptisms (John 3:26); indeed, the original Greek indicates it was not merely the disciples baptizing, but rather Jesus Himself (John 4:2), leading them to feel abandoned as they observed numerous individuals departing towards Him, exclaiming, "We are being forsaken; here is a small number of people; great crowds are flocking to Him."

Thus, the law directs others to grasp the gospels, enabling unbelief to witness the faithfulness shown in actions, allowing what is constrained by the falsehood of sin to be liberated by the understanding of the freedom found in the gospel. Therefore, John prioritizes the enlightenment of his followers over his own uncertainty, as he prophesied Christ's coming for the salvation of sins. To ensure they recognized that he foretold the arrival of Christ and not another, he encouraged his disciples to observe His deeds, so they might affirm his message, expecting Christ solely as the One whose works bear witness to His identity.

As the apostle Matthew recounts, "John, having heard in prison about the works of Christ, sent two of his disciples to say to Him, ‘Are You the One who is to come, or shall we look for another?’" John's inquiry did not explicitly ask, "Are You the Messiah?" but was phrased subtly to avoid giving Christ's adversaries a reason to accuse Him before the Roman authorities.

Saint Chrysostom posed the question of how John, who had recognized Jesus even before His miracles and had been enlightened by the Holy Spirit, could now send his disciples to seek confirmation from Him—was He truly the awaited One? Chrysostom further remarked on John's previous declarations, where he acknowledged his own unworthiness compared to Christ, proclaiming, “...with Whom I am not worthy to untie the strap of my sandal” (Lk. 3:16), and affirming, “I did not know Him; but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘On whom you see the Spirit descending and abiding on Him, He is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit’” (John 1:33). John had witnessed the Spirit descending like a dove and had heard the voice of the Father affirming Jesus. He had expressed that he needed to be baptized by Jesus, not the other way around (Matthew 3:14), and had proclaimed to his followers that Jesus must increase while he must decrease (John 3:30). He had clearly taught the masses that Christ was “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). His previous proclamations and insights into Jesus's identity raise the question: why, despite all the miracles, wonders, and Christ’s rising fame, was John seeking reassurance about Him now?

This doubtless brought confusion. Could all of John's words have been insincere? Few would dare to claim such a thing. John, a prophet filled with the Holy Spirit even from conception, was a fixture in the wilderness and lived a life resembling that of angels. Even an ordinary person would find it difficult to waver in faith given the overwhelming affirmations of Christ’s identity. Therefore, it is evident that John's inquiry was not born of skepticism or ignorance. Why then did he send his disciples to seek clarity?

The earlier church fathers and learned theologians provide insight here. Despite being confined, John's devoted followers were allowed access to him, keeping him informed about the happenings outside. By that time, tales of the Savior—including His extraordinary teachings, His profound influence on humanity, and His boundless compassion for sinners—had spread throughout Judea, Galilee, Samaria, and beyond. John had first identified Jesus as the Messiah, considering himself unworthy of being His servant, remarking to his disciples that Jesus was the Bridegroom while he was merely His friend, filled with joy at the prospect of Jesus’s exaltation while he would fade into the background.

The focus of John—the prophet and Forerunner—was unwaveringly set on the Christ, whom he affirmed to be the Son of God, stating that those who believe in Him “have eternal life,” while those who do not believe face God's wrath (John 3:36). Recognized by Christ as the greatest of those born of women, John listened attentively to his disciples' reports about Jesus's miraculous works, rejoicing in spirit, and desiring that his followers turn to Jesus as their own Master. Yet, not all were ready to accept the words of their esteemed teacher and follow the Lord with simple faith. Some of John’s disciples, blinded by their affection for him, interpreted his humility as a sign that he might be lesser than Jesus.

The honor showered upon Jesus caused turmoil among John’s disciples, who were envious of their beloved teacher's diminishing stature, particularly as John languished in prison while Jesus performed remarkable miracles. St Chrysostom notes that John's disciples were not inclined toward Jesus and harbored jealousy, evidenced by their protests to John about Jesus’s growing popularity: “He who was with you at the Jordan, and of whom you have testified, behold, He baptizes, and all are going to Him” (John 3:26). Further demonstrating their instability, they questioned Jesus directly about fasting practices (Matthew 9:14).

When Jesus resurrected the widow of Nain's son and the crowds acknowledged "that God had visited His people," some of John's disciples involuntarily began to wonder if truly this remarkable miracle worker was indeed the Christ. However, their deep-seated loyalty to John prevented their faith from deepening. Aware of this dynamic, and foreseeing his own impending death, John grew anxious that his followers might remain in disbelief. Thus, as news reached him about the resurrected youth, he seized this moment to reaffirm to his disciples his unwavering conviction about Christ the Savior—not merely through his own preaching but through the very testimonies regarding Jesus's deeds.

St Chrysostom explains that had John simply told his followers, “Go to Him, He is superior to me,” it would not have swayed those who admired him; they would likely have perceived it as false humility, clinging to him even more tightly. Conversely, if he remained silent, nothing would change. Therefore, he awaited an opportunity to hear from them about the miraculous works of Jesus, sending two disciples—believing they were among the more receptive—to pose a question, devoid of any suspicious intent, allowing them to witness firsthand the distinction between John and Jesus.

Blessed Jerome elaborates that, although John was imprisoned, he sent his disciples to Christ, under the guise of settling their insecurities, effectively seeking to eradicate their disbelief. Foreseeing his own death, John desired that they follow the One he had previously pointed to. John sent his followers to the Divine Healer to seek correction for their spiritual blindness, shouldering their doubts as if they were his own. St Hilary notes that John's aim was not his own enlightenment, but rather to alleviate the ignorance of his disciples. Like a caring father preparing for his absence, John aimed to lead his followers toward the Savior. His final wish was for his disciples to possess a steadfast and fervent faith in Jesus Christ. He approached Jesus as a steward entrusted with the care of others, confident that the Lord would enlighten his followers, naturally correcting their misconceptions.

This incident serves as a prime illustration of true disciples who seek not their own fame but are instead eager to have all glory directed toward God alone. The inquiries from John's disciples, under the holy fathers' interpretation, may be understood as reflections of John's recognition of Christ's messianic identity—desiring that they too grasp this truth: “John the Baptist sent us to You, saying, ‘I know that You are the Messiah, which I have established through my testimonies about You, but the people do not yet see it. Why do You delay to enlighten and reveal Yourself? Who are You? Please give a clear and unequivocal witness to all; demonstrate through Your works that You are the Christ, and that there is no other awaited.’” The Heart of Jesus understood the underlying purpose behind their mission; rather than respond with mere words, He chose to respond through His mighty deeds.

Like many Jews of that era, they were anticipating the Messiah to come adorned in earthly magnificence, expecting Him to declare Himself sovereign over Israel, dismantle Roman dominance, and bring all nations under Jewish rule. Not only did Jesus not aim to restore the kingdom to Israel, but His teachings also clashed with their expectations for the kingdom; consequently, they believed that He could not possibly be the Messiah, relegating Him instead to the status of merely a prophet, convinced that the true Messiah would arrive eventually, though they needed to remain patient. These considerations occupied the minds of John the Baptist's disciples. Undoubtedly, they frequently discussed these matters with their teacher; it is equally clear that John strove diligently to persuade his misguided followers that Jesus, whom he had baptized in the Jordan, was indeed the Messiah. Deep down, John could not question this truth, for he had been instructed by the One who sent him to baptize in water, saying, “On whom you will see the Spirit descending and abiding on him, he is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit." He witnessed and testified that this One, Jesus, is the Son of God (John 1:32-34). Doubts and uncertainty were alien to John's nature. He sought to instill in his disciples his unwavering belief in Jesus as the genuine Messiah and the Son of God, but his attempts were in vain. He therefore told them, “If you do not believe me, go to Him yourselves and ask, ‘Are You the One who is to come, or should we expect another?’” This counsel was indeed directed to all his followers, yet to ensure that it would not remain unfulfilled, he instructed two of his disciples to approach Jesus and inquire on their behalf. When the two messengers arrived at the moment when Jesus was amidst a throng of people, healing ailments and casting out evil spirits, and opening the eyes of the blind... they conveyed that John the Baptist had sent them with the question, “Are you the One to whom we must come, or must we expect another?” (Luke 7:20) – this question directed to the disciples of John rather than to John himself, who required neither the question nor the answer.